Procedures for claiming instant game prizes are as follows:

(1) To claim an instant game prize of $600.00 or less the claimant may either present the apparent winning ticket to any lottery retailer regardless of where the ticket was purchased, or may present the apparent winning ticket to the lottery by mail or in person. When a retailer is presented with a claim under this section, the retailer shall verify the claim and, if acceptable, make payment of the amount due the claimant. The prizes shall be paid during all normal business hours of that retailer provided that claims can be validated on the lottery's terminal. The retailer shall not charge the claimant any fee for payment of the prize or for cashing a business check drawn on the retailer's account.

(2) In the event the retailer cannot verify the claim, the claimant shall present a claim to the lottery by mail or in person. If the claim is validated by the lottery, funds shall be forwarded to the claimant in payment of the amount due. In the event that the claim is not validated by the director, the claim shall be denied and the claimant shall be promptly notified.

(3) To claim an instant prize of more than $600.00, the claimant shall complete a claim form, as provided in WAC 315-06-120, which is obtained from the lottery retailer or the lottery and mail or present in person the completed form together with the apparent winning ticket to the lottery. Upon validation by the director, funds shall be forwarded or presented to the claimant in payment of the amount due, less any applicable federal income tax withholding and deductions pursuant to RCW 67.70.255 and WAC 315-06-125. In the event that the claim is not validated by the director, the claim shall be denied and the claimant shall be promptly notified.

(4) To claim an instant prize pursuant to WAC 315-10-070(2), the claimant shall notify the lottery of the claim and request reconstruction of the ticket not later than one hundred eighty days after the official end of that instant game or one hundred eighty days from purchase of a computer generated ticket. If the director authorizes reconstruction, the ticket shall not be validated nor the prize paid prior to one hundred eighty days following the official end of that instant game or one hundred eighty days from purchase of a computer generated ticket. A ticket(s) validated pursuant to WAC 315-10-070(2) shall not entitle the claimant entry into the grand prize drawing, if any, for that or any subsequent instant game.

(5) Any ticket not passing all the validation checks specified by the director is invalid and ineligible for any prize and shall not be paid. However, the director may, solely at his or her option, replace an invalid ticket with an unplayed ticket (or tickets of equivalent sales price from any other current game). In the event a defective ticket is purchased, the only responsibility or liability of the director shall be the replacement of the defective ticket with another unplayed ticket (or tickets of equivalent sale price from any other current game).