South Korea to automate paper Lotto payouts
Players will be able to scan a ticket’s QR code through the Payco app.
South Korea.- The Korea Lottery Commission has announced the approval of a new system to help buyers of paper Lotto tickets track their winnings and automatically receive prizes. The first measure will take effect on August 18, when buyers of paper Lotto 6/45 tickets will be able to register them through the mobile payment service Payco.
Players will be able to scan a ticket’s QR code through the Payco app, and the system will check registered tickets against winning results and notify users if they have won. Registration will also give winners a way to receive prizes they have not collected during the normal claim period. If a winning ticket remains unclaimed as its one-year claim deadline approaches, the prize will be paid automatically through Payco, either as app points or into a linked account.
The measure is intended to address a longstanding issue with tickets sold through physical retailers. Unlike online lottery purchases, paper tickets were not linked to individual buyers, leaving players responsible for checking their numbers and presenting winning tickets to collect their prizes. That’s led to substantial sums expiring. Unclaimed Lotto 6/45 prizes totalled KRW58.1bn ($41m) in 2025. The commission said a large portion came from fourth- and fifth-tier prizes worth KRW50,000 (US$35) and KRW5,000 (US$3), respectively.
Electronic registration will not invalidate the paper ticket. Claims made with the original ticket will take precedence, meaning players must keep their physical tickets safe even after registering them on Payco.
Meanwhile, the commission will add real-time information on more than 9,500 Lotto outlets to Naver Map and Kakao Map, South Korea’s digital mapping and navigation services. The listings are intended to make it easier for customers to locate retailers and check their business information.
Other measures approved include a pilot programme for gift vouchers that can be exchanged for Pension Lottery tickets as corporate promotional prizes. The vouchers will be limited to KRW5,000 or less and will include restrictions on use by minors.
