Those fortunate enough to win $600-plus Colorado Lottery prizes now have an easier way to claim their winnings.
Online claims are now available. And they can be accessed on the Colorado Lottery’s website.
The Colorado Lottery is utilizing DocuSign technology to allow players to fill out claims forms. They also can upload images of required identification documents and signed winning lottery tickets.
Not only is it a convenient process, but it’s a free and secure one as well.
All of the winner’s information and documentation is protected in an online, virtual envelope.
Note that online claims are not available to prize winners of $599 or less. Those winnings can still be claimed at the retailer where the winning ticket was purchased.
They’re also available by mailing the signed winning ticket to the Colorado Lottery headquarters at P.O. Box 7; Pueblo, CO 81002.
More accessibility was the goal
The Colorado Lottery rolled out its online claims system Nov. 1.
It began as a test run. But it’s now fully available to all winners of prizes of $600 or more.
Colorado Lottery communications manager Meghan Dougherty said the online claims process has run smoothly so far. More than 100 winners have utilized it.
The idea of an online claims system has been on the Colorado Lottery drawing board for a while.
And the COVID-19 pandemic has helped fast forward the process.
Before the virtual system was instituted, larger Colorado Lottery prize winners had to visit one of the four statewide claims centers. They are located in Pueblo, Lakewood, Fort Collins and Grand Junction.
Now, though, it’s as easy as calling up the Colorado Lottery website on a cell phone or laptop.
Lottery online claims forms can also be requested via the phone.
“The State of Colorado is committed to providing equitable access to its services for all Coloradans, including lottery players,” said Tom Seaver, director of the Colorado Lottery, in a recent news release. “Virtual claims is just one of the ways the lottery is expanding accessibility across Colorado.
“We’ve also increased our Spanish translation services online and in-person, and we are continually looking at new ways to better service under-served populations.”
Next up: EFT payouts
The Colorado Lottery’s new online accessibility goal isn’t quite complete.
The organization’s next step will be getting payouts to winners via electronic funds transfers (EFTs). The plan is for this to be done via a third-party online payment processing company.
Eventually, the entire virtual claims process will be integrated on to the Colorado Lottery’s mobile app as well.
Currently, once winning claims of $600 or more are submitted online and verified, a DocuSign envelope is emailed to the customer. Once that process is completed, the winner will then have their winnings mailed via a check.
The paper checks, though, will eventually be replaced by the EFT payments.
The Colorado Lottery says there’s no timeline as to when the EFT rollout will take place. But the organization says it’s on track to be the next phase.
