Scams / Tips for Players

Smart Player Tips

  • Always sign the back of your ticket immediately after buying it.
  • Don't rely on a retailer to check your ticket. Always check your own ticket to determine if it is a winner.
  • Watch the monitor while your tickets are being validated. Each of your wins will be displayed.
  • Check your lotto ticket at the time of purchase to make sure it is the game, number selections and drawing(s) you want to enter.
  • Check your scratch ticket at the time of purchase to make sure the latex hasn't already been scratched anywhere. Don't accept the ticket if it has been scratched and contact the Lottery immediately.
  • If you are cashing a multiple-draw lotto ticket that has draws remaining, make sure you receive a "trail" ticket from the retailer for the remaining drawings. There is no charge to obtain a "trail" ticket.
  • Ask the retailer to see the pay ticket printed by the terminal. Pay tickets are printed for both lotto and scratch ticket winning tickets.
  • If you disagree with the retailer about the validation of a ticket, ask for the ticket back and submit your claim directly to the Lottery. If the retailer refuses to return the ticket, contact the Lottery immediately.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Scams operate worldwide to convince people to spend money on illegal or fake lotteries and sweepstakes.

These scams claim you have a good chance to win or have already won a prize, but ask you to pay money or provide personal information, like a credit card number or bank account number, to claim the prize.

Some scams illegally use real game names and logos of legitimate lotteries.

Scammers may even approach you in person, claiming to have a winning ticket, but tell you they can't claim the prize themselves. These criminals will ask you to purchase their ticket or provide a "deposit" to claim the prize for them. But, they'll disappear with your money.

Always remember that legitimate lotteries require you to purchase a ticket for a chance to win a prize.

Don't Get Scammed!

  • Never cash or claim a lottery ticket for someone you don't know.
  • Never pay money to collect a lottery prize.
  • Never give your credit card numbers, bank account numbers, or other personal information to anyone trying to sell you a lottery ticket, membership in a lottery pool, or promising a prize.
  • Never accept a collect phone call from someone claiming to be a lottery official.
  • Beware of letters, email, or phone calls claiming that you've won a prize in a foreign lottery but must first pay taxes to collect the prize. Most of these are scams. Playing legitimate foreign lotteries by mail, phone, email or on the Internet is illegal.
  • Beware of letters, email, or phone calls offering you a guaranteed prize. The South Dakota Lottery does not guarantee you a prize, only a chance of winning one.
  • Beware of "urgent" solicitations that require a quick response.
  • Buy lottery tickets only from authorized South Dakota Lottery retailers.

The South Dakota Lottery does not

  • Require a winner to pay money upfront to claim a prize.
  • Require personal information such as social security numbers or bank account numbers from winners over the phone. A prize of $101 or more must be claimed at a South Dakota Lottery office using an official claim form.
  • Require short response time to cash or claim a winning ticket. Winning lotto tickets can be claimed up to 180 days following the drawing. Winning scratch tickets can be claimed up to 180 days following the game's end.
  • Enter someone into a drawing, promotion for an added bonus or prize, or for any other reason without their knowledge.
  • Require you to be a United States citizen to claim a South Dakota Lottery prize.

Report suspected scams to the S.D. Attorney General's Consumer Protection Unit at 1-800-300-1986 or consumerhelp@state.sd.us.