Des Plaines, Fairview Heights, Rockford, and Springfield to reopen
By Todd Northrop
The Illinois Lottery today announced that it will reopen four of its five Lottery Claim Centers by appointment only, starting July 27.
The new appointment-only system for Illinois Lottery Claim Centers will help protect the health and safety of Lottery players and staff, while managing the volume of players visiting each center by strictly adhering to social distancing and the building capacity guidelines of each facility. No walk-ins will be allowed.
Players are advised to visit IllinoisLottery.com to make an appointment. To schedule a Claim Center appointment online, players will be required to submit the following information:
- Claim Center location
- First and last name
- Phone number
- Email address
"We know that many players prefer the immediacy of claiming their prize in person. The new appointment system will allow those players to do that conveniently," said Illinois Lottery Acting Director Harold Mays.
Due to high demand, the appointment schedule is expected to fill quickly. Players still have the option to claim any prize less than $600 at a local lottery retailer; players can also mail-in any sized claim.
"We've seen our mail-in program double its throughput since April, with thousands of players choosing it over waiting for an in-person visit. Many players have gotten their prize within 3-4 weeks of their claim being received. We strongly encourage players to try it," said Mays.
Instructions on how to claim a prize via mail can be found at IllinoisLottery.com/winning.
The following Claim Centers will be open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM by appointment only:
- Des Plaines – 9511 Harrison Street, Des Plaines, Illinois 60016
- Fairview Heights – 15 Executive Drive, Fairview Heights, Illinois 62208
- Rockford – 200 South Wyman, Rockford, Illinois 61101
- Springfield (Illinois Lottery Headquarters) – Willard Ice Building (Dept. of Revenue) 101 West Jefferson Street, Springfield, Illinois 62702
The Illinois Lottery Claim Center in the James R. Thompson Center (JRTC) remains closed to the public at this time.
The Lottery has released the following guidelines to its players when visiting claim centers:
DO
- Come to the Claim Center alone, unless assistance is required
- Check in with security and Lottery staff, upon arrival
- Wait in a designated area until your appointment time
- Bring a mask and wear it at all times in the Claim Center
- Bring photo ID and proof of Social Security number
- Sign your winning ticket and bring it with you
- Bring a completed claim form and winner questionnaire, if possible
- Follow social distancing requirements.
DON'T
- Go to the Claim Center without an appointment, no walk-ins are allowed
- Go to the Claim Center if you have already claimed your prize via mail.
I wonder when NY will reopen
It seems like they aren’t interested in paying
Why are they still not opening ?
Living with COVID - 19. There is good news about a potential vaccine.
Let's hope one of them shows some efficacy; way too early in the game. Anyway bought some more Moderna stock yesterday even though it is much more expensive than my previous purchase.
We have to see how long the immune response is as you probably have read a few folks who had COVID-19, recovered and had antibodies, got it again. The medical in me for what it is worth is thinking a few things. First they still had an active virus in their system and it came back that way. Of course am thinking that like all viruses, it mutated, hence negating any effect from antibodies. Thirdly and seriously doubt it, is that it may have retrovirus capabilities and that is the worst of any scenario. Honestly believe we can shelve my theory #3, just food for thought.
Glad I retired, and though I could have made a boatload of money going into this battle line to me it is not worth working with an invisible enemy, nor do I feel it is right to capitalize on the misfortunes of those infected. Working with ventilators I'd be right there in the midst of all this chaos...no thank you.
Nice Appointment System!
l can see the method to their madness. You should see the folks waiting to get into Bank of America & Trader Joe's. No kidding: the lines are going round the block * 6ft apart, reminiscient of PB & MM jackpots that would be sitting at $1.75 Billion. Crazy, but logical.
That's a fair question, but one that I'm willing to bet that even the NY Lottery doesn't know the answer to.
I wonder how many Take5 jackpots have been won that have yet to be paid? No way I'd mail them a jackpot winner if I had a five out of five.
Same thing for scratch off's. How many big winner scratch off tickets have yet to be claimed since the pandemic started and the offices were closed?? G5
Did NY bump up the expiration dates like other states have done???
I certainly hope so! But I've no idea what they may or may not have done.
This isnt a good time to be a big winner in NY with either a scratch off or online ticket. If a player wins more than $600 they must take their ticket to a NY Lottery Claim Center. I'd be OK with mailing in a $1000 winner, but a multi-thousand dollar (or larger) winner is a different story. G5