The first steps after a winning Kerala lottery ticket — signing and protecting the ticket, verifying the result, the 90-day deadline and the documents the Directorate asks for.
Finding a winning number on your ticket is exciting. A few careful steps in the first hours make sure the excitement turns into a successful claim.
Step 1: Sign and protect the ticket
The paper ticket is what you claim with, so look after it:
- Sign the back of the ticket with your name exactly as it appears on your Aadhaar card. The Directorate of State Lotteries advises doing this as soon as you buy a ticket.
- Store it flat and dry, and avoid tearing, folding or damaging it. Tampered or damaged tickets are refused.
- Take clear photos of both sides and keep them somewhere separate.
- Do not hand the original ticket to anyone you do not trust.
Step 2: Verify the result
Results on websites and apps, including Ponkudam, are for information. Confirm the win yourself:
- Check that the lottery name and draw date on the ticket match the result you looked at.
- Compare the full ticket number, including the series letters, with the official Kerala Government Gazette.
- Note the prize category and amount shown for your number. Only one prize is paid per ticket: the highest prize that number won.
If you want to confirm the ticket itself is genuine, the department's official Bhagya Keralam app can scan its QR code (see our ticket security guide).
Step 3: Claim within 90 days
The Directorate states that winners must present the winning ticket within 90 days of the draw date.
The guidance shown in the Ponkudam app groups claims by prize size:
| Prize |
Where it is claimed |
| Less than ₹5,000 |
Directly from a lottery agency. |
| ₹5,000 to ₹1 lakh |
Before the District Lottery Officer. |
| Above ₹1 lakh |
Before the Director of State Lotteries, or through a nationalised or scheduled bank. |
Step 4: Prepare the documents
According to the Directorate's prize claim page, for prizes above ₹10,000 you need:
- The original winning ticket, signed on the back with your name as on Aadhaar.
- The prize claim form (Form V).
- One passport-size photograph.
- A self-attested copy of your bank passbook showing your name, address, account number, branch and IFSC.
- Self-attested copies of your PAN card and Aadhaar card. Aadhaar and PAN must be linked.
If you claim through a bank, fill in the bank section of Form V. Joint winners use Form VI, and winners from outside Kerala use Form VII; both must be notarised.
For prizes of ₹10,000 or less, you need an application for prize distribution, the signed original ticket, and self-attested copies of your Aadhaar card and bank passbook.
What you will receive
The agent's commission and income tax are deducted from the prize amount. Our tax guide explains these deductions with a worked example.
Check before you go
Forms and procedures are set by the Kerala State Lotteries department and can change. Download the current forms from the Directorate's website, and confirm the requirements with the Directorate, your District Lottery Office or the lottery agency before submitting your claim.
Ponkudam does not sell tickets, process claims or pay prizes; it publishes results for information. You can re-check your number any time on the search page.
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