Tennessee Lottery

Where can I buy tickets?
	The Lottery has more than 4,900 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, Mega Millions® and HOT LOTTO® tickets up to 10 drawings in advance, up to 12 drawings in advance for Tennessee Cash, 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?
	Please CLICK HERE for this information.

How do I enter my non-winning instant tickets into Second Chance drawings?

All Tennessee Lottery non-winning instant tickets are eligible for our Play It Again! second chance drawing program or our game-specific Second Chance drawings.

To enter tickets, simply click on the VIP Players Suite® icon on this website's homepage, and follow the easy membership instructions. Once registered, you can enter eligible non-winning tickets for your chance to win, and also enjoy the additional benefits of being a Tennessee Lottery VIP.

For more details, visit the FAQs portion of the VIP Players Suite®.

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 drawing-style games players have 180 days after the date of the drawing to claim their prize for a winning ticket.

When are the drawings for Powerball, Mega Millions®, HOT LOTTO®,Tennessee Cash, Cash 3 and Cash 4?

Click here for drawing and 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 drawing-style games are as follows:

Powerball draw break begins at approximately 9:00 p.m. CT (10:00 p.m. ET)

Mega Millions® draw break begins at approximately 9:45 p.m. CT (10:45 ET)

HOT LOTTO® draw break begins at approximately 8:45 p.m. CT (9:45 ET)

Tennessee Cash draw break begins at approximately 10:15 p.m. CT (11:15 ET)

Cash 3 and Cash 4 draw breaks are approximately 20 minutes prior to the draw time.

I would like details about how your drawings are conducted.

Cash 3, Cash 4 and Tennessee Cash 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 schedule an appointment to view a mid-day drawing at the Lottery, please call our Nashville Headquarters at 615-324-6500.

Powerball, Mega Millions and HOT LOTTO® are multi-state drawings not held in Tennessee. For more information on these games, just visit www.powerball.com and click on the Powerball, Mega Millions® or HOT LOTTO® tabs at the top of the homepage.

Are prizes taxable?
	Yes. The State of Tennessee does not tax lottery winnings, but prizes are subject to Federal income taxes. 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 Mega Millions® jackpot?
	The jackpot winner for Powerball or Mega Millions® 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 Mega Millions® jackpot will be paid in annual payments over 26 years. For more information about Powerball, please visit www.powerball.com. HOT LOTTO® jackpots are paid in one lump-sum only.

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?
	For information concerning Lottery-funded programs CLICK HERE.

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.

If you did not find the answer to your question, remember that Player Services is available Monday through Friday each week from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Central Time. Just dial 1-877-786-7529 toll free within Tennessee or 254-4946 if you are within the Nashville calling area. Players outside of Tennessee may call 615-254-4946.