The following sets forth requirements for claims and payment of Lotto prizes:

1. (1) Claims for prize payment shall be made in accordance with chapters 315-30 and 315-06 WAC.

2. (2) Prize payments shall be made as follows:

   1. (a) Cash option: When a player claims a jackpot prize or a share of a jackpot prize, the player may elect to be paid a one-time single cash payment of 50 percent of the player's share of the announced jackpot, provided:

      1. (i) The player must elect this cash option within 60 days of the presentation of the winning ticket, by following the procedure required by the lottery;
      2. (ii) If the federal tax code is interpreted by federal authorities to require that this cash option be exercised within 60 days of the drawing for the prize, then (a)(i) of this subsection will not apply and instead, the player must elect this cash option within 60 days of the date of the drawing for the prize;
      3. (iii) The player's choice of payment method as designated by signing the appropriate lottery form is final and may not be changed by the player at a later date.
   2. (b) Annuity: A player who chooses not to elect the cash option or who does not elect the cash option within the 60-day limit will be paid in 25 annual installment payments.
3. (3) After the player has made their choice of payment method, the lottery will validate the claim, including a debt check pursuant to WAC 315-06-125, and pay the prize as appropriate.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 67.70.040(1). WSR 26-01-111, s 315-34-057, filed 12/16/25, effective 1/16/26. Statutory Authority: RCW 67.70.040 (1)(3). WSR 18-17-086, § 315-34-057, filed 8/14/18, effective 9/14/18. Statutory Authority: Chapter 67.70 RCW. WSR 05-12-005, § 315-34-057, filed 5/18/05, effective 6/18/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 67.70.040. WSR 01-17-022, § 315-34-057, filed 8/6/01, effective 9/6/01; WSR 99-19-103, § 315-34-057, filed 9/20/99, effective 10/21/99.]