What is a Georgia Lottery Corporation Lottery Bond?
The Georgia Lottery Corporation Lottery bond is a surety bond required as a financial security deposit for lottery retailers that do not meet the financial responsibility standards set by the Georgia Lottery Corporation (GLC). This bond ensures that lottery retailers will adhere to the regulations established by the Georgia Lottery for Education Act. If a retailer fails to follow those regulations, the lottery bond allows injured parties to recover damages. The lottery retailer will be held financially responsible for reimbursing the surety for any damages paid out.
Who needs the GLC Lottery Bond?
Businesses that want to operate as Georgia lottery retailers may be required to get a lottery bond. As a part of the licensing process, the GLC analyzes the credit, criminal history, and business experience of each lottery retailer applicant to determine who must have a Financial Security Deposit . The GLC states that Financial Security Deposits can be in the form of a cash escrow, letter of credit, or bond. The surety bond is usually the most affordable option because they rarely require 100% collateral.
If the GLC determines you need a Financial Security Deposit, they will send you a lottery letter. If you decide to obtain a bond to fulfill the Financial Security Deposit requirement, the lottery letter will tell you exactly what bond amount you need. When you apply for a lottery bond, please email us a copy of the lottery letter.
What should my bond amount be?
The bond amount for a Georgia Lottery Corporation Lottery Bond will vary for each retailer. The Georgia Lottery Corporation will analyze your credit, criminal history, and business experience to determine what your bond amount will be. For further information on the Financial Security Deposit guidelines established by the GLC, read pages 11 and 12 of the retailer application.
As a rule of thumb, the bond amount for lottery bonds will not exceed two times your district average weekly sales. Commonly, the bond amount for the Georgia lottery bond ranges from $15,000 to $50,000. However, don’t be alarmed if your bond amount falls out of that range.
Obligee information
The obligee is the entity that requires you to get the bond. In this case, the obligee is the Georgia Lottery Corporation. You can contact them here:
Georgia Lottery Corporation
250 Williams Street, Suite 3000
Atlanta, GA 30303
Main Office: 404-215-5000
Hotline: 1-800-GA-LUCKY
Email: glottery@galottery.org
How much does a Georgia Lottery Bond cost?
Much like your required bond amount, how much you pay for your lottery bond will depend on your credit. The surety will analyze your credit using a soft credit check and assign you a premium rate. The premium rate is a percentage you multiply by the bond amount to calculate your premium. Bond premiums are paid as a single lump sum before your bond is issued.
Because both your bond amount and premium rate rely on your credit, how much this bond costs cannot be accurately estimated. For reference, however, premium rates typically range from 1% to 3% for standard credit to upwards of 6% and higher for non-standard credit. Sureties may also rely on other factors to determine premium rates, including years of experience and business financials.
How to get your GLC Lottery Bond
Once you have your lottery letter from the GLC, you can apply for your lottery bond on our website. Make sure to email a copy of your lottery letter to info@ezsuretybonds.com once you’ve finished the application to get your quote faster. You’ll typically hear back from us with a quote within 24 hours of receiving your application and lottery letter. If you still have questions, please reach out to our surety experts at info@ezsuretybonds.com or 1-866-546-4605.
Frequently asked questions
Lottery bonds are surety bonds required by government agencies that ensure lottery retailers pay all funds owed to their state lottery regulatory agencies. The Georgia Lottery Corporation requires a lottery bond as a financial security deposit for lottery retailer applicants that do not meet the financial guideline licensing requirements. If a retailer violates licensing regulations, the injured party may file a claim on the bond. The surety company will pay out all valid claims up to the bond amount. The retailer will be financially responsible for repaying any valid paid-out claims.
To obtain your lottery retailer license, you must first locate your Georgia Lottery Corporation district office. Your district office will provide you with all the appropriate forms and information you need to get licensed. Once you have completed your application, submit it with the $125 licensing fee for each business location to the following address:
GEORGIA LOTTERY CORPORATION
P.O. Box 56486 • Atlanta, GA 30343
After submitting your application, the GLC should provide you with a lottery letter detailing the bond amount you need. Then you can apply for your bond on our website and email us a copy of your lottery letter to info@ezsuretybonds.com. We’ll provide you with a free quote within 24 hours of receiving your application and lottery letter.
After you purchase your Georgia Lottery Corporation Lottery Bond, we will mail the original bond to you. Once you receive the original bond in the mail, you will be responsible for filing it with the Georgia Lottery Corporation.
