The opening hours for the Indiana lottery vary depending on the method of play. Here is a quick overview of when you can purchase lottery tickets and claim prizes in Indiana:
Buying Lottery Tickets
You can purchase Indiana lottery tickets at the following times:
- In-person at authorized Indiana lottery retailers: Most retailers are open from early morning to late evening hours, such as 6am-10pm or similar. Opening times vary by location.
- Online via the Indiana lottery website: Digital lottery tickets can be purchased 24/7.
- Via the official Indiana lottery mobile app: The app allows you to buy digital tickets anytime.
So in summary, lottery tickets can be purchased in-person during retailer opening hours or digitally 24 hours a day online and via the mobile app.
Claiming Lottery Prizes
Prize claims have the following opening times in Indiana:
- At authorized retailers: Prizes up to $599 can be redeemed during normal store hours.
- At regional claims centers: There are four claims centers across Indiana with the following opening hours:
| Claims Center | Opening Hours |
|---|---|
| Indianapolis | Monday to Friday, 8am – 4:30pm |
| Merrillville | Monday to Friday, 8am – 4:30pm |
| Muncie | Tuesday to Saturday, 8am – 4pm |
| Evansville | Tuesday to Saturday, 8am – 4pm |
- By mail: Prizes over $599 up to $49,999 can be claimed by mail with a completed claim form and original ticket sent to the central claims office in Indianapolis. The mail is processed during normal business hours Monday-Friday.
- In person at the central claims office: For prizes $50,000 and over, an appointment must be made to claim in person in Indianapolis. Appointments are available Monday-Friday during normal business hours.
So in summary, smaller prizes can be redeemed during retail hours, medium prizes at regional claims centers only during weekday business hours, and large prizes by appointment in Indianapolis on weekdays.
Purchasing Tickets Online
To purchase Indiana lottery tickets online, you must:
- Sign up for an account at www.hoosierlottery.com
- Deposit funds into your online lottery account
- Select the draw games or scratch-offs you wish to play
- Confirm your ticket purchase
Online ticket sales start as early as 5am ET for draw games, and scratch-off sales begin at 6am ET. You can purchase lottery tickets online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Upon completing your ticket purchase, you will receive an email confirmation with your digital ticket numbers and a record of your play. Winnings from online play can be deposited directly into your online account, or withdrawn into your linked bank account.
Playing the Lottery on Mobile
The official Hoosier Lottery app is available for iOS and Android devices. To play the lottery on mobile:
- Download the app from the App Store or Google Play Store
- Sign up for an account or login to your existing account
- Add funds to your account wallet from a linked card or bank account
- Tap the game you want to play and pick your numbers/options
- Confirm ticket purchase
As with online play, the app allows you to purchase draw game tickets starting from 5am ET daily and scratch-off tickets from 6am ET. The mobile app can be used to play the lottery 24/7.
You’ll receive confirming emails for any winning plays and can cash out winnings to your bank or use towards more ticket purchases on mobile.
Where to Buy Lottery Tickets In-Person
You can buy Hoosier Lottery tickets in-person at over 4,000 authorized retailers across Indiana. Locations include:
- Convenience stores like Circle K, 7-Eleven, Speedway, Village Pantry
- Gas stations
- Grocery stores e.g. Kroger, Meijer, Walmart
- Drug stores e.g. CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens
- Liquor stores
- Dedicated lottery retailers
Many major retail chains and independent stores sell lottery tickets at customer service counters or dedicated lottery kiosks. Opening hours for in-person sales vary by retailer, but are usually between 5am-11pm.
You can find authorized Hoosier Lottery retailers in your area by using the locator at www.hoosierlottery.com or on the mobile app.
How to Buy Scratch-Off Tickets
Scratch-off tickets can be purchased in the following ways:
- In-person: Request your desired scratch game by name or ticket price at retail.
- Online: Select instant games to add to cart and purchase.
- Mobile app: Choose from the range of electronic scratchers and tap to buy.
Scratch-offs range from $1 up to $30 per ticket. Once purchased, winnings can instantly be redeemed up to $599 at retailers or claimed via any of the standard prize claim methods.
What Time Is the Lottery Drawing?
Draw times for Indiana’s lottery games are:
| Game | Draw Time |
|---|---|
| Mega Millions | 11pm ET Tuesday and Friday |
| Powerball | 10:59pm ET Wednesday and Saturday |
| Hoosier Lotto | 11pm ET Wednesday and Saturday |
| Cash 5 | 11:30pm ET daily |
| Quick Draw | Every 4 minutes daily from 7:43am-2:33am ET |
| Daily 3 | 12:20pm, 2:30pm, 6pm, 6:24pm ET |
| Daily 4 | 12:20pm, 2:30pm, 6pm ET |
You can watch Hoosier Lottery draws streamed live at www.hoosierlottery.com. Replays are also available to view after the draws have taken place.
How to Claim Lottery Prizes
To claim lottery prizes in Indiana:
- Up to $599 – Take your winning ticket to any authorized Hoosier Lottery retailer during normal business hours to redeem.
- $600-$49,999 – Visit one of the four regional claims centers with your signed winning ticket and government-issued photo ID. Centers are open Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm.
- $50,000-$299,999 – Claim by mailing your signed winning ticket and claim form to the central office or in person with an appointment at the Indianapolis office.
- $300,000+ – An appointment will be scheduled for you to claim your prize in person at lottery headquarters in Indianapolis. Large jackpots may take longer to process claims.
For online purchase or mobile app wins, prizes will be automatically credited to your account. Larger amounts can be withdrawn into your bank account through account settings.
Be sure to sign the back of your winning draw game ticket and double check your numbers against the official results before attempting to claim. You have 180 days from the draw date to claim, so hold onto your ticket securely.
Unclaimed Lottery Prizes
According to Indiana lottery rules, players have 180 days from the draw date to claim any prizes won on draw games like Powerball and Hoosier Lotto. For scratch-off games, prizes must be claimed within 90 days of the announced game end date.
If no one claims a prize within the required timeframe, the money is returned to the prize pool to fund future games and promotions. It is not uncommon for millions in lottery prizes to go unclaimed each year.
The Hoosier Lottery publishes lists of all unclaimed prizes over $600 on its website. Players can search the lists to check if they have any forgotten tickets stashed away.
Major Unclaimed Prizes
Some of Indiana’s biggest unclaimed lottery prizes include:
- $1 million Hoosier Lotto prize won in LaPorte County on 7/14/18 went unclaimed
- $50,000 Powerball prize from Elkhart County on 5/5/18 expired before being claimed
- $77,000 Lucky 7’s scratch-off ticket sold in Gary, won on 12/22/17, unclaimed
- $1 million Mega Millions ticket sold in Knox County on 3/25/16 went unclaimed
Sadly, someone out there is missing out on millions in lapsed lottery prizes. Don’t let this happen to you – remember to check your tickets!
What Are the Best Times to Play the Lottery?
While luck ultimately determines the outcome, there are some strategic times that may give you a slight edge in playing the lottery:
- When jackpots are high – Higher jackpots mean more ticket sales, increasing your odds to win (although still extremely low).
- When odds are better – Games like Cash 5 have better fixed odds than huge rollover games.
- After a jackpot win – Tickets sales and odds reset after a big win.
- Least busy times – Buying tickets when fewer people are playing slightly improves chances.
You can’t time or predict specific numbers, but playing at the right moments can help maximize your lottery chances. Avoid playing only when jackpots are all low or when ticket sales surge leading up to a huge jackpot.
Strategies for Winning the Lottery
While winning comes down to pure luck, some people swear by certain strategies or systems to try and beat the lottery odds, such as:
- Number patterns – Selecting numbers in certain shapes, numerical orders, or other patterns.
- Significant dates – Using important dates like birthdays or anniversaries as number picks.
- Frequency analysis – Studying past draw data to see which numbers are drawn most often.
- Pool play – Buying tickets in a lottery pool to increase chances.
Unfortunately, the odds are so astronomically against any one player that it’s impossible have a mathematical strategy to win. While patterns or meaningful numbers might be fun, random quick picks have just as good a chance!
Tips for Winning Scratch-Off Games
For instant scratch-off games, some tips players use to try and increase their chances include:
- Playing newer games which have more top prizes remaining.
- Researching odds of different price point games.
- “Prize counting” by looking for games with unclaimed prizes.
- Buying multiple tickets in a row which may be pre-loaded winners.
- Choosing extended play style games.
However, scratch-offs still come down almost entirely to luck. Focus on having fun and know your odds before playing.
Improvement Suggestions for the Indiana Lottery
While the Hoosier Lottery offers a wide range of games and options, here are some ways it could potentially improve:
- Offer more variety in scratch-off themes and prize structures.
- Create a loyalty program to reward frequent players.
- Expand Keno into more locations and venues.
- Enable buying tickets ahead online for in-store pickup.
- Increase visibility through social media and influencer partnerships.
- Let winners opt for annuity or lump sum payments.
More games with better prizes and odds, loyalty perks, modern e-commerce options, and promotions could help drive greater excitement and engagement with the Hoosier Lottery.
Gambling Addiction Help
While playing the lottery is fun entertainment for most, for some it can turn into an unhealthy addiction. If gambling is negatively impacting your finances, relationships, work, or mental wellbeing, consider seeking help by:
- Calling the Indiana Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-994-8448.
- Contacting organizations like Gamblers Anonymous or Gam-Anon support groups.
- Speaking to a counselor or therapist.
- Using filtering software to block access to gambling sites.
- Reaching out to family and friends for support.
Gambling disorder is treatable. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance if lottery play has become uncontrolled gambling.
Lottery Alternatives
For those looking to move away from the lottery, some healthier alternatives include:
- Saving/investing – Put extra money towards retirement, an emergency fund, stocks, etc.
- Charitable giving – Donate to a cause you care about instead.
- Entertainment budget – Spend on hobbies, experiences, or travel.
- Treating yourself – Splurge on something special without relying on chance.
Leaving lottery spending behind is ultimately about redirecting that money towards more meaningful priorities and pleasures.
The Future of Lotteries
Looking ahead, lotteries may evolve in the following ways:
- Greater convenience through mobile apps and online play.
- New lottery games developed to attract younger players.
- Jackpots continue to grow as more states join mega games.
- Increased use of data analytics to optimize operations.
- Loyalty programs and engagement incentives.
- Partnerships with TV game shows, media brands, etc.
- Cryptocurrency or NFT lottery offerings.
While the core concept remains simple luck, expect lotteries to innovate, adapt to new technologies, and find creative ways to keep audiences excited about playing.
Conclusion
The Indiana lottery offers a wide range of lottery games, with generous jackpots up for grabs. Tickets can be purchased online, on mobile, or in-person during retailer hours statewide. While winning ultimately comes down to chance, you can optimize play by understanding game odds and jackpot cycles.
Responsible players view the lottery as entertainment and know gambling addiction help is available if needed. With interest remaining strong, the Hoosier Lottery aims to utilize new technologies and ideas to enhance offerings for years to come.
