Section 150. Retailers' prize payment procedures

Procedures for prize payments by retailers are as follows:

1. Retailers may pay cash prizes in cash, by certified check, cashier's check, business check, money order, other cash equivalent or by any combination of these methods.

2. If a check for payment of a prize by a retailer to a claimant is denied for any reason, the retailer is subject to the same service charge, interest and penalty payments for referring a debt to the agency for collection that would apply if the check were made payable to the agency. A claimant whose prize check is denied shall notify the agency to obtain the prize.

3. During normal business hours of the lottery retailer with operational validation equipment by which the ticket claim can be validated, a lottery retailer shall pay any lottery prize of $600 or less, unless otherwise determined by the director, regardless of the location from which the winning ticket was purchased.

4. A prize claim shall be paid only at the location specified on the retailer's license or at a lottery office.

5. The agency will reimburse a retailer for all valid prizes paid by the retailer within the specified prize redemption period for the game from which the prize resulted.

6. In no case shall a retailer impose a fee, additional charge or discount for cashing a winning lottery game ticket.

7. Retailers who pay claims without validating the tickets do so at their own financial risk.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 19, Issue 15, eff. May 7, 2003; amended, Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 26, eff. September 26, 2012; Volume 31, Issue 03, eff. November 5, 2014.

Statutory Authority

§ 58.1-4007 of the Code of Virginia.