With the decline in cheque usage in Australia, the Federal Government has announced that issuing cheques will be phased out of the Australian banking system by 2028.
Following the announcement, financial institutions have already started taking steps to discontinue cheque services. This is already impacting some of our customers as their banks won’t accept cheques.
In preparation for the discontinuation of cheque services, The Lott’s prize payment process will be changing and we will be discontinuing cheques as a method of prize payment.
If you've purchased an entry in-store that contains a draw occurring on or from Monday, 14 April 2025, you will not be issued a cheque for prizes won on that entry.
If you've registered to receive prize winnings by cheque, or have not selected any prize payment method, you're encouraged to update your membership so you can receive prizes paid directly into your bank account.
You can ask a retailer how to add your bank details in-store. If you have an online account, you can easily update your bank details by logging into your account here.
If you also play online
If your prize preferences are not updated, from 18 June 2025, any future prizes will be automatically paid into your online account. Prizes will be paid:
- Four weeks after the draw in Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and the Northern Territory.
- Eight weeks after the draw for prizes below $1,000 or above $10,000, and after two weeks for prizes between $1,000 and $10,000 in New South Wales.
If you only play in-store
If you don't add your bank account details to your membership, you'll still be able to claim prizes (up to a certain amount in line with existing thresholds) in-store until the end of the prize claim period.