Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Massachusetts State Lottery's Federal ID number?
The Massachusetts State Lottery's Federal ID number is: 04-2628159
What happens to the revenue which the Lottery generates from sales?
Revenue generated from Lottery sales is used for three purposes.
- A minimum of 45% of revenues stays in the State Lottery Fund to be paid out in prizes. Currently, the Lottery's prize percentage is over 69%.
- A portion of revenues is transferred to the Commonwealth's General Fund for the expenses incurred in administering and operating the Lottery. The administrative and operating expenses of the Lottery are appropriated by the legislature as part of the annual state budget. Operating expenses cannot exceed 15%. Currently, operating expenses are under 8%. These operating expenses include 5.8% in commissions and bonuses paid to the sales agents who sell the tickets and under 2% in administrative expenses due to Lottery operation.
- After prizes and expenses, the remaining Lottery revenues (approximately 23%) is transferred to the Local Aid Fund and returned to the cities and towns of the Commonwealth in the form of local aid.
Who decides how much each city/town receives?
The Lottery is responsible only for generating revenue. The Department of Revenue is responsible for the disbursement of the revenue. The amount of money received by each city or town is determined by a formula that takes into consideration the city/town's population and its equalized valuation. The money is distributed as a result of this formula. Cities/towns may use their share of the revenue for whatever needs they wish. There is no stipulation in the legislation that requires that it be used for any specific designation, e.g. property taxes or education.
What happens if someone under 18 wins a large prize?
Persons under age 18 cannot purchase lottery tickets. If a winning ticket, purchased by an adult, is claimed in the name of a person under 18, and such a prize is less than $5,000, the director may direct payment of the prize by delivery to an adult member of the minor's family or a guardian of the minor of a check or draft payable to the order of that minor. If the person entitled to a prize is under the age of 18, and the prize is $5,000 or more, the director may direct payment to such minor by depositing the amount of the prize in any bank to the credit of an adult member of the minor's family or a guardian of the minor as custodian for such minor.
How do customers collect their winnings?
All Lottery Sales Agents may pay prizes up to and including $600. Prizes over $600 and up to $49,999 can be claimed at the Lottery regional offices in Boston, Braintree, Fairhaven, Woburn, Worcester or West Springfield. Prizes of $50,000 and over must be claimed in person at Lottery Headquarters in Braintree. The Lottery requires proof of positive identification for all prizes of more than $600. You must have a photo ID that contains your signature, proof of your social security number and proof of current address when claiming a prize of more than $600.
What happens if a winner dies before collecting all the annual payments due?
The remaining annual payments will be made to the estate of the deceased prize winner.
If a person is retired or on Welfare or Social Security, how will winning the Lottery affect them?
Questions involving taxes require individual answers. Winners should consult a qualified tax accountant.
How much do I have to win before anything is withheld?
For prizes of more than $600, 5% is withheld and sent to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.For prizes $5,000 and greater, 25% of the prize is withheld and sent to the Internal Revenue Service and 5% is withheld and sent to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
Does the Lottery send me a withholding statement (W-2)?
The Massachusetts State Lottery will provide a Withholding statement (W2G) on all prizes over $600.
However, if your Lottery prize is greater than $5,000, 25% of your prize will be automatically withheld and sent directly to the Internal Revenue Service. In addition 5% is required to be withheld and sent to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. Some winners will receive the W2G form at the time of prize payment. If not, you will receive a W2G form from the Lottery via mail in January.
Effective December 1, 2004 please be advised that the Massachusetts State Legislature has enacted a law that changes the threshold to which Lottery prizes are taxed. The law requires the Massachusetts State Lottery to withhold state taxes on all prizes of more than $600.00 as mandated by Massachusetts General Law Chapter 62B §2 as amended. Federal tax withholding will operate as before.
Please consult a tax professional for specific tax questions.
You may be eligible to deduct your losses. Deductions can be made on Federal taxes up to the amount of your winnings and only if you itemize deductions on Schedule A of Form 1040.
I lost my W2G form. What do I do?
You may request a reprint of the W2G form by printing and filling out this form, sign it and mail it to The Massachusetts Lottery at the following address:
Massachusetts State Lottery
60 Columbian Street
Braintree MA 02184
ATTN: Lisa King
Or Fax it to: 781-849-5554
Can claims be made out in more than one name?
No, claims can be made out in one name only and prize checks are issued to the claimant.
Can non-residents play the game? If so, how do they collect?
Yes, anyone 18 and over can purchase any Lottery product at any agent location. All players can collect their prizes at the same locations listed in question four. Additionally, Season Tickets can be purchased directly from any sales agent while in the state or from out of state, by calling l-800-222-TKTS. The ticket can be registered in the owner's name by completing and returning the registration form to the Lottery. Season Tickets are available for Megabucks, Mass Cash, Mega Millions and Cash Winfall.
Mega Millions Season Tickets CANNOT be purchased via phone from out of state.
What is the cost of a season ticket?
Season Tickets for the Megabucks, Mass Cash and Mega Millions Games can be purchased for $25 (26 drawings), $50 (52 drawings) or $100 (104 drawings). Season Tickets for Cash Winfall can be purchased for $50 (26 drawings) , $100 (52 drawings), and $200 (104 drawings).
How do Season Ticket holders receive their prize?
All prizes, with the exception of the jackpot prize are mailed directly to the owner. The lower tier prize payments are mailed after complying with the Massachusetts State Lottery's request for Social Security number. Jackpot prize winners are notified to come to the Braintree office to claim their prize.
What happens if I have a Season Ticket and I match numbers for a free bet?
The Season Ticket will be extended by one drawing. No notification of the extension is sent in advance of the renewal notification.
Can I buy a Season Ticket to Mega Millions?
Season tickets for Mega Millions are available. At inception, not all member states in the consortium could provide players with season tickets. As a result, it was decided that season tickets would not be available in any state. That restriction has been amended, providing all members with the option to offer Mega Millions season tickets.
Can someone win more than once? Is there a limit to how much one person can win?
There is no limit to how much or how often a person can win.
What connection does the Lottery have with Beano Games?
Bingo (Beano) was legalized in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on September 29, 1971. Effective September 4, 1973, Chapter 729 of the Acts of 1973 transferred responsibility for control of the operation of Bingo from the Department of Public Safety to the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission. Effective January 1, 1978, Chapter 219 of the Acts of 1977 transferred responsibility for collection of the 5% Bingo and Raffle/Bazaar (Casino Function) Tax on Gross Proceeds from the Department of Revenue to the Lottery.
Can I play the games on holidays?
Lottery agents who are open can accept bets and sell tickets on all holidays. Drawings are held every day including Sundays for The Numbers Game and Keno, and the Daily Race game. Drawings are on Wednesday and Saturday for Megabucks, Tuesday and Friday for Mass Cash and Mega Millions and Monday and Thursday for Cash Winfall.
Can I play the Massachusetts Lottery on the internet?
The Massachusetts State Lottery adheres to the federal law, the Wire Communications Act of 1961, which prohibits the use of wire communication facilities (telephone lines) for interstate or foreign gambling purposes. The use of telephone wires in internet transmission is defined under that law and therefore it is unlawful for the Lottery to offer its games for sale on-line.
Can a minor sell lottery tickets?
Yes
What happens if I lose my ticket?
The Lottery claims department must be notified in writing about a lost ticket. The claimant must provide all the details, e.g. date played, time played, where played, number played, how much and so forth. The claims department will research the claim and notify the claimant of the result.
