Security Tips at the Retail Level
The first line of defense in consumer protection is always for players to arm themselves with the information they need to determine whether their ticket has won a prize. That's much the same thing we all should be doing to ensure, for example, that a clerk has given us the proper change or that the milk we bought at the local store rang up for the right price.
There are many ways that you can check to see if your ticket has won a prize, and we encourage you to use multiple sources of information for verification:
♦ Check the information on the Lottery website.
♦ Watch the televised drawing results on any of the Lottery broadcast partners in your area. Tune in to KNXV ABC 15 in Phoenix, KOLD News 13 in Tucson, or Univision Arizona, at approximately 10:25 p.m. on drawing nights.
♦ Ask retailers to print out winning numbers from the Lottery terminal.
♦ Use the “ticket checkers” and Lottery Express machines available at retailer locations. Many Arizona Lottery retailers are equipped with a ticket checker that allows players to self-check their tickets without any clerk involvement. To use a ticket checker, simply place the barcode of your ticket under the red light until you hear a beep. For on-line tickets, this is the barcode on the bottom of the ticket.
♦ Call an Arizona Lottery Office for information (in Phoenix, 480-921-4400; in Tucson, 520-628-5107) or call the Lottery’s Player Hotline at (480) 829-PICK (7425) in Phoenix or (800-499-3798) in all other areas.
(The Arizona State Lottery official audited records of the numbers that were drawn will determine the winner rather than the numbers televised or published on the web.)
We believe there is no substitute for player responsibility and player diligence despite all the assistance that we can provide. Listed below are some other suggestions to keep our games fun and safe:
♦ Immediately upon purchase, sign the back of your ticket. This can help prevent someone from trying to cash it in the event it becomes lost or stolen. If your ticket is lost or stolen, report the matter to the Lottery Investigations Unit and your local police or sheriff's office.
♦ Double-check your purchase. When the clerk gives you your tickets, immediately check them before you leave to be sure you got what you ordered. If you select your own numbers or use a play slip, always check your tickets at the time of purchase to make sure the numbers on them match the numbers you selected.
♦ Protect yourself by determining on your own whether your ticket has won a prize before you present it to be validated. If you disagree with a retailer about a particular ticket when you are trying to have it validated, you can always ask for the ticket back and send it to the Arizona Lottery, where we will check it. In fact, Arizona Lottery customers at any time are welcome to send their tickets directly to the Lottery for validation.
♦ Look and Listen. When a retailer validates your ticket, if it is a winner, the machine will play “We’re in the Money.” If the terminal includes a display screen, the amount won will also appear on the screen.
♦ Keep your tickets safe. On-line tickets should be handled with caution. Do not deface Lottery tickets. Do not expose Lottery tickets to heat. Keep Lottery tickets dry.
Here are some other general reminders:
♦ Arizona law prohibits the sale of Lottery tickets to individuals under 21 years of age. You must be at least 21 years old and be able to present a valid form of identification to purchase or redeem Lottery tickets.
♦ Only buy Lottery tickets from authorized Arizona Lottery retailers. If you are approached by someone offering a "winning ticket" for cash, refuse the offer and contact the Lottery Investigations Unit immediately at 480-921-4486 (Mon-Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
♦ Cash, debit cards, money orders, or travelers cheques are accepted forms of payment. Buying tickets with a credit card is at the discretion of the individual retailer. Credit cards are not accepted at either the Phoenix or Tucson Office Claims Stores.
♦ Remember, in order to claim any Lottery prize, you must have your ticket.
♦ How-to-Play information can be found on your ticket, the Lottery’s website on the
GAMES page, at any Lottery retailer, or the Lottery’s Player Hotline at (480) 829-PICK (7425) in Phoenix, or (800-499-3798) in all other areas.
♦ The overall odds of winning are printed on all Scratchers tickets. Odds for each prize level, as well as number of prizes remaining, are available by clicking on the individual game on the
SCRATCHERS page.
♦ If you purchase a Scratchers ticket, check it and make sure the latex has not been previously scratched anywhere on the ticket. If the ticket appears to have been tampered with, contact the Lottery Investigations Unit immediately.
♦ Information about Scratchers game-end dates and the final date to redeem prizes is posted on the website on the
SCRATCHERS ENDING DATES page.
♦ The final date to redeem a winning Scratchers ticket is 180 days after the announced end of game date.
♦ The final date to redeem a winning ticket for an on-line game is 180 days from the drawing date.
♦ The Arizona Lottery Retailer Rules prohibit Lottery retailers from charging a commission or fee for cashing a winning ticket. If this occurs, contact the Lottery Investigations Unit immediately at 480-921-4486 (Mon-Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
♦ Report any suspicious activity or concerns that you have regarding a Lottery ticket purchase to the Arizona Lottery immediately.
♦ The Arizona Lottery is not liable for lost, stolen, or damaged tickets.
♦ Visit the Arizona Lottery’s
I Won, Now What? page for additional claim information and for all the latest Lottery news.
Don't be a victim of scams! If you ever have a concern about the Arizona Lottery, its products or operations, please call the Lottery at 480-921-4400 or email us at reportfraud@azlottery.gov. If you have a security-related concern, please report it to the Arizona Lottery Investigations Unit at 480-921-4486 (Mon-Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).