NC lottery claim centers, closed since March, reopen with new restrictions
The North Carolina Education Lottery reopened its claim centers Monday with some new safety guidelines in place.
Winners of large lottery prizes have not been able to get their prizes in person since March, when the claim centers closed per the statewide stay-at-home order.
According to the N.C. Education Lottery, lottery winners have collected more than $11.8 million in prizes, including a $2 million Powerball prize and two $1 million scratch-off prizes, since the offices reopened.
“We’ve had many lucky winners lately and we’re glad to get these prizes to them,” said lottery director Mark Michalko. “We also appreciate how well lottery players are following our safety guidelines so that everyone can claim their prizes safely.”
All claim centers will follow strict safety guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including:
- Spacing out of visitors, only allowing a few inside at a time
- Asking anyone who enters the claim center to wear a mask or facial covering (one will be provided to people who don't have one)
- Lottery employees will wear masks and gloves
- Social distancing, keeping people at least six feet apart from others
Winners of lottery prizes on tickets expiring between March 10 and Aug. 1 have until Nov. 1 to claim them, officials said. The claim centers, located in Raleigh, Greensboro, Charlotte, Greenville, Wilmington and Asheville, are only open for winners to claim prizes. No ticket sales are occurring there.
Winners of smaller prizes can collect prizes at stores that sell lottery tickets.
