How to claim a lottery prize

Before you start

Write your name, address and signature on the back of the winning ticket. Keep the original safe and flat: a laminated, torn or damaged ticket may not be paid, and photocopies are never paid.

Small prizes are usually paid through the seller: up to ₹10,000 for Dear lotteries and up to ₹5,000 for Kerala lotteries. Bigger prizes are claimed from the state lottery office as below.

Tax and charges are deducted from the prize itself. A real lottery office never asks you to pay money first.

Nagaland State Lottery (Dear 1 PM and 8 PM)

Prizes above ₹10,000 in one ticket: use the official claim form (the only valid form since January 2026) and the declaration on ₹20 stamp paper.

Deadline: within 30 days of the draw.

Where: in person at the Directorate of Nagaland State Lotteries, P. R. Hill Junction, Kohima, or at a Nodal Officer camp in Salt Lake (Kolkata), Mumbai, Ludhiana or Gangtok.

Attach: the original ticket, 3 passport photos, an affidavit of ownership, PAN card, Aadhaar card and a cancelled cheque, with copies attested by a First-Class Magistrate or Notary.

The prize is paid by RTGS or demand draft after tax and charges.

Sikkim State Lottery (Dear 6 PM)

Prizes above ₹10,000, in one ticket or together: send the ticket with the official claim form and 3 passport photos attested by a 1st Class Magistrate, Gazetted Officer, Oath Commissioner or Notary.

Deadline: no claim is accepted after 30 days from the draw (printed on every official result).

Where: in person or by post to the Principal Director, Sikkim State Lotteries, Deorali, Gangtok, or to the Inspectors at the Sikkim camp offices in Kolkata, Mumbai and Ludhiana. The form also asks for an affidavit, photo ID, PAN, a revenue stamp and a cancelled cheque.

Kerala State Lottery

Deadline: hand in the original ticket within 30 days of the draw (Kerala Paper Lotteries Rules, rule 9). A late claim is considered only on valid grounds.

Up to ₹5,000: a Kerala lottery agent can pay it. Up to ₹1 lakh: the District Lottery Office. Above ₹1 lakh: the Directorate of State Lotteries. You can also claim through a bank.

Attach (prizes above ₹5,000): a stamped receipt, a recent passport photo attested by a Gazetted Officer or bank, a self-attested copy of both sides of the ticket and a self-attested ID (passport, ration card, voter ID, driving licence or PAN). Winners from outside Kerala need these attested by a Notary.