The transition was successfully upgraded by Tuesday afternoon, Lottery officials said.
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — With the Pennsylvania Lottery prepared to upgrade this week to a new computer system, Lottery officials are informing players that the transition to the new system will very briefly impact players’ ability to buy certain tickets and cash-winning tickets.
The transition was successfully upgraded by Tuesday afternoon, Lottery officials said.
“The Pennsylvania Lottery is working to upgrade vending equipment, improve our technology, and debut many new features that will improve the playing experience for our players – and this upgrade is one part of that effort,” said Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne, who heads the Pennsylvania Lottery, a bureau within the Department of Revenue. “We have a thorough plan in place to make sure this transition to the new computer system has as little impact as possible for our players. This phase of our project is mainly taking place behind the scenes, but it’s a big move for us to improve our business, expand sales, and continue our mission of responsibly generating funding for programs that benefit older Pennsylvanians.”
Here is what players need to know about the planned computer system upgrade:
- The system upgrade is scheduled to last late into the day on Tuesday, March 19.The Lottery will post updates on its website and social media channels to inform players when this work is complete.
- During this time period, drawings will still occur, but players won’t be able to buy any Fast Play tickets or Draw Game tickets at Lottery retail locations or online. Draw Games include Powerball®, Mega Millions®, Treasure Hunt, Cash 5 with Quick Cash, Match 6 Lotto, Cash4Life® and the PICK family of games.
- As a result, players are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance for these drawings. In addition to buying Draw Game tickets in advance at retailers, the Lottery offers a subscription option for online players that allows them to purchase Draw Games tickets ahead of time.
- As a reminder, Powerball® drawings take place on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights. Meanwhile, Mega Millions® drawings occur on Tuesday and Friday nights. Players interested in playing either game are strongly encouraged to buy their tickets in advance.
- Players will be able to purchase Scratch-Off tickets at the counter and at vending machines at Lottery retailers via cash only.
- Players will still be able to play eInstant games online during this time period.
- Additionally, winning tickets won’t be able to be paid during this time period. For winning Scratch-Off tickets, players are encouraged to sign the back of their tickets and hold on to them until they can be claimed once the system upgrade is complete.
- No vouchers will be able to be produced and/or used during this time period. A voucher is a receipt for any remaining dollars purchased from a Lottery terminal or vending machine. Players use vouchers to make future game purchases or redeem them for cash at a retailer.
- There may be instances, such as with the Daily Drawings, when results won’t be posted to the PA Lottery website until the system upgrade is complete.
- Claims on winning prizes are taking a few weeks longer to process due to the system upgrade. Processing times should return to normal in April.
The Lottery’s modernization project started with the upgrade of new vending equipment at retail locations, much of which has already been rolled out across the Commonwealth. As a result, players are benefitting from this new equipment — which holds more inventory — and new digital signage in many areas at the Lottery’s network of more than 10,000 retailers.
The transition to the new computer system will be accompanied by the move to new data centers, test environments, communications networks, and back-office systems — all things that are occurring behind the scenes to lay the foundation for enhancements yet to come.
“All of these efforts will help the Lottery operate more efficiently, improve the playing experience for our players, and help us generate funding for the critical programs that our older residents rely upon,” said Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko. “Our team is very passionate about responsibly providing entertainment options for our players. We are hard at work to make sure that we keep this momentum going and build on our success.”
Players can access more information about the Lottery’s system upgrade by visiting PALottery.com/Upgrade.
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FAQs
According to the PA Lottery website, it typically takes about four to six weeks to receive your winnings. It's important to note that lottery winners in Pennsylvania cannot remain anonymous. The website states this is to let people know that the winners are real people.
How do you know if you won PA Lottery online? ›
The Pennsylvania Lottery will make every attempt to contact each winner via email within three (3) business days of the winners being announced. If your name is listed as a winner and you have not yet been contacted, please contact the Pennsylvania Lottery, toll-free, at 1-800-692-7481.
Why am I locked out of PA Lottery? ›
Did you input your password incorrectly three times? If so, click the chat icon on the bottom right corner of the screen. Once Player Support verifies they are communicating with you, the account holder, your PA iLottery account can be unlocked. To avoid encountering this issue in the future, use the ""FORGOT PASSWORD?
What happens to unclaimed lottery winnings in PA? ›
If no claim is made within that period, the prize money shall be paid into the State Lottery Fund and used for purposes as otherwise provided in this part so that no less than 40% of the lottery revenues are used for the payment of lottery prizes.
How much tax do you pay on a $1000 lottery ticket in PA? ›
Yes, lottery winnings are taxable under state and federal law. In Pennsylvania, all lottery winnings are subject to the commonwealth's 3.07% state personal income tax, plus an additional 24% through federal taxes.
How much tax do you pay on $1 million lottery winnings? ›
How much do I pay in taxes if I win 1,000,000? If your gross prize for lump sum payout is $1,000,000, you need to pay $334,072 in total tax ($240,000 federal withholding, plus the remaining $94,072 for single filing status in 2021).
What happens if you win the PA Lottery online? ›
When you play PA Lottery Online games and win, prizes are paid directly to your account. Play 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What happens if you win the lottery playing online? ›
Your winnings are credited to your lottery account. Big jackpot winnings, on the other hand, are covered by insurance that the lottery site has. They are paying a certain fee for insurance that will cover any winnings above a certain amount.
Can you scan Pennsylvania Lottery tickets with your phone? ›
YES! The Pennsylvania Lottery's official mobile app can be used to check tickets to see if they are winners. Visit our Mobile App Page to learn more.
Does PA release your name if you win the lottery? ›
In Pennsylvania, you won't be able to keep it a secret either. According to the Pennsylvania Lottery's website, only certain information can be released. This is to inform the public that a real person won the lottery, and to show that the PA Lottery operates with integrity and transparency.
We're sorry, but winning tickets can only be claimed in the state where they were sold. Each state manages its own prize pool. If you purchased a winning ticket in Pennsylvania but live...
Do seniors pay taxes on lottery winnings in PA? ›
Pennsylvania taxes resident individuals, estates or trusts on all gambling and lottery winnings from every source, except noncash winnings of the Pennsylvania Lottery, regardless of where the wager is placed.
How long does it take to get lottery winnings in PA? ›
Most prize checks will arrive in four to six weeks after your claim has been received at Lottery headquarters and validated, but often less time. Some claims submitted in December cannot be processed until January so that prize payments and tax forms will be issued in the same calendar year.
Do you have to report lottery winnings in PA? ›
Per Pennsylvania Statue 72 P.S. § 7303(a)(7), all Pennsylvania lottery winnings (except non-cash prizes) are taxable. The taxpayer is receiving a cash prize by purchasing it. Pennsylvania...
Find AnswersOraclehttps://lottery-pa.custhelp.com ›
We're sorry, but winning tickets can only be claimed in the state where they were sold. Each state manages its own prize pool. If you purchased a winning ti...
Prizes over $2,500 can be claimed at the authorized Pennsylvania Lottery Claim Centers. Your winning ticket must be signed by you and should be submitted via ma...
No information is available for this page.
Typically, you should receive your funds within 8-13 business days (not including weekends and holidays) after requesting a withdrawal from your PA iLottery account. Once you have requested a withdrawal, please allow up to 5 business days for your request to be reviewed.
How fast does the Lottery pay out? ›
Check out the various options below for claiming your prize and Common Claim Errors that could delay processing. The current processing time for error-free claims is 5 to 7 weeks. There are three ways to claim prizes $599 and under: visit a Lottery retailer, claim at a Lottery District Office or claim by mail.
How long does it take to get prize pick money? ›
Many customers qualify for instant withdrawals. However, new customers will often have at least their first few withdrawals reviewed by a qualified specialist for security reasons. This review takes between 6-12 hours, most of the time toward the lower end of that range.
How long does it take to withdraw from PA Lottery? ›
Please note: Our withdrawal process will take 3-5 days to complete, plus up to an additional 5 business days from your payment provider may be required to complete the process.
