But state lotteries are not doing enough to communicate with players
By Todd Northrop
Every aspect of life in America has been impacted by the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), including the lottery.
Although most lotteries continue to operate their drawings normally, some aspects of the games that require people to gather in one place have been shut down.
Claim centers are one such area. Illinois and South Carolina claim centers have closed completely, allowing for only claims by mail until the spread subsides.
In Illinois, claim centers will be closed until further notice starting Tuesday.
"As we continue to learn more about COVID-19, taking a more aggressive stance on helping to ensure the safety of our players and employees is prudent," Illinois Lottery Acting Director Harold Mays said. "We hope our players are patient and understanding as we work through this unprecedented challenge together."
South Carolina drawings will continue to take place and claims for prizes over $500 and up to $100,000 can be mailed or given in person upon re-opening. The Lottery says that it is encouraging people to make copies of their claim form and ticket before placing it in the mail.
Other states have similarly varied their claim center policies, along with other changes to their operations.
- Colorado Lottery claim offices remain open, although the lottery is encouraging players to send prize claims through the mail.
- Maryland Lottery claim centers have shortened hours of operation.
- Massachusetts Lottery claim centers close on Tuesday.
- South Dakota has closed its offices until at least March 21st.
- Vermont Lottery lobby hours will be shortened to 10 am - 2 pm until further notice.
- Washington, D.C.'s lottery prize center shortened it hours of operation to Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm, and players seeking to claim a prize over $25,000 are asked to schedule an appointment by calling 202-645-8000.
- West Virginia has canceled all promotional events this month.
- The Wyoming Lottery is encouraging players to mail prize claims.
With many states closing non-essential stores, the ability to buy a ticket or claim a small prize at your favorite store may also be impacted.
One lottery that has completely ceased operation is Puerto Rico. The lottery — which is still without a website ever since the island nation was wrecked by Hurricane Maria in 2017 — posted a note on its Facebook page Monday announcing a suspension of sales and postponement of all draws.
At least the Puerto Rico Lottery posted its announcement in a place where players are likely to visit.
Most other lotteries generally are not doing a good job of communicating with their players about the situation, even in areas of the country hardest hit by the virus.
For example, the home pages of the California Lottery and the Washington Lottery contain no information about the virus impact at all. In fact, the News section of the Washington Lottery's website is completely blank. The drawings continue to happen and the website is updated with the winning numbers, but there is no communication to the players about what is happening with regard to the virus.
Many other state lottery websites have the same absence of information about the virus and its impact. For players, it can be frustrating to seek out information about what, if any, effect the virus has on their favorite lottery, only to find the normal assortment of promotions and no mention of the virus.
When Lottery Post visited the websites of every state lottery Tuesday morning, only Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming had any information posted on their home page about the virus. That means nearly 80% of state lottery websites had no message to players about COVID-19 on their home page.
Nobody knows exactly how draconian the measures to limit the virus will become, or for how long those measures will last, but the state lotteries would do themselves credit by being transparent about the impact, and openly communicate with their players.
Important information about the Coronavirus can be found at:
- The official Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) page about COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
- The President's Coronavirus Guidelines for America — 15 Days to Slow the Spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) at whitehouse.gov.
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80%.................and why wouldn't TN be in that 80% ? Simple answer there....Because we have Rebecca at the helm...You know her..The new President of the World Lottery Association (WLA)........Great leadership Becky
Last Press release you ask ?? .................2-09-2020 https://www.tnlottery.com/newsroom?year=2020
If you can find something new in here,drop me a line http://www.tnlottery.com/
*TN Lottery still wont put the cash value of the PB/MM/LA on their website. Nor do they tell you that the $20+ scratch-off ticket grand prizes are paid out over 25 years.
Thank you Lottery Post for the very important information. At least someone is up on their information! And yes do tell on those that have not updated their lotto websites with the REAL information that we as players need right now!
Each one of us could imagine what could go wrong with the Lottery because of COVID-19.
The World is fighting an unseen enemy with the exception of special microscopes. We are in a battle.
i hope some states are doing like i heard about
-Limit the line, period. No exceptions.
-Limit i'd say 10 per store or less, per every "other few hours."
IDK(i don't know if they will)but i am at the store earlier and i seen a store in NC doing it."
I was happier going in,not alot of folks around me, i think it was me and a few others only,in and out of the store.was easy.a breeze. Less risk,ya know."
Good luck to all with their pick 3 and pick 4 and other lottery games."
It's been so long since I have won anything over $600 in North Carolina that it's not going to be a problem for me if N.C. follows suit.
State lotteries are no different than any other business that relies on stores to sell their products with the exception of the number of employees. Liquor stores and bars are closing so the lottery players believing as long as they are drawing numbers, they need to make a bet, are in the same boat with the people "needing a drink". It's now it's the stores and not the lottery that will decide if they can "make a bet" or "need a drink".
If a lottery decides to close their claim offices, simply extend the expiration dates until they reopen. If things keep escalating, lotteries will probably discontinue the drawings until things normalize.
I saw long lines of folks standing & waiting with empty 5 gal containers outside water outlets last night. They were ready to stock up & weather the current crisis. Last time l saw that scene- the lottery jackpot was sitting at a Billion dollars. The situation is reversed in this neck of the woods.
I'm wondering why anyone expects their state lottery to communicate anything about COVID-19 to their players. At best they can offer their future plans if the crisis gets worse. I check my state's lottery site and no mention of future plans if/when the crisis gets worse. but I'm pretty sure if they stop the drawings they will tell us.
On the other hand, the people around here expect Walmart to communicate their toilet paper shortages.
Wow am not surprised state of Illinois was the first state not to pay winning due to Corona virus they do not pay during budget crises but sell with no problem. They limited payment to $250,000 at one point. When it comes to winning payment Illinois has a bigger virus even before Corona Virus 😷 so pls stop I don't want to hear it. You sell you pay. No sell no pay. No more no pay excuses getting old
Shame that NO ONE here in US saw this coming sooner???
I told my sister 2 months ago that this was going to hit us hard, and a recession was coming.
Ooops! I made a mistake. I should have said Depression.
I am being dead serious now.
We are in for the long haul. Get use to being home with your family, the only bright side of this. Too busy making a living to really experience home life? Not anymore, we will have that time now. Enjoy it.
Hunker down, review your home security, and yes squirl away neccesities and basic foods. This is not hoarding, its being sure you can feed your family.
This is IT! The most destructive element that could hit the US other than the "Bomb". We do not have a vaccine, nor a cure yet.
I wish everyone the best, stay healthy, wear your gloves and masks while out in public, WASH YOUR HANDS upon returning home, leave your shoes by the entrance door, and do the best you can to stay healthy.
Schools are shutting down for the ENTIRE school year now, good time to set up school for your kids in your own home, you being the teacher. A few hours a day will keep your kid's minds active and developing on a normal level. This is important! And yes!! They have homework!
Good time to putter around the house? Just limit your time fretting about the News on TV or the internet.
Be safe, stay healthy, and God Bless All of You!
You just spoke nothing but the TRUTH. Been teaching mine since 2 years old. Everything that is happening right now, they are like, mommy you said this was going to happen. You are your children's BEST teacher. Saw this coming 20 years ago. Wake up people. Love and light
If you know then you know. If not, keep scrolling.
The GREAT DEPRESSION 2020
After reading what the Nevada Governor did and though it's a different business with many more employees, look for some the state lotteries (if not all) to suspend sales pretty soon.
You speak as an American, and that's understandable. But other nations which have gone through the same or worse may have said the same things relating to them at the time: Take the Bird Flu * China- circa 1997. SARS- China 2002. As with all diseases, it gets worse before it gets better. For what it's worth- We will conquer this, we have to. We cannot cheat death yet, but we were made for this: to solve problems. If we can put a man on the moon and bring him back, remove a heart and replace it with another- this is nothing. The human race will not be eradicated- Chin up, Trust!
...we cannot cheat death yet,....what is that supposed to mean? Mortality and taxes are two guarantees in life.
Anyway this former Respiratory Therapist is so glad to be retired two years ago. My PICU/hospital still does not have any kids that they know of! Years ago we had Corona virus there, that being said it was a different strain. We had flu deaths (unvaccinated) but none with that strain of Corona virus.
Kudos to Good Morning America on their piece just now on ventilators and they certainly didn't call them respirators! Don't get me started on using wrong names!!