What to do after winning Lotto? Collection, tax, deadlines

After winning Lotto, secure your ticket, check the amount, and go collect your prize: up to PLN 2,280 will be paid out by any lottery outlet tax-free, above that threshold Totalizator Sportowy withholds a flat 15% income tax and issues the net amount. You don't file any tax declaration for this. The right to claim payment expires 3 years after the draw date.

How to secure your ticket before visiting the outlet?

A paper ticket is a bearer document and the only proof of a win. Don't sign it, laminate it, or tape it — a damaged or illegible ticket may fail verification at the terminal. You can check results at the outlet, in the Lotto app, on the Totalizator Sportowy website, or in our ticket checker.

Take a photo of the ticket on both sides. It won't replace the original when claiming the prize, but it lets you reconstruct the draw number, date, and number sets if a reading error occurs.

If you played online through an official sales channel, the ticket is saved in your account and the winnings are credited automatically. The entire procedure described below, involving a visit to the outlet, applies only to paper tickets.

Where to collect your Lotto winnings?

The place of payout depends on the prize amount. Small winnings are paid out by any outlet, higher amounts — only at a Totalizator Sportowy branch. There are seventeen branches across Poland; you'll find their addresses and opening hours on the where to collect your prize page.

For higher amounts, bring your ID card or passport — the operator is required to identify the recipient. An outlet won't pay out a prize exceeding its cash limit, but will direct you to the right branch.

How much is the tax on Lotto winnings?

Since January 1, 2026, winnings in number games are subject to a flat income tax of 15%. Previously the rate was 10 procent. Prizes whose one-time value does not exceed PLN 2,280 remain tax-free — this threshold hasn't changed and applies to a single win, not to the total sum for the whole year.

Totalizator Sportowy is the tax payer. You receive the net amount immediately and don't report this winning in your annual PIT return. If you hit several bets in one draw, each is settled separately — three wins of PLN 1,000 each don't combine into PLN 3,000, and none of them exceeds the exemption threshold.

You can calculate the net amount for a specific prize in the winnings tax calculator. What you do with the money afterward is a separate matter — interest from a deposit, investment gains, or a gift to family are governed by their own regulations, and that settlement is then on your side.

Expiry deadline: 3 years from the draw

The right to claim a Lotto prize expires 3 years after the draw date. After that deadline the ticket loses its value, even if the numbers match and the ticket is in perfect condition. The deadline results from the regulations, not the operator's decision, so it can't be reversed by an appeal.

The date shown on the ticket indicates the draw the bet relates to — and it's from that date, not the date of purchase, that the expiry period is counted. Every year some prizes remain unclaimed, most often the small ones that a player simply forgot about.

When are Lotto draws held?

Lotto draws are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, in the evening, around 9:40 PM. Results are published right after the broadcast, and the three-year deadline for collecting the prize is counted from that day. You'll find the current schedule, the exact time of the next draw, and the jackpot amount on the Lotto results page.

Winner anonymity and decisions on large amounts

Totalizator Sportowy does not publish winners' personal details — it only states the town and outlet where the winning ticket was sold. The operator itself encourages discretion, and that's the most sensible advice worth repeating here: the fewer people know about your win, the fewer unexpected business proposals you'll receive in the following weeks.

For prizes running into millions of zlotys, it's worth consulting a tax advisor or lawyer before making any major financial decisions — especially if you plan to give part of the money to family, buy real estate, or run a business. The consultation won't change the tax amount on the win itself, since that's fixed and withheld by the operator, but it helps organize what happens with the money afterward.

Frequently asked questions

Can I collect my prize in a different city than where I bought the ticket? Yes. A ticket isn't tied to a specific outlet — prizes within an outlet's limit are paid out by any outlet in the country.

I lost my ticket. Is a photo enough? No. The ticket is a bearer document and only the original entitles you to payment. A photo has supporting value only.

Do I need to report the winning to the tax office? No, not for the tax on the winning itself — Totalizator Sportowy settles it as the payer and pays out the net amount.

Will number statistics help me hit the jackpot? No. Each draw is independent, and the probability of hitting the jackpot is the same for every bet, regardless of the numbers chosen or the history of previous draws. Statistics and frequency breakdowns describe the past — they don't predict the future.

This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. The threshold amounts, tax rate, payout limits at outlets, and procedural details are set by the regulations and the rules of the Totalizator Sportowy game — check their current version before collecting your prize. Playing games of chance is available only to adults (18+) and can be addictive.