Where can I buy tickets?

The Lottery has more than 4,700 retail outlets across Tennessee. Use our Retailer Compass to find a participating retailer near you.

Can I buy lottery tickets on the internet or through a subscription? Can I use my debit or credit card to purchase tickets?

No. Tennessee law requires that all Lottery tickets must be purchased in-person at a participating retailer, and tickets can only be purchased with cash.

Can I purchase advance tickets for drawings?

In Tennessee, players may purchase Powerball tickets up to 10 drawings in advance, up to 12 drawings in advance for Lotto Plus and Pick 5, and 7 drawing days in advance for Cash 3 and Cash 4. Please note, there are no midday drawings for Cash 3 or Cash 4 on Sundays.

How do I claim a prize?

Prizes of less than $600 can be claimed through any of the Lottery's participating retailers or by mail. Instant ticket Prizes ranging from $600 to $199,999 must be claimed at any of the Tennessee Lottery's four district offices or at the Lottery's Nashville headquarters. Powerball prizes with a value of $99,999 and all other Lottery Prizes with a value of $200,000 or above must be claimed at the Lottery's Nashville headquarters. Please check the contact us page for office hours and locations. 

What happens if I lose a winning ticket?

Lottery tickets are bearer instruments, just like cash. If you lose your ticket, anyone can claim it. It is always wise to sign your ticket immediately after purchase to identify it as yours and to help prevent someone else from cashing it, in the event that it is lost or stolen.

How long do I have to collect a prize?

For instant games, the winner has 90 days from the announced end of game. For numbers-pick games and Hot Trax Champions, players have 180 days after the date of the drawing to claim their prize for a winning ticket.

When are the drawings for Powerball, Lotto Plus, Pick 5, Cash 3 and Cash 4?

Drawings for the Tennessee Lottery's drawing-style games are held at the following times:

Click here for broadcast information.

Each online drawing has a “draw break,” which is a short period of time when tickets cannot be purchased on the day of the drawing just prior to the draw. After the draw occurs, tickets may once again be purchased.

Draw breaks for online games are as follows: Lotto Plus draw break begins at approximately 8:59 p.m. CT (9:59 ET) Pick 5 draw break begins at approximately 10:15 p.m. CT (11:15 ET) Powerball draw break begins at approximately 9:00 p.m. CT (10:00 p.m. ET) Cash 3 and Cash 4 draw breaks are approximately 15 minutes prior to the draw time.

Hot Trax Champions tickets may be purchased until seconds prior to each race.

I would like details about how your drawings are conducted.

Cash 3, Cash 4, Pick 5, Lotto Plus and Hot Trax drawings are conducted at the Tennessee Lottery’s headquarters in Nashville using one of two automated drawing machines. These are stand-alone computers that operate as random number generators. A random number generator consists of highly secure computerized systems that generate numbers in a random manner, with no human involvement. The drawings are videotaped. Once the winning numbers are drawn, they are transferred for broadcast to the viewing public to our partner television stations throughout the state.

To see a video of how our drawings are conducted, please click here. To schedule an appointment to view a mid-day drawing at the Lottery, please call our Nashville Headquarters at 615-324-6500.

When are HOT TRAX CHAMPIONS drawings?

HOT TRAX CHAMPIONS races take place on video monitors at all HOT TRAX CHAMPIONS retailers. Race results are available at the HOT TRAX CHAMPIONS retailer upon completion of the race or the following day on the Tennessee Lottery web site at www.tnlottery.com/winningnumbers.

Are prizes taxable?

Yes. The State of Tennessee does not tax lottery winnings, but prizes are subject to Federal income taxes and other state witholdings.  For more information, please contact the Internal Revenue Service at 1-800-829-1040 or www.irs.gov.

Can a group of people share a prize?

Yes, lottery prizes can be shared. Winners can decide how to share the prize before they claim it. However, the TEL will only issue one check for any prize won. The check can be issued to an individual, corporation, organization, partnership, trust or estate. Any non-individual claim must provide documentation of authority to the TEL before the prize is paid. The TEL will accept Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 5754 if a group of individuals are claiming a prize. The form must be provided at the time the prize is claimed, and each of the group members will be subject to all applicable Federal, State and debt setoff withholdings and identification requirements. Please go to www.irs.gov to obtain instructions and Form 5754 prior to arriving at TEL.

Can the winner of a large Lottery prize remain anonymous?

Tennessee law requires the Lottery to disclose the name, home state, and home town of winners if a request is received for such information.

How long do I have to choose between taking the annuity or the lump sum for the Powerball jackpot or the Lotto Plus jackpot?

The jackpot winner for Powerball or Lotto Plus has 60 days from the date the player becomes entitled to the prize to choose either the lump sum or annuity payment. Annuity payments for the Lotto Plus jackpot will be paid in annual payments over 30 years. For more information about Powerball, please visit www.powerball.com.

How is the lump sum/cash value of the LottoPlus jackpot determined?

The estimated cash value of the jackpot is based on the estimated draw sales and the most recent market rates for U.S. government securities. The annuity jackpot amount and the cash jackpot amount that the TEL announces are always estimates until sales are final and, for the annuity jackpot, until we purchase the investment securities.

What would be my cash/lump sum payment if I won a Lotto Plus jackpot and didn’t choose the annuity option?

The lump sum cash payout varies, depending on the draw sales and the most recent market rates for U.S. government securities. The annuity jackpot amount and the cash jackpot amount that the TEL announces are always estimates until sales are final and, for the annuity jackpot, until we purchase the investment securities. That said, for the annuity jackpot of $1,000,000 won on March 11, 2008, the lump sum payout was approximately $580,000 on the day of the drawing.

What happens to my annuity if I die?

A lottery prize is just like any other asset. You can pass any remaining annuity payments on to your heirs or to anyone else.

How old do I have to be to play?

Persons must be at least 18 years of age or older to purchase or redeem Lottery tickets.

Where can I get information on Lottery-funded scholarships?

Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) administers the HOPE scholarship program, including Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grants, funded by Lottery proceeds. For more details or to apply for a scholarship, please visit www.collegepaystn.com or call (615) 741-1346.

How can I learn more about Lottery-funded pre-kindergarten and after-school programs?

In addition to scholarships, lottery revenues also benefit pre-kindergarten and after-school programs. Information about funds for after-school programs may be obtained by visiting http://tennessee.gov/education/learningsupport/afterschool/index.shtml or calling 615-253-6037. Pre-K information may be obtained by contacting the State Office of Early Learning at 615-253-3182 or at http://state.tn.us/education/sp/volprek/.

I received a letter/email from an international lottery saying I won a prize. I didn’t buy a ticket. Is this legitimate?

There are many lottery scam letters and emails, and many of them request the recipient to send money up front to claim a lottery prize. Legitimate lotteries do not contact people who have not bought a ticket, entered a drawing, etc. Nor do legitimate lotteries ever ask for any money from players.