So You Won Big with the Texas Lottery…How Do You Claim Your Money?

(Austin, Texas) - Playing the Texas Lottery is fun to do from time to time. As with anything that involves the risk of losing money, don't over do it trying to chase that big jackpot. I'm not being Debbie Downer but just keep your playing in check.

If you're lucky enough to scratch off or pick the right numbers and win a large jackpot, you can't go to the gas station to claim it. Where in Texas can you go to do that? You don't always have to go to Austin because there are some local offices where you can claim your winnings.

Claiming Your Texas Lottery Jackpot

If you are lucky enough to have a winning scratch off ticket or a winning ticket from one of the various pick-a-number games, and it's below $599, you can go down the street to the gas station you bought it at and claim the winnings. If it's over $600, then you'll have to fill out a claim form online. If you are an East Texan reading this, you can go to the lottery claim center in Tyler.

Yes, the Texas Lottery has an office in Tyler to claim your large jackpot winnings. It's located at 3800 Paluxy Drive, Suite 330. Here, you can fill out the claim form for a jackpot ranging from $600 to $2,500,000 as long as it's not paid in annuities.

Tyler Texas Lottery Claim Center - Google Maps

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Where to Claim Jackpots Over $2.5 Million

If the jackpot you've won is between $2,500,000 and $5,000,000, and not paid out in annuities, you will have to go to a claim center in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston or San Antonio. If that jackpot is $5,000,000 or more, you are required to go to the claim center in Austin. In total, there are 16 Texas Lottery claim centers in Texas.

Texas Lottery Claim Centers - Texas Lottery

If you do win big, there are some other steps you should take before claiming the prize. Hire a good estate planning attorney. This attorney can help with all the legalese of winning. Next you'll want to hire a trusted financial advisor, CPA and retirement planner. Make sure these people are highly qualified, not Joe Blow who says they're good with Quickbooks.

Enjoy Your Texas Lottery Winnings

After all of that is done, all that is left is to enjoy your winnings. We hear those horror stories of people who've gone broke after just a couple of years. They weren't smart with their money or didn't hire the right people to represent them. Winning a lottery jackpot should be a joyous occasion and lead to a lifetime of luxury, not a proud moment that turns into a nightmare.

READ MORE: 13 Myths That Non-Texans, and Austinites, Believe About Texas