Plain English. Updated when the Lottery or GAMOA says something new. Last update: October 24, 2026.
Sources: Georgia Lottery COAM rules, gacoam.com and the Lottery’s licensing notices. GAMOA meetings are listed at gamoa.org/events once they are set.
Most warnings were about the new prize redemption rules that started July 1.
18 out of 599 is very few. Most problems were simple oversights, not fraud. Inspectors look at redemption and records on every visit.
O.C.G.A. § 50-27-71.1(b): a gift card given for a COAM prize “shall not be exchanged for cash, change, or currency.” The Lottery’s notice to store owners (June 17, 2026) repeats it word for word.
Since July 1, a Class B prize can be redeemed only with replays, lottery products, or gift cards. Store owners choose which to offer. As Mike Parham of the Lottery’s COAM Division put it: “Retailers have discretion to offer gift cards, lottery or both. It is completely their option.”
Some banks now ask stores to explain gift card and lottery amounts moving through their accounts. Good records answer that question.
Four ways to redeem a Class B prize: replays, lottery products, non-reloadable gift cards, reloadable gift cards. Nothing else. There is no Lottery-approved list of gift card companies — every store picks its own provider. The law, in plain words →
From 2022 to June 30, 2026 the Lottery ran a pilot with one card company. Since July 1, any gift card that follows the law is allowed, and every store picks its own provider. The Lottery does not keep a list.
Checked twice a week.
Common problems the Lottery names: redeeming prizes in cash, the 50% rule, poor records, hidden owners.
Coam Tracker helps you keep the redemption records they ask about.
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Checked twice a week. Every item shows its date, source and exact link. We never copy an article — we say it in plain words and link out.
See how Coam Tracker keeps your records →This page shares public industry news and dates. It is not legal advice. Coam Tracker helps you keep records. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Georgia Lottery Corporation or GAMOA.