CLEVELAND — If you've recently won a prize from the Ohio Lottery but have had trouble getting your money, you're not alone.
The organization confirms it experienced an unknown "cybersecurity issue" on Christmas Eve that has affected some of its technical operations. Due to this, winners are mostly unable to cash rewards of $600 or more for the time being, and all mobile cashing of all prize values has been fully suspended.
The Ohio Lottery released the following statement on Thursday morning:
"On December 24, 2023, the Ohio Lottery experienced a cybersecurity incident and quickly engaged professionals experienced in handling these types of incidents to assist with an investigation and to assess the full scope of information impacted. The Ohio Lottery has notified law enforcement.
"While the cybersecurity incident investigation is on-going, the State wants to reiterate that if any consumer data was compromised, it will take all measures to assist with credit monitoring to protect Ohioans. We will notify all known affected individuals as quickly as possible and in accordance with applicable laws.
"The incident did not involve any Ohio Lottery games or the technology systems on which the Lottery operates. The integrity of our games is the top priority, and it is safe to continue to purchase tickets. Winning tickets over $599 can be mailed to the Ohio Lottery Central Office in Cleveland for payment.
"The Lottery is working diligently to restore all cashing options in the very near future. Consumers have 180 days to claim their prize from the drawing date or the date the scratch-off game is scheduled to close. To verify the last date to claim please visit https://ohiolottery.com/claiming."
The glitch is not just affecting prize claims, as administrators say winning numbers for KENO, Lucky One, and EZPLAY Progressive Jackpots are unavailable both online and on the mobile app. However, they can be viewed at participating retailers.
The news comes as several Ohioans have earned big winnings in recent days, including two people in the Cleveland-Akron area who each snagged $100,000 in the latest Powerball drawing. In addition, Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing saw five Buckeye State residents win $1,500 and another five grab $600.
The Ohio Lottery is still investigating the ongoing incident, but those with prizes of $599 or less can still claim their winnings at retailers. Winners can also mail prize claims to the Ohio Lottery Central Office.