Lottery ticket scanner message

1 Introduction

This OLG.ca Player Agreement – Terms and Conditions of Use for OLG.ca contains the terms and conditions that govern the use of OLG's OLG.ca online gaming platform.  By checking the “accept“ box, an Intending Player, Prospective Player, or a Player is confirming that they understand and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement.  If a Prospective Player, Intending Player, or a Player does not agree with any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the individual (i) is not permitted to register an account with OLG.ca, and (ii) if the individual already has a Player Account (as defined in Section 2 below), they are not permitted to log into their Player Account and play any Games or purchase any products that are offered on or through OLG.ca.

OLG reserves the right to revise this Agreement from time to time in such manner as OLG, in its sole discretion, determines to be appropriate.  OLG will post a notice on OLG.ca advising Players when this Agreement has been revised, and Prospective Players (prior to registering an account with OLG.ca), Intending Players (prior to completion of the registration for a Player Account)  and Players (prior to logging into their Player Account) will be required to acknowledge and agree to be bound by the revised terms and conditions from and after that date.  Each Prospective Player, Intending Player, and Player is responsible for familiarizing themselves with all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and ensuring that they understand and agree to be bound by them prior to registering an account with OLG.ca or logging-in to their Player Account.

In the case of a Prospective Player, Intending Player, or a Player breaching or otherwise failing to comply with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, OLG will have the right to exercise any or all of the remedies described in this Agreement or otherwise available to it at law or in equity.  Those remedies may include, for example, (i) the right to terminate a Prospective Player's, Intending Player’s, or a Player's eligibility to register or maintain a Player Account, (ii) to lock, Suspend, and/or Deactivate a Player Account, and (iii) to retain any or all Unutilized Funds (as defined in Section 2 below) associated with a Player Account.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT THAT GIVES UP SOME OF YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS, PLEASE READ WITH CARE. THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY INCLUDING LIMITING OLG’S LIABILITY TO YOU FOR NEGLIGENCE.

2 Definitions

The following terms have the respective meanings specified below, and grammatical variations of such terms have corresponding meanings:

• “AGCO” means the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and the successors thereof;
• “AGCO Standards” means the AGCO Gaming Standards  and the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming: Lottery Sector, as prepared and issued by the Registrar of the AGCO, as amended or replaced from time to time;
• “AGCO Gaming Standards” means the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming; 
• “Agreement” means this Player Agreement – Terms and Conditions of Use for OLG.ca, as amended or replaced from time to time by OLG;
• “Bonus Funds” means a notional amount corresponding to Canadian dollars that is loaded into a Player Account by OLG. Bonus Funds, subject to the applicable Bonus Funds Terms, can be used by a Player to play Pay-to-Play Games or Draw-Based Lottery Games Played Online, or both, without charge to the Player;
• “Bonus Funds Terms” has the meaning specified in Section 8.1.  Subject to Section 3  of this Agreement, the Bonus Funds Terms are incorporated into and form part of this Agreement;
• “Break” has the meaning specified in the Responsible Gambling and Self-Exclusion Policy;
• “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, a statutory holiday in Ontario or any day on which banks are not open for business in Toronto, Ontario;
• “Chargeback” has the meaning specified in Section 6.4;
• “Closed Account” means a Player Account that is described in Section 11.1; 
• “Close” or “Closure” means the act of a Player closing their Player Account as described in Section 11.1; 
• “Deactivate” or “Deactivation” means that a Player Account has been set to a Deactivated Account as described in Section 12.2;
• “Deactivated Account” has the meaning specified in Section 12.2;
• “Dormant Account” means a Player Account that is described in Section 10.2 but does not include the Player Account of a Self-Excluded Individual;
• “Downtime” has the meaning specified in Section 15.2;
• “Draw-Based Lottery Game Played Online” means any of the games made available through OLG.ca from time to time that: (i) constitutes a “lottery scheme” for purposes of the Criminal Code (Canada), (ii) requires the Player to select a set of numbers or other play elements (whether chosen by the Player and/or randomly generated), and (iii) has its outcome or result being determined by a draw, but does not include any Pay-to-Play Game or any Play-for-Free Game.  
• “Error” has the meaning specified in Section 15.1;
• “Error Funds” has the meaning specified in Section 15.1;
• “Event” has the meaning specified in the applicable Pay-To-Play Game Rules; 
• “Excluded Individual” means an individual who is not permitted to register an account with OLG.ca or, if the individual already has a Player Account, to maintain that Player Account in an activated state, including:
• 
  
  1. an individual who does not satisfy all of the eligibility criteria that are described in Section 4.1 of this Agreement;
  2. an individual who has been excluded from OLG.ca by court order or any applicable law or regulation or any rule or policy enacted pursuant thereto, including the AGCO Standards;
  3. an individual who is prohibited from accessing a gaming site or playing lottery schemes under Standard 3.1 or Standard 3.2 of the AGCO Standards, or any other relevant provision of the AGCO Standards from time to time;
  4. an individual who has registered for Self-Exclusion from a Casino (as defined in the AGCO Gaming Standards), for the duration of the period of Self-Exclusion (see the Responsible Gambling and Self Exclusion Policy for further information);
  5. a Self-Excluded Individual;
  6. an individual who is an employee of OLG or who, by contract or another arrangement with OLG, is prohibited from registering an account with OLG.ca; and
  7. an individual who is an employee of an “iGaming vendor” or “an iGaming entity” (as such terms are defined in the OLG Rules Respecting iGaming Lottery Games as  amended or replaced from time to time).

• “FINTRAC” means the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada and the successors thereof;
• “Future Game Transaction” has the meaning specified in Section 5.2;
• “Games” means, collectively, Draw-Based Lottery Games Played Online, Pay-to-Play Games and Play-for-Free Games;
• “iGaming System” means the system that is used by OLG for the purpose of registering and administering Player Accounts, facilitating the playing of Games by Players, and paying Prizes;
• “Inactive Account” means a Player Account that is described in Section 10.1 but does not include the Player Account of a Self-Excluded Individual;
• “Intending Player” means an individual described in Section 4.1;
• “Lottery Game Rules” means any terms, conditions, explanations, rules and procedures, including the prize structure, issued by OLG or the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation from time to time (in addition to this Agreement) which apply to a Draw-Based Lottery Game Played Online and which are designated by OLG as Lottery Game Rules.  Subject to Section 3, the Lottery Game Rules are incorporated into and form part of this Agreement;
• “Mobile Applications” means any application developed by or on behalf of OLG that Prospective Players and Players can install on their mobile device, such as mobile phone or tablet, and through which select Games are made available to eligible Players from time to time;
• “OLG” means Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and the successors thereof;
• “OLG.ca” means OLG's website and Mobile Applications through which select Games are made available to eligible Players from time to time;
• “OLG Internet Gaming Privacy and Cookie Policy” means the OLG.ca cookie and privacy policy, as amended or replaced by OLG from time to time.  Subject to Section 3, the OLG Internet Gaming Privacy and Cookie Policy is incorporated into and forms part of this Agreement;
• “OLG IP Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 14.3;
• “Pay-to-Play Game” means any of the games made available through OLG.ca from time to time that: (i) constitutes a “lottery scheme” for purposes of the Criminal Code (Canada), (ii) requires the Player to place a bet or make a wager as a condition to entering the game, and (iii) affords the Player a chance to win a Prize, but does not include any Draw-Based Lottery Game Played Online or any Play-for-Free Game.  Examples of Pay-to-Play Games include Sports Betting Games Played Online and casino style games such as roulette and slots;
• “Pay-to-Play Game Rules” means the terms, conditions, explanations, rules and procedures (for example, how a Prize is won, the value and odds of winning Prizes for an individual Pay-to-Play Game, the Prize tiers within a Pay-to-Play Game) issued by OLG from time to time (in addition to this Agreement) which apply to a particular Pay-to-Play Game and which are designated by OLG as Pay-to-Play Game Rules.  Subject to Section 3, the Pay-to-Play Game Rules are incorporated into and form part of this Agreement;
• “Player” means an individual (for certainty, other than an individual who is or becomes an Excluded Individual) who has successfully registered a Player Account that has not been Suspended, Deactivated, or Closed;
• “Player Account” means a Player's account of notional funds corresponding to Canadian dollars that is maintained on the iGaming System, and also includes the Player's registration information, deposit and withdrawal transaction history, and game-play information that the Player can access through OLG.ca from time to time;
• “Player Contact Information” means a Player's contact information that is associated with a Player Account and stored in the iGaming System at the relevant time including, for example, the Player's name, e-mail address, mailing address and telephone number;
• “Player-Initiated Transaction” has the meaning specified in Section 10.1;
• “Play-for-Free Game” means any of the free games made available through OLG.ca from time to time that contain some the features of a “lottery scheme” for purposes of the Criminal Code (Canada) but do not afford a chance to win a Prize or require any payment to play;
• “Player Support” means OLG.ca's customer support services, which can be contacted in accordance with Section 18.1;
• “Prize” means a prize won by a Player from a Game in accordance with the applicable Lottery Game Rules or Pay-to-Play Game Rules;
• “Prospective Player” means any individual who visits OLG.ca but is not a Player;
• “Responsible Gambling and Self-Exclusion Policy” means the OLG responsible gambling policy relating specifically to OLG.ca, as amended or replaced by OLG from time to time. Subject to Section 3, the Responsible Gambling and Self Exclusion Policy is incorporated into and forms part of this Agreement;  
• “Self-Excluded Individual” has the meaning specified in the Responsible Gambling and Self-Exclusion Policy; 
• “Self-Exclusion” has the meaning specified in the Responsible Gambling and Self-Exclusion Policy;
• “Sports Betting Games Played Online” means Pay-to-Play Games made available through OLG’s online sports betting platform.
• “Suspended Account” has the meaning specified in Section 12.1; 
• “Suspend” or “Suspension” means that a Player Account has been set to a Suspended Account as described in Section 12.1;
• “Unutilized Funds” means any notional funds corresponding to Canadian dollars that are credited to a Player Account, including Prizes but excluding Bonus Funds, that have not been used by the Player; and
• “Username and Password” means a unique combination of identifiers created by a Player that is used by a Player to identify themselves to the iGaming System each time the Player wants to access their Player Account. 

3 Additional Documents Comprising Part of this Agreement

This Agreement incorporates by reference the terms, conditions, policies, statements and explanations of other documents, including:

1. the applicable Lottery Game Rules and Pay-to-Play Game Rules;
2. the Responsible Gambling and Self-Exclusion Policy;
3. the applicable Bonus Funds Terms; and
4. OLG Internet Gaming Privacy and Cookie Policy.

In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between any provision of this Agreement and any of such other terms, conditions, policies, statements and explanations, the order of precedence shall be in descending order of clauses (a) to (d) above, except that this Agreement shall rank below the applicable Lottery Game Rules and Pay-to-Play Game Rules for such purpose.

4 Registration of a Player Account

4.1 Eligibility to Register a Player Account

Only Players are allowed to play Draw Based Lottery Games Played Online and Pay-to-Play Games through OLG.ca.  An individual who desires to become a Player (an “Intending Player”) must satisfy the following criteria, as determined by OLG in its sole discretion:

1. the Intending Player must not already be a Player.  A Player is only entitled to have one Player Account.  The registration or attempted registration of more than one Player Account will constitute a material breach of this Agreement;
2. the Intending Player must be at least 18 years of age.  Only Players who are at least 19 years of age will be able to play Pay-to-Play Games and Play-for-Free Games.  All Players who are at least 18 years of age are eligible to play Draw-Based Lottery Games Played Online;
3. the Intending Player must reside in Ontario; 
4. the Intending Player must be physically located in the Province of Ontario each time the Player plays any of the Games (including when signing up for  Future Game Transactions);
5. the Intending Player must not be an Excluded Individual;
6. the Intending Player must be an individual who is acting on their own behalf.  The Intending Player must not be acting for or on behalf of anyone other than themselves, whether as an agent or otherwise; and
7. the Intending Player must submit true, complete and accurate information when providing registration information.
8. in the case of Sports Betting Games Played Online, the Intending Player must comply with the provisions of paragraphs 5(a), (b), (c) and (d) of Section 14.5 each time the Intending Player plays any of the Games.

An Intending Player who does not satisfy all of the foregoing criteria is not eligible to register an account with OLG.ca or to become a Player. OLG, in its sole discretion, may require additional information or documentation from an Intending Player or Player prior to completing the registration of a Player Account or at any time thereafter, including for the purposes of confirming a Player's identity or other Player Contact Information and in order to investigate any other suspected breaches of this Agreement (including any suspected fraudulent or dishonest activity). A failure of the Intending Player to satisfy any of the foregoing will constitute a material breach of this Agreement.

OLG will disclose an Intending Player's registration information to third-party service providers for the purposes of authenticating some or all of the registration information that has been provided to OLG by an Intending Player and to otherwise confirm that an Intending Player has satisfied the foregoing criteria and is eligible to register a Player Account.  In addition, OLG may similarly disclose information in respect of a Player from time to time for the purposes of (i) confirming the Player's continued eligibility to maintain a Player Account, (ii) investigating any suspected breaches of this Agreement (including any suspected fraudulent or dishonest activity), and (iii) exercising any of OLG's other rights described in this Agreement or in any of the other documents incorporated in this Agreement by reference pursuant to Section 3.

By providing any information or documentation to OLG, the Intending Player (or the Player, as the case may be) consents to the use and disclosure of such information by OLG for any and all of the purposes contemplated in this Agreement or in any of the other documents incorporated in this Agreement by reference pursuant to Section 3.  Please see the OLG Internet Gaming Privacy and Cookie Policy for additional information regarding the collection, use, disclosure and storage of personal information by OLG.

4.2 Player Account Information

Information that is submitted by an Intending Player who is registering an account with OLG.ca must be true, accurate and complete at the time it is provided to OLG and such information must remain true, accurate and complete following the registration of a Player Account.  If any of such registration information changes following the registration of a Player Account, it is the Player's sole responsibility to ensure that the Player remains entitled to have a Player Account pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and, if necessary, to update the Player's information in the Player Account by going to the “My Account” or “Account Information” page.

OLG may, from time to time, disclose a Player's registration information to third-party service providers for the purposes of confirming that the Player's registration information remains true and accurate.  In addition, OLG may, at any time in its sole discretion, request additional information and documentation from a Player for this purpose.

You consent that OLG, and its third-party service providers, can collect personal information/Player information. You consent that this information can be used, stored, retained, and disclosed outside of the province of Ontario and Canada. This consent enables the following services to be provided: (i) verification of identity; (ii) payment processing; (iii) location verification; (iv) analytics (e.g., web site usage); (v) customer relationship management and player support; (vi) email services; and (vii) technical support of OLG.ca.

The failure of a Player to update their Player Account information in a timely manner will constitute a material breach of this Agreement by the Player.  Following the registration of a Player Account, if OLG discovers that any of the registration information associated with a Player Account which is then on file in the iGaming System is not true or is no longer accurate or complete (including, for example, because a Player's circumstances have changed and the Player did not update their information that is associated with the Player Account), OLG may take all steps in relation to the Player or the Player Account that OLG determines, in its sole discretion, to be appropriate.  For example, these steps may include Suspending, or Deactivating the Player Account, investigating any security issues and, in the case of suspected or actual identity theft or fraud, disclosing all relevant information to the appropriate law enforcement authorities and other third parties that OLG determines to be appropriate (for example, the AGCO, OLG's payment processors, and credit card issuers and brands).

4.3 Required Documentation

How do I save my favorite numbers to use on my playslips on the app?

I checked my draw-style game ticket on the mobile app and it says Not Yet a Winner. What does this mean?

I checked my scratch-off ticket on the mobile app and it says Not Active. What does that mean?

I checked my ticket on the mobile app and it says Expired. What does that mean?

I checked my ticket on the mobile app and it says Winner but there are still Pending Drawings. Do I have to wait to claim my prize?

I lost my ticket that said it was a Winner on the app? Can I get my prize?

I saved a playslip on the app. How do I use it to buy a ticket?

I want to chose my numbers based on which have been drawn the most. How do I do that on the mobile app?

What is the difference between a Quick Pick play and a Dice Play on the mobile app?

On Scratchers^® tickets, the unique barcode is located in different locations on the FRONT of each ticket. See image below:

On SuperLotto Plus^® tickets, the unique barcode is directly below the 2nd Chance Code printed on the ticket. See image below: 

On Fantasy 5 tickets over $5, the unique barcode is directly below the 2nd Chance Code printed on the ticket. See image below:

What does it mean when a lottery ticket says Cannot process See retailer?

It means that the selling agent/retailer must verify the ticket on the store’s scanner to determine the prize. In some states it may mean that the prize is too large, usually over $500, for the retailer to pay out.

Can you win the lottery and not tell anyone?

Right now only seven states allow lottery winners to maintain their anonymity: Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Texas, Ohio and South Carolina. And six states also allow people to form a trust to claim prize money anonymously. California entirely forbids lottery winners to remain anonymous.

What is the first thing to do when you win the lottery?

What to Do Before Claiming Your Prize

1. Protect Your Ticket.
2. Don’t Rush to Claim Your Prize.
3. Don’t Quit Your Job or Spread News of Your Good Fortune.
4. Hire Professionals.
5. Change Your Address & Go Unlisted.
6. Taking the Lump-Sum Payout.
7. Taking the Long-Term Payout.
8. Consult With the Professionals You Hired.

Can you stay anonymous after winning the lottery in NY?

ALBANY – The names of lottery winners in New York will remain public after Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed a bill that would have allowed them to remain anonymous. Under state law, lottery winners of $5,000 or more must agree to reveal their identity publicly before collecting their winnings. …

Can you remain anonymous if you win the lottery in Canada?

No privacy for lottery winners in Canada Provincial lottery corporations have rules that require winners to publicly disclose their identity and take part in lottery public relations activities, such as having their photo taken with an oversized cheque.

Why get a lawyer if you win the lottery?

A good lottery lawyer can help winners protect their anonymity as much as possible. Another option many lottery winners choose is to set up a trust to claim the prize. A lottery lawyer can help determine whether a trust is beneficial for the winner and if so, can help set it up.

How much tax do you pay if you win the lottery in Canada?

Lotteries. Winnings from a Canadian lottery such as Lotto Max or 649 are considered to be windfalls, and windfalls are not subject to tax. Even winnings from a sweepstake or lottery sponsored by a charitable organization are generally tax-free.

Do you have to take a picture if you win the lottery in Canada?

03.12. 2019 Can You Stay Anonymous After Winning the Lottery in Canada? In Canada, winners of jackpot prizes are required to make their identity known publicly. The reason for this is to reassure players that real people do actually win the lottery, and also to provide publicity for the lottery in question.

Who won the 70 million on Lotto Max?

Marc and Dorothy-Ann Meilleur of Noelville, Ontario will travel, and buy new homes for their children. TORONTO — A couple from the Northern Ontario community of Noelville is celebrating a lottery win that will change their lives and the lives of their families.

Is my spouse entitled to my lottery winnings?

If you live in a community property state and purchased a winning lottery ticket while still married, you are legally obligated to split half of the earnings with your wife, although there is a loophole to this: if the winning lottery ticket was purchased with money that was either inherited or gifted, you are not …

Which province has the most Lotto Max winners?

Ontario

Which lottery is the easiest to win in Canada?

The odds of winning the Lotto Max jackpot are one in 33,294,800 per $5 play. This makes Lotto Max harder to win than Canada’s National Lotto (odds of one in 13,983,816).

Who is the youngest person to ever win the lottery?

23-year-old claims $235M jackpot, becomes youngest Powerball winner in Florida history. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WJW) — A 23-year-old man has become the youngest person to win the Powerball in Florida. According to the Florida Lottery, Thomas Yi won a $235.4 million jackpot in a Powerball drawing held last month.

Who won the highest lottery ever?

Laarni Bibal

Who won the largest lottery ever?

In 2018, a person who chose to remain anonymous won $1.537 billion in South Carolina. That prize remains the world’s largest lottery prize ever awarded on a single ticket, according to Mega Millions.

Virginia Lottery Ticket Checkers read your ticket's barcode and send the information to a central, digital system to confirm whether or not the ticket is a winner.

Lottery Ticket Checkers do this in a fraction of a second. You won’t have to wonder about whether or not you won. You can get the information and move on. 

Below, you’ll find tips on where to safely scan your Lottery tickets plus other best practices to guarantee that only you can claim any prize you win.

There are three ways to check your ticket at an authorized Lottery retailer.

1. Scanning on the Ticket Scanner Plus

The Ticket Scanner Plus is located on countertops in Virginia Lottery retailers that do not have a Lottery Vending Machine.

• Scan your ticket at the Ticket Scanner Plus, and, within seconds, the status of the ticket (winner or not) will be revealed.
• If the winnings exceed $600, the player will be notified to visit a Customer Service Center to collect the winnings.
• If the ticket is not a winner, the Ticket Scanner Plus gives the player a message: “This ticket is not a winner”.

If you can’t find the Ticket Scanner Plus, please ask the clerk for help.

2. Use the Lottery Vending Machine.

Consider them your gateway to accessing and playing all Lottery games including:

Lottery Vending Machines have intuitive touchscreens that take you through each step of how to use them. For printed games, such as Scratchers, the Lottery Vending Machine also features a built-in ticket checker. Simply scan your ticket to see if you're a winner!

If you win a prize under $600, the screen will ask if you want to apply or not apply your winnings to another purchase. When you apply your winnings on the Lottery Vending Machine, you can select new games to play. For prizes over $600, you will need to claim your prize at a Virginia Lottery Customer Service Center or Prize Zone. You also can claim your winnings through the mail. For more details, refer to our Claim a Prize instructions.

3. Have the retailer scan the ticket.

Lottery tickets can be scanned directly at counters at Virginia Lottery retailers. 

Here’s how it works.

• Hand your ticket to the ticketing agent at the appropriate counter.
• The agent will scan your ticket or manually type in the barcode.
• The agent will communicate if you're a winner or not. 
• If you win, a machine will print a ticket showing the prize amount.

Make sure to sign every ticket after purchase. Lottery tickets are bearer instruments, which means that whoever possesses the ticket can claim it. Signing your ticket ensures you're the only bearer eligible to claim its prize.

Note that whether or not a Lottery retailer can immediately pay out cash winnings under $600 will vary. Retailers unable to pay out your winnings in cash are allowed to offer checks or money orders instead.

Did you know you can check your Virginia Lottery ticket in the official Virginia Lottery mobile app?

The app provides a quick and convenient way to see if you’ve won. After you take a picture of your ticket, the app instantly checks the ticket’s barcode and determines if it’s a winner using a built-in technology. 

Other benefits of using the app include:

• Entering unique promotions such as eXTRA Chances. 
• Creating digital playslips.
• Receiving instant updates on the latest Virginia Lottery games. 
• Finding your closest Virginia Lottery retailer.

Every Lottery ticket has a unique barcode. All Lottery Ticket Checkers — whether at a Lottery Vending Machine, on our app or at a retailer's counter — contain barcode-reading technology that allows them to instantly register your ticket's barcode ID. The checker then sends that barcode-based ID to Virginia’s central registry. Within a matter of seconds, the registry confirms if the ticket is a winner or non-winner by matching the barcode ID with its list of winning numbers, which updates daily.

The entire process takes seconds. Lottery Ticket Checkers are reliable as long as they maintain a secure internet connection. 

Once scanned, a Lottery ticket is claimed. The in-store Ticket Checker notifies customers if a ticket has already been cashed or claimed. Other people cannot turn in fake or duplicate tickets containing an identical barcode ID.

Yes. Barcode scanners remove the need to manually validate tickets, which reduces the likelihood of scams. 

Keep these tips and best practices in mind when playing Lottery games, so you can maximize security. 

• Sign your ticket immediately after purchase. This makes the ticket yours. No one else can use or claim it. 
• Double-check your entire ticket. Make sure it's for the exact game and drawing you want and has the numbers you selected. 
• Always ensure a ticketing agent clearly scans your ticket's barcode with a proper barcode-reading device.
• If you don't want someone else to scan your ticket, opt for self-scanning technology that can be found at Virginia Lottery Vending Machines or in the Virginia Lottery app.
• Do not post pictures of your ticket on social media. Also, do not give your ticket to anyone else. Keep it in your possession at all times or in a secure location until you're able to claim your prize. 

_{Last updated 5/29/20}

When your lottery ticket says see retailer, it can mean a bunch of different things.

Here I explain what they are and what you can do about it.

Two Main Types Of ‘See Retailer’ Message

This is the first thing to understand – there are 2 main kinds of these messages.

Firstly there is the simpler ‘please see retailer’ message. This is different to the ‘cannot process’ message.

Both are covered in detail below.

1. ‘Please See Lottery Retailer’

When your lottery ticket says see retailer, but it does NOT mention anything about ‘cannot process’, here’s what it can mean:-

• There is a network/system problem – so just try again later.
• You scanned it at a ticket vending machine and you have won more than $100 (the vending machines have a lower maximum payout limit).
• You may have won more than $600 but less than $5,000 – the retailer can handle this (more and you have to claim from the lottery office).

So what does it mean when your lottery ticket says see retailer? Most likely that you have won something.

Which is a good problem to have. 🙂

And why do the scanners just say ‘see retailer’ when you have won? Because it’s safer for you than the machine screaming “WINNER, please now steal my ticket…”. 😉

Seriously, that is the reason. Self-scan machines used to announce a winner, but there were some cases of people stealing tickets from winners identified in this way. So bear in mind if your lottery ticket says see retailer this is actually the lottery company looking out for you!

2. My Lottery Ticket Says Cannot Process See Retailer

So what does it mean when a lottery ticket says cannot process see retailer? This is a whole different kettle of fish.

It happens quite often with lottery apps. But these apps are basically doing exactly the same thing as the self-scan machines in stores anyway.

So however you are scanning the ticket it can mean:-

• it didn’t scan correctly – make sure you ticket is nice and flat, and scan again
• the lottery network is temporarily down or overloaded – just try again later on
• your ticket is old and no longer valid 🙁 – nothing you can do here, other than remember to check your tickets earlier in future
• the ticket is damaged and not scannable – if you think you’ve won, put in a claim form
• it’s possible, though rare, for a misprint or faulty ticket – all you can do here is contact the lottery company and hope they honor any winnings it shows

Scratch Off Says Cannot Process Contact Lottery or ‘Sorry please call 1-800-lottery’

In addition to those reasons above, scratchers also have an extra special case – the ticket roll was not activated.

What does that mean?

As a security measure, each roll of tickets is ‘activated’ before going on sale. This is something the retailer does using their lottery terminal.

It’s done to make it difficult for thieves to steal tickets. If they break in and steal rolls of tickets that have not been activated yet, the tickets cannot be claimed. And obviously the thieves don’t know the access codes/passwords to be able to activate the tickets.

Typically these ‘unactivated’ tickets will just show that ‘cannot process contact lottery’ message. But you might also see a more specific message where the lottery ticket says not active. Which is pretty clear!

So what does this mean for your ticket?

If you bought the ticket cheap from a dodgy ‘friend of a friend’ down a dark back alley (or the person who gave it to you might have!)… well, lesson learnt! 🙂

But if you bought the ticket as normal from an authorised retailer, then I’d recommend you call the lottery company first. They can sometimes sort this out on the spot by calling the retailer, and getting them to activate the roll. Then you can just claim as normal.

Alternatively just complete a claim form at the lottery office (or post in a form) and they will sort it out later.

P.S. Did you get my scratchers tips yet? It’s free and includes lots of great tips on improving your chances of winning.

Related Questions

What Does The Lottery Scanner Say When You Win The Jackpot?

The scanner will NOT scream “winner, winner, chicken dinner, now please mug me and steal my ticket because I’ve won the jackpot” 😉

Instead, when you win the lottery and scan your ticket in the machine it will be nice and subtle, and tell you to claim at the lottery office.

That’s for your own security. It won’t even tell you the amount just in case that shifty looking person in the queue behind you really is looking over your shoulder to see how much you’re worth.

If you have any questions about scanning tickets or ‘see retailer’ messages just add a comment below. Also do come back and tell us what happens with your ticket – we’d all love to know if you managed to sort it out.