Security

Wisconsin Lottery Security Mission Statement

The Wisconsin Lottery is committed to preserving the integrity and security of our lottery operations and our games. Each day, we earn the confidence and trust of our players and the public by meeting or exceeding industry security standards so everyone who plays has an equal and fair chance of winning. We wish you the best of luck in playing our lottery games!

 

 What We Do

The success of the Wisconsin Lottery relies on honesty, integrity, and security. With that goal in mind, all of our games are designed and produced to protect them against any type of fraud or manipulation.

To ensure the public’s trust and confidence, our Lottery Security personnel oversees security including:

  • Drawing security - monitoring Lottery drawings for compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards
     
  • Fraud investigation - observing retailer awareness of Lottery standards to safeguard both player and retailer and, if need be, investigating reported or suspected incidents involving authorized retailers
     
  • Scam protection – investigating fraud activity and potential scams, protecting the integrity of lottery drawings and scratch game production, and raising public awareness of current scams

In addition, an independent audit of the Lottery's security is conducted on a regular basis.

The Security & Operations Bureau of the Wisconsin Lottery is available to answer your questions and assist with your concerns. We will continue to be vigilant to guard against any incidents of theft or fraud involving all our games, drawings, and Limited Time Offers. If you have any concern about Wisconsin Lottery products or operations, we can be reached during the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday – Friday.

Contact Us
Wisconsin Lottery Security & Operations Bureau
608-267-6882

Wilottery.security@wisconsin.gov

 Drawing Security

Every day, lottery drawings are held at the Wisconsin Lottery's headquarters in Madison. Lottery Draw staff conduct all drawings within a secure room which are witnessed by an independent certified public accountant and a member of the Wisconsin State Capitol Police.

All in-state Wisconsin Lottery games are drawn using a Random Number Generator (RNG), a standalone machine with the sole purpose of picking random numbers. It is not connected to the internet or the Lottery gaming system and is in a secure room under audio and video surveillance.

The following steps take place for every drawing, in addition to meeting all requirements of state law (Chapter 565.27(2)(b) Wis. Stats.).

  • Inspection of equipment
  • Pre-drawing systems test
  • Official drawing of numbers
  • Entry of winning information into the Computer Gaming System and recording the time the drawing closed
  • Report of the drawing results to the public

Wisconsin games include:

  • All or Nothing, SuperCash!, Badger 5, Pick 3 and Pick 4 are drawn every day
  • Megabucks is drawn on Wednesdays and Saturdays
  • Super 2nd Chance is drawn every week

Drawings of multi-state games are conducted by other states and are coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association:

  • Powerball drawings are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays in Tallahassee, Florida
  • Mega Millions drawings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays in Atlanta, Georgia

Results of drawings can be found at wilottery.com, your local retailer or news outlet, or by calling the 24-hour player hotline at 608-266-7777.

 Instant Scratch Ticket Integrity

Game integrity is the foundation of the Wisconsin Lottery and keystone to an enjoyable player experience. Security begins in the creation of fun new games for players, that are challenging and easy to understand. All Wisconsin Lottery products are designed with multiple security features to prevent tickets from being counterfeited or altered.  

The Wisconsin Lottery is a leader in securing both the Instant Scratch game and ticket process. Tickets are sourced from multiple, secure, and well-vetted vendors which are monitored from the time of print until they are either purchased or returned to the Wisconsin Lottery for destruction.

In addition, the Wisconsin Lottery Security & Operation Bureau communicate regularly with other state lotteries to alert each other of emerging threats or trends. Information sharing allows for quick and efficient response.

 Fraud Investigation

The Wisconsin Lottery takes pride in having great relations with vendors and retailers. We routinely visit our retailers to ensure their needs are being met and their experience with the Wisconsin Lottery is positive. Players can feel confident that when they play the Wisconsin Lottery at one of our retailers, our practices are sound and prizes are fairly awarded.

Security investigators conduct periodic and random retail security compliance checks. These inspections are to ensure the retailer is operating within Wisconsin Lottery standards to safeguard both player and retailer. Handling of paid winning tickets, strict adherence to laws regarding underage gaming, and secure product placement are some areas covered. Also, a review of a retailer's ticket security, property security, and player safety concerns is done. This ongoing dialogue is beneficial for all involved. Wisconsin Lottery needs its retailers to be successful, and when retailers are successful we all win.

Occasionally, this is a situation warranting further review. Formal investigations are reserved for state law violations (sec. 565.12, Wis. Stats.) and often are the result of overt disregard of the terms of the Lottery Retailer Contract. These investigations can include Lottery investigators, local law enforcement, Department of Justice, or Capitol Police. Fraud against our players or the Lottery can result in an immediate suspension or termination of their account, and/or issuance of criminal charges.

 Report a Fraud

The Wisconsin Lottery takes all allegations of fraud very seriously. Anyone found engaging in fraud will be reported to law enforcement and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

If you know of, or suspect any impropriety associated with the Wisconsin Lottery, we can be reached during the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday – Friday.

Contact Us
Wisconsin Lottery Security & Operations Bureau
608-267-6882

Wilottery.security@wisconsin.gov

Other resources available:

Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection – The Bureau of Consumer Protection is available to help if you believe you are a victim of fraud. Please visit their website for a fact sheet on Lottery, Contest and Sweepstakes Scams. Consumers can call the toll-free hotline at (800) 422-7128 or email at DATCPHotline@Wisconsin.gov.

Cross-border fraud – Reports of false lottery prizes reaching across national borders are increasing with the technology of today. Do not purchase tickets from foreign lotteries by phone, mail, or the internet. It is illegal to play a foreign lottery. To find out more about the schemes scammers use to steal large amounts of money and how you can avoid being a victim, please visit the Federal Trade Commission's website at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0060-10-things-you-can-do-avoid-fraud or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). To file a complaint, use the FTC Complaint Assistant at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#crnt&panel1-1

 Scams – What's out there and what to do?

Remember - you must play to win.
Scams are getting more sophisticated. They look and sound like the real thing. Don't become a victim of fraud. Remember, unless you personally played a Wisconsin Lottery game, drawing, or Limited Time Offer, you will not be contacted by the Wisconsin Lottery.

Calls, letters, emails, and texts
The Wisconsin Lottery will only call you about winnings if you intentionally entered a drawing, such as the Packers, or Super 2nd Chance Drawing. For all Scratch tickets, and Lotto drawings, we don't know you're a winner until you tell us.

Beware of all other calls, even if caller-ID displays a real phone number from the Wisconsin Lottery or has a local area code. It may be a scammer trying to get your personal information, Social Security number, credit card number, or worse yet, your hard-earned money. It is best to hang up if you receive such a call. If you want to double check, you can ask for the name of the individual and contact the Wisconsin Lottery at 608-261-4916 for confirmation.

Do not engage with automated calls. Do not press 1 for more options. This may put your number on the list for future calls.

"Official" letters received by mail, or by email, may look legitimate. However, if they ask you for personal information or money, it is a scam. Do not respond to it.

Delete any emails saying there is an unclaimed prize in your name or has an "urgent" message saying you must act right away. It is important to not reply, open attachments, or click on links. Also, do not click unsubscribe. This may lead to further problems with your personal computer or being put on the scammer's contact list.

Never send any money for "processing fees" in order to claim your prize, especially if you are offered a "guaranteed" prize. The Wisconsin Lottery does not require money upfront to claim a legitimate prize, nor do we guarantee a prize. In addition, do not give your bank account routing number so they can deposit your "winnings." This can compromise the security of your financial accounts. In addition, financial institutions can make customers who deposit fraudulent checks repay any money spent.

The only texts you receive from the Wisconsin Lottery is if you sign-up to receive winning numbers, jackpot amounts, or daily news. You will never receive a text saying you won any prize.

Scams can also be in-person. Never take a ticket from someone who claims they can't claim the prize themselves for a variety of reasons. Don't buy a ticket second-hand. These tickets are often stolen, fake, or unable to be redeemed. Only purchase through an authorized retailer.

Social media and websites
The Wisconsin Lottery has one official website, www.wilottery.com, and has pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If in doubt, double check all IP addresses and never provide any personal, banking or other information. Do not click, share, respond, or re-post anything saying you have won. Delete the post without engaging. Also, remember the Wisconsin Lottery does not notify winners through internet pop-ups. Do not interact with those types of ads.

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