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.
- Lancaster County couple wins $1 million from $20 scratch-off ticket
- Pennsylvania Lottery offers resources for betting responsibly during Problem Gambling Awareness Month
- $1,000 a week for life | Big winner in Northumberland County
FAQs
Claiming your prize in Pennsylvania
Once there, lottery officials will validate your ticket. 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.
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.
Do PA Lottery scratch off tickets expire? ›
Scratch-off prizes expire one year after the game's end-sale date, which is posted at palottery.com.
What happens if I win 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. See all the games here. There are many ways to Deposit and Withdraw from your PA Lottery Online account.
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.
Does lottery winnings affect Social Security? ›
Firstly, lottery winnings are considered unearned income, so they do not directly affect Social Security benefits, which are primarily concerned with earned income, like wages from a job. This means that the $10,000 lottery win will not reduce your friend's Social Security benefits.
How much tax do you pay on $1 million lottery winnings? ›
In practice, there is a 24 percent federal withholding of the gross prize, plus the remaining tax, based on your filing status. For example, if your gross prize is $1,000,000, you need to pay $334,072 in total taxes ($240,000 federal withholding, plus the remaining $94,072 for single filing status in 2021).
Does PA release your name if you win the lottery? ›
Can winners remain anonymous? No. Pennsylvania Lottery winners cannot remain anonymous. However, only certain claimant information can be released.
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.
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.
Scratch-Offs aren't forever: There's an expiration date lurking on those tickets, folks! You have one year from the game's end-sale date to claim your prize. Don't let your potential windfall turn into a pile of confetti-filled regret! Check the Pennsylvania Lottery website for specific game end dates.
What retailer sold $3 million scratch-off tickets in Allegheny County? ›
(KDKA) -- A Pennsylvania Lottery retailer in Allegheny County recently sold a $3 million-winning scratch-off ticket. The lucky winner earned the prize on the $160 Million Cash Blowout scratch-off game. The BP location at 1717 Freeport Road in Natrona Heights will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
Has anyone ever won the PA Lottery online? ›
— A person in Beaver County recently won an online prize from the Pennsylvania Lottery worth over $661,000. The player won $661,493.73 in a game of Cash Vault. To play PA Lottery online games, create an account at palottery.com and add a payment method such as a debit card, credit card or linked bank account.
Has anyone won the lottery by playing online? ›
But many people have won second-tier Powerball prizes, including multi-million dollar payouts, by playing the lottery online or using a lottery app. In fact, 19 lottery fans have ordered winning Powerball tickets worth $1 million or more using Jackpocket.
Do you have to report lottery winnings in PA? ›
PA law imposes income tax on a PA residents gambling and lottery winnings from any source. Report your PA taxable winnings on PA Schedule T. PA law imposes Pennsylvania income...
How long does it take to withdraw from PA lottery? ›
Once you have requested a withdrawal, please allow up to 5 business days for your request to be reviewed. Once reached for review, you may be required to provide documentation to verify any payment methods used on your PA iLottery account.
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 your prize pick money? ›
Instant withdrawals
Typical processors can take 2-3 business days for you to withdraw winnings. With Aeropay, PrizePicks members withdraw their money instantly at any time, straight into their bank account. Talk about a win, win!
How long does it take to claim Mega Millions in Pennsylvania? ›
