The Pennsylvania Lottery is upgrading its computer systems. That means lottery tickets won’t be available through most of Tuesday.
The Lottery says that after midnight on Monday, March 18, the upgrades to the system will begin and are expected to last through late Tuesday.
During that time, Lottery drawings will continue but you will not be able to buy any Fast Play or Draw Game tickets at retailers or online.
That means you won’t be able to get tickets for the Powerball, Mega Millions, Treasure Hunt, Cash 6, Match 6 and more.
If you plan on playing the lottery, you should buy your tickets, in advance, by late Monday evening.
Powerball drawings take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MegaMillions happens on Tuesday and Friday nights.
Scratch-Off ticket games will be available at retailers but can only be purchased with cash.
Winning tickets won’t be able to be paid during the upgrade. Winning Scratch-off tickets should be signed on the back by the winner and can be claimed when the system is running again.
Lottery players will be able to play games online.
The Lottery says that winning prize claims may take a few weeks longer due to the system upgrade. Normal operations are expected to resume in April.
“The Pennsylvania Lottery is working to upgrade vending equipment, improve our technology, and debut many new features that will improve the playing experience for our players – and this upgrade is one part of that effort,” said Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne, who heads the Pennsylvania Lottery, a bureau within the Department of Revenue.
“We have a thorough plan in place to make sure next week’s transition to the new computer system has as little impact as possible for our players. This phase of our project is mainly taking place behind the scenes, but it’s a big move for us to improve our business, expand sales, and continue our mission of responsibly generating funding for programs that benefit older Pennsylvanians.”