West Virginia Lottery has opted to err on the side of caution and keep its Charleston and Weirton validation offices in lockdown until the COVID-19 situation improves further still.
In a statement, the operator said that because of the current state of emergency and measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the offices remain closed to walk-in customers. The Lottery is only accepting claims by mail at this time.
Players with winning traditional lottery tickets (scratch-off and drawing games such as Powerball) can mail them to the Lottery for validation and prize payment during the closure period. It added that the processing time for prize claims may take longer than usual during this time, and that players have 180-days from a draw date or the end of a game to claim a prize.
Said the Lottery: “If you have a winning ticket that expires during the Governor’s declared state of emergency, the Lottery will validate and pay the prize as long as you submit your claim by mail or in person at Lottery Headquarters no later than 30 days after West Virginia’s state of emergency order has been lifted.”
It added: “The West Virginia Lottery’s primary focus is the safety and well-being of our people, customers, employees, and business partners. We are doing our part to slow the spread of the virus, and protect our communities. In addition to evaluating our operations and policies, we will continue to monitor COVID-19 developments, work with our business partners, and respect the guidance we receive from state and federal authorities.”