DC Lottery Opens Coupon Process After Draw Glitches
Wednesday May 20th 2026Lottery players in the District of Columbia can now pick up coupons and enter a special 2nd Chance contest if they were affected by a technical issue which impacted DC 3, DC 4 and DC 5 drawings for almost a month.
What Was The Draw Issue?
From March 31 to April 21, the Midday and Evening drawings for DC 3, DC 4 and DC 5 generated number combinations that appeared ordinary, fair and random at first glance, but actually a configuration error was compromising the results and meant that it was impossible for some players to win.
The error blocked the draw machines from producing duplicate digits in the same draw, so combinations such as 111, 2234 or 12341 had no chance at all of appearing. After the issue was identified, the DC Lottery said that it had inadvertently been introduced by third-party vendor Smartplay International during a routine draw machine recertification. The DC Lottery added that Night drawings had not been affected.
The issue was rectified as quickly as possible and the DC Lottery has now rolled out a series of free plays, coupons and second-chance opportunities to make amends.
DC Lottery Executive Director Randy Burnside said: “We are confident that we have identified and corrected the issue. We are committed to making it right for our players and appreciate their patience over the past few days. We have the best players in the world and will be providing them with additional opportunities to win over the course of the next several months.”
How to Claim Coupons
If you purchased a ticket for any of the disrupted drawings and had two or more of the same numbers in a play, you can now claim a coupon equal to the value of your affected play. You will also be entitled to a $1 bonus coupon that can be used for a special 2nd Chance contest.
You can claim your coupons in person from the DC Lottery headquarters at 2235 Shannon Place, SE, Washington, DC 20020. Alternatively, mail in your affected ticket and a coupon application form.
The coupon exchange process runs from May 18 to October 19, 2026, while the 2nd Chance contest runs from May 18 to June 19, 2026. The 2nd Chance promotion will offer $150,000 in prizes, including a top payout of $25,000 and additional prizes of $1,000, $250 and $50.
Make sure to grab your coupons if you had a ticket for one of the affected drawings, and keep up to date with the latest DC3, DC 4 and DC 5 winning numbers as soon as they are available.
The DC Lottery is also launching DC 3, DC 4 and DC 5 as scratchers, offering the same game mechanics with the added benefit of instant-play gratification.
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