Play Responsibly

Georgia Lottery Commitment to Players and the State of Georgia

The Georgia Lottery was established as a fun and exciting form of entertainment to raise revenues for Georgia's students. While millions of players enjoy our games responsibly each year, there is a small percentage of individuals who display signs of problem gambling behaviors. The Georgia Lottery is committed to protecting our players and provides tools, information and assistance to those seeking help.

As part of that effort, the Georgia Lottery contributes $400,000 annually to the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to fund research, education and treatment of gambling addiction.

Responsible gaming has been an integral part of the Georgia Lottery since inception. Please review this page for online tools, responsible gaming resources, and contact information for sources of confidential help. As always Georgia, play responsibly; it’s all about fun!

Self-Assessment Tool

While the majority of players enjoy our games responsibly, we recognize that there are some who may need assistance with problem gambling. Have you ever asked yourself, “Do I have a gambling problem?” First, know that you’re not alone, and there are groups and support resources that are ready to help. If you have asked yourself this question, or if you’re just wondering what impact gambling has on your life, please take this quick self-assessment to determine if it may be time to get help or to reassess your gambling behavior.*

1. Have there ever been periods lasting two weeks or longer when you spent a lot of time thinking about your gambling experiences, planning out future gambling ventures or wagers, or thinking about ways of getting money to gamble with?

2. Have there ever been periods when you needed to gamble with increasing amounts of money or with larger wagers than before in order to get the same feeling of excitement?

3. Have you ever felt restless or irritable when trying to stop, cut down, or control your gambling?

4. Have you tried and not succeeded in stopping, cutting down, or controlling your gambling three or more times in your life?

5. Have you ever gambled to escape from personal problems, or to relieve uncomfortable feelings such as guilt, anxiety, helplessness, or depression?

6. Has there ever been a period when, if you lost money gambling one day, you would often return another day to get even?

7. Have you lied to family members, friends, or others about how much you gamble, and/or about how much money you lost on gambling, on at least three occasions?

8. Have you ever written a bad check or taken money that didn’t belong to you from family members, friends, or anyone else in order to pay for your gambling?

9. Has your gambling ever caused serious or repeated problems in your relationships with any of your family members or friends? Or, has your gambling ever caused you problems at work or your studies?

10. Have you ever needed to ask family members, friends, a lending institution, or anyone else to loan you money or otherwise bail you out of a desperate money situation that was largely caused by your gambling?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, it may be time to look into getting help for a potential gambling problem.

*REMINDER: This self-assessment will help you figure out if there is a problem, but only a professional can diagnose if it is a gambling problem, a different problem, or both.

Debunking Common Myths About Lottery Play

There are a variety of myths surrounding lottery play. Get the facts about some of these myths and make educated decisions before you play. If you find you struggle with some of these myths, please refer to our Help and Support tab for more information on resources available to you.

MYTH: Playing every day will increase my chances of winning.
FACT: The chances of winning on one day are the same as the chances of winning the day before. Every Georgia Lottery game is random and the amount of play does not affect the chances of winning.

MYTH: If I keep playing, my luck will change, and I’ll win back the money I’ve lost.
FACT: This is referred to as chasing losses. This does not increase your chances of winning. Because each game is random, the odds do not change based on the amount of money you’ve spent. Doing so often leads to developing an unhealthy relationship with gambling.

MYTH: A "near miss" indicates you were about to win.
FACT: Outcomes are always random, every time. Increasing your play or the amount of money you play with does not increase your chances of winning.

MYTH: Player skill improves your chance of winning a lottery game.
FACT: No amount of skill will improve your odds at winning a prize from a lottery game. Outcomes are always random and determined at the beginning of the game. There is no specific way to play a game that may increase your chances of winning.

The Georgia Lottery maintains several online safeguards and tools built into our Players Club to facilitate responsible play. You can review these helpful tools below to make more informed decisions about how you play and how you can keep your play in safe, responsible limits.

Deposit Limits

The Players Club consists of two levels of accounts. Level 1 account holders can enter second-chance drawings and view online offerings, but players must have upgraded Level 2 iHOPE accounts to purchase lottery games online. Level 2 iHOPE Accounts have mandatory maximum deposit limits for each account. The maximum limits are: $250 per day, $750 per week, $2,500 per month. You also have the option to set your deposit limits below the maximum, which is highly encouraged. However, if you choose to increase your deposit limits, you will have to wait 24 hours for the changes to take effect. This is the cooling-off period. Establish your limits and play within them!

In addition, players may have no more than $2,000 in their account at any time.

Age Verification

In order to access online lottery games, age and identity verification is required during registration for an iHOPE Account and performed by the Know Your Customer (KYC) process. This ensures that all players are at least 18 years of age. A player must also check or tap to confirm they are at least 18 years of age before each wager.

Our online safeguards against minor play are:

Denial of a Players Club account if an applicant’s age cannot be verified.
Immediate account suspension for any unlawful use of a Players Club account.
No automatic fill for account password.
Automatic log-out after 15 minutes of inactivity.
Refusal of prize payments if found a minor has accessed an account.

Odds

Odds for every instant ticket can be located on the back of the ticket. Odds for every Diggi or online game are listed on the information icon next to the game. Odds for every draw game can be located on our website under Games > Draw Games and select a game to find the odds and prizes tab. Know your odds before you play, and be an informed player!

Messaging

The site does not induce players to continue purchasing game play when a game is in session, when the player attempts to end a session, or wins or loses a wager. Communications with players do not intentionally encourage players to: a) increase the amount they play with, b) gamble continuously, c) re-gamble winnings, or d) chase losses.

Time Notifications

Our website triggers a notification at hourly increments informing players how long they have been playing and requiring the player to affirmatively acknowledge continued play by clicking yes or no. If the player does not click within 15 minutes, their session will end automatically. We encourage you to set your own time limits and stick to them! The pop-up message is designed to remind you of the time you’ve spent on the site in addition to the clock. The message will provide you a brief time-out.

Running Clock

Our website includes a highly visible running clock to help players view the amount of time they’ve spent on the site and been logged into their Players Club account. If you’ve set a time limit for yourself, using the clock in conjunction with the pop-up messages will help to remind you how long you’ve been playing.

Account Balances as Cash

All games offered online through our Players Club display wagers, losses and account balances as cash. This ensures players understand the value of their purchase and encourages responsible spending. Players are able to view their entire transaction history to evaluate their spending, and they see the dollar amount reflected in U.S. currency, not game credits.

Geo-location Services

The Georgia Lottery employs rigorous geo-location technology to confirm you are physically located within the boundaries of the state of Georgia when attempting to purchase lottery games online. Misrepresenting your physical location in order to play Georgia Lottery games without authorization violates OCGA 16-9-90 et seq including but not limited to committing (a) the crime of "computer trespass" as set forth in OCGA 16-9-90 which can result in criminal penalties of a fine up to $50,000, imprisonment for up to 15 years, or both; and (b) the crime of "misleading transmission and use of a name over a computer network" as set forth in OCGA 16-9-93.1, which is a misdemeanor.

Security and Privacy

The Georgia Lottery collects information such as the last four digits of your social security number, name, address, and date of birth to verify identity in order to play online. The Georgia Lottery will never sell or exploit your personal information. Read our privacy policy for more details.

For your security, our Players Club generates an hourly pop-up message reminding players of how long they have been on the site and asks them if they would like to continue playing or end their session. If the player does not confirm by clicking yes or no, the player’s session will end automatically for security purposes.

Transaction History

Players have access to all of their personalized account information through their transaction history in their Players Club account. For example, the GLC provides players with access to the following in their account history:

Game history
Games played/purchased
Notification of each win
Date and time of each ticket or game purchase
Ticket details (number of draws, start/end date for multi-draw purchases, $ value per wager, add-ons such as PowerPlay)
Financial history
Deposits, including wins; transfers
Transfers out of the account (winnings only)
Date and time of each transaction
Account balance displayed in cash on all screens and updated on each screen refresh to reflect recent purchases
Deposit limits
Maximum daily, weekly, and monthly deposit limits
Player’s set daily, weekly, and monthly deposit amounts
Any pending limit changes (24-hour cooling-off period for limit increases)

Tips for Playing Responsibly

Never spend more than you can afford to lose.
Avoid gaming when you are upset, lonely, angry, depressed or stressed.
Set spending and time limits for gaming and stick to them.
Gaming is not a way to make money. It is an enjoyable form of entertainment to be enjoyed in moderation.
There is nothing you can do to improve your chances of winning, but you can control how much you spend.
It’s important to enjoy other activities so that gambling doesn’t become too big a part of your life.
Always check and sign your tickets to ensure you are recognized as their proper owner.
Before gambling, know the game and odds of winning so you can make informed decisions about how to play.
If playing lottery games isn’t fun anymore, it may be time to take a break.

Resources

Confidential help is available for people who believe they may have a problem with gambling or know someone who does. If you’re unsure if you may have a problem with gambling responsibly, please refer to the “Understanding Problem Gambling” tab on this page. If you answered YES to more than one of those questions, you may want to consider these resources for problem gambling. Review the list to decide which one is right for you.

Problem gambling can be treated, but it’s important to remember that only a professional can diagnose a gambling problem.

Georgia Crisis and Access Line: 1-866-922-7369

The Georgia Crisis and Access Line will provide you with one-on-one, confidential, local support. This toll-free helpline is available 24/7. Helpline specialists on the Georgia Crisis and Access Line can help you locate treatment programs nearest to you. Currently, there are four treatment programs operated by the GA Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) across the state of Georgia.

National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG):

The National Council on Problem Gambling serves as a national advocate for programs and services to assist problem gamblers and their families. There are three convenient ways to reach NCPG.

Call 1-800-522-4700. This will connect you with confidential, one-on-one support. This toll-free helpline is available 24/7.

Visit www.ncpgambling.org to explore a variety of resources related to problem and compulsive gambling.

Visit https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/chat / to chat with a helpline specialist if you’re not ready to speak with someone over the phone.

Gamblers Anonymous:

Gamblers Anonymous is a support group for individuals who are seeking confidential support and assistance for a gambling problem. Visit www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga for more information or to locate a meeting near you.

Gam-Anon:

Gam-Anon is a support group for the family and friends of individuals who have a gambling problem. Visit www.gam-anon.org for more information or to locate a meeting near you.

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What is Voluntary Self-Exclusion?

Voluntary self-exclusion is the process by which a player makes the decision to remove themselves from online and mobile lottery play for a period of time. The player has the option to choose 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, or one year of exclusion, but the time period selected is irrevocable. During this period, a player may not access their Georgia Lottery Players Club iHOPE® Account, and they cannot access online or mobile lottery play. Players choosing self-exclusion are also removed from all Georgia Lottery mailing lists and will not receive promotional materials during the period of their self-exclusion. This program is meant to serve as a deterrent for individuals with gambling problems by taking away the incentive to play lottery games via the internet or mobile.
If you are unsure if you may have a gambling problem, please refer to the “Understanding Problem Gambling” tab on this page and take the self-assessment. If you answered YES to one or more of these questions, you may want to consider our help and support resources or possibly excluding yourself from online lottery play.
Under this agreement:
- You will not be able to access your GLC Players Club Account or GLC iHOPE® Account;
- You will not be able to withdraw or deposit funds, or purchase any GLC lottery games or products using your iHOPE® Account;
- You will not be able to enter any GLC second chance promotion;
- You acknowledge that you forfeit any entries you have for GLC second chance promotions;
- You will not receive any marketing communications from the GLC.
- You acknowledge that any funds remaining in your iHOPE® Account may be forfeited;
- If you do not log in to your iHOPE® Account for sixty (60) consecutive months, any funds which may remain in your iHOPE® Account may be subject to the abandonment and forfeiture provisions of applicable law, including the Georgia "Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act.”
- If you follow the GLC on any social media platform, you must “unfollow” the GLC in order to stop receiving updates. The GLC is unable to perform this function.
- View the full Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program Terms and Agreements to Self-Exclude and Suspend GLC Players Club iHOPE® Accounts. If you choose to exclude yourself from online lottery play, you must have read and agreed to these terms.
To request self-exclusion, please call the Player Information Hotline at 1-800-GA-LUCKY (1-800-425-8259).

Reinstatement policy and procedures

Once the time period for a player’s self-exclusion has expired, a player is eligible to reinstate their Players Account if they so choose. Reinstating online lottery play is a significant measure, and it is important that the player is educated on how to play within safe, comfortable limits before reinstating their online account. Please refer to our Tips for Playing Responsibly and our Online Safeguards for help on keeping play within responsible limits. You can find the full Reinstatement Policy below.

The following policy takes effect when a player who has opted to exclude themselves from online lottery play chooses to reinstate their Players Club account or Players Club iHOPE® Account. A player is ineligible to reinstate their account until, at the minimum, their self-exclusion time period has expired. Those time periods are 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, or 12 months of exclusion. One that time period has expired, a player must request reinstatement or their account remains suspended indefinitely.

Actions on behalf of the player
- The player must call the Player Information Hotline at 1-800-GA-LUCKY (1-800-425-8259) and request for their Players Club or Players Club iHOPE® Account to be reinstated.
- The player must discuss options for reinstatement with the representative, such as the level of their online account and if they wish to receive GLC marketing communications.
Actions on behalf of the Georgia Lottery
- The Georgia Lottery will exercise due diligence in evaluating the player’s account in question.
- Upon a satisfactory evaluation, the GLC will begin the process of reinstatement.
- During this process, the player’s Players Club iHOPE® account will become effective again; the player will not be permitted to open a new Players Club iHOPE® account because applicants’ Social Security numbers are checked against those already associated with active or closed accounts as part of the Know Your Customer process.
- The Georgia Lottery has a responsibility to complete this evaluation in approximately 10 business days, allowing GLC representatives to conduct a thorough evaluation as well as allowing the player time to reflect on the terms of their self-exclusion and reinstatement.
- After the player’s Players Club iHOPE® account has been reinstated, the Georgia Lottery will inform the player of their account status, provide access instructions, and once again provide materials on problem gambling support and safeguards.

Play Responsibly

Georgia Lottery Commitment to Players and the State of Georgia

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