Claiming a Prize
Learn about common claim procedures, identification, documentation, deadlines and questions to ask before submitting a claim.
Learn the basics →
Independent consumer information
Educational resources
Not a government agency
Information for prize recipients
Clear information for life after a win.
Practical, plain-language resources for lottery, raffle, giveaway, sweepstakes and contest winners. Understand common procedures, find official information and learn what to verify before making important decisions.
A good place to begin
Start with the basics.
- ✓ Confirm the prize and the organization involved.
- ✓ Understand the claim process and important deadlines.
- ✓ Review tax, privacy and documentation considerations.
- ✓ Recognize warning signs before sharing money or information.
Independent
Consumer Focused
Source Based
Plain Language
Winner resources
Understand the process before making the next decision.
Winning can introduce unfamiliar procedures, paperwork and questions very quickly. Our resources are organized around the issues consumers most commonly need to understand first.
Taxes & Reporting
Find educational material about federal tax considerations, withholding, reporting documents and where to locate authoritative tax information.
Find official sources →Privacy & Identity
Understand why protecting personal information matters, what information may be requested and when professional advice may be appropriate.
Protect your information →Sweepstakes & Contests
Review general information about promotions, giveaways, raffles and sweepstakes, including common rules and consumer-protection considerations.
Review guidance →A prize notice should withstand verification.
Excitement and urgency can make it easy to move too quickly. Independent verification should come before sending money, credentials or sensitive personal information.
Consumer protection
Before you act on a prize notice.
A few deliberate checks can help separate legitimate procedures from suspicious requests.
01
Pause and verify.
Confirm that the promotion, drawing or organization actually exists and that you participated in it.
02
Find contact information yourself.
When checking a claim, use independently located official contact information rather than relying only on a phone number, email address or link supplied in the prize notice.
03
Question demands for payment or credentials.
Be cautious when an unsolicited notice asks you to send fees, banking credentials, card information or other sensitive data before a supposed prize can be released.
Start with authoritative sources
Federal information worth knowing where to find.
Our goal is not to replace official guidance. It is to help consumers understand what information matters and make authoritative resources easier to locate.
Internal Revenue Service
Tax information
Review federal information concerning gambling winnings, lottery and raffle prizes, reporting and withholding.
Visit IRS.gov ↗
Federal Trade Commission
Prize scam guidance
Learn how fraudulent prize, lottery and sweepstakes notices commonly work and the warning signs consumers should recognize.
Visit FTC Consumer Advice ↗
Federal Trade Commission
Report suspected fraud
Consumers who encounter a suspected scam can access the Federal Trade Commission's official fraud reporting service.
Visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov ↗
How we help
Information organized around the questions winners actually face.
The American Lottery Consumer Network is designed as a starting point: understand the issue, identify the relevant authority and know when a question calls for individualized professional advice.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Make the process easier to understand.
We organize common procedures and terminology into straightforward information so consumers can begin with context instead of confusion.
02 / VERIFY
Point consumers toward reliable sources.
When a rule, tax matter or consumer-protection question depends on an authority, we encourage verification through the appropriate official source.
03 / PREPARE
Help people ask better questions.
Better information helps consumers prepare for discussions with lottery administrators, tax professionals, attorneys and other qualified advisers when needed.
About the network
A plain-language resource for consumers navigating a win.
The American Lottery Consumer Network provides educational resources and access to publicly available information for people navigating lotteries, raffles, giveaways, sweepstakes and contests.
Our focus is practical: explain common procedures, highlight important consumer-protection considerations and make it easier to identify authoritative sources when questions involve taxes, regulations, eligibility, claims or suspected fraud.
Independent information:
The American Lottery Consumer Network is not a government
agency, lottery operator, law firm or tax-preparation service.
Information on this website is educational in nature and
should not be treated as legal, tax or financial advice.
Need help finding the right information?
Start with the question. We will help point you toward the right resources.
Contact the American Lottery Consumer Network for general information or help locating relevant public resources.