Pay out scratcher winnings

Access path: Register → three-dot menu (top-right) → Lottery/Scratcher Payout → Scratcher Payout

The dual cash-out / apply-to-purchase behavior is the most important thing to understand: a Scratcher Payout is always part of an order. Even when the customer is just cashing out, the system records it as an order with a negative-only total so reporting and cash reconciliation stay clean.

Before you start: enable the setting

Scratcher Payout is off by default for new stores. To enable:

1. Go to Register Settings → Payment Methods

2. Turn on the Lottery Payout checkbox (controls both Lottery and Scratcher)

3. Save

Step 1 — Enter the payout amount

The register's main amount field opens for entry. Use the on-screen keypad:

The amount formats from right to left. For $10.00, type 1, 0, 0, 0.

Step 2 — Open the three-dot menu

Tap the three-dot icon at the top-right of the register screen. The dropdown shows: Quick Add Product · Expected Cash · View Receipts · Vendor Payout · Drop Cash · Pay In · No Sale · Lottery/Scratcher Payout · Upload PAX log · Check ID

Tap Lottery/Scratcher Payout.

Step 3 — Choose Scratcher Payout

A Lottery modal opens with two large blue buttons:

Tap Scratcher Payout. The system adds a Scratcher Payout line to the cart with a negative value — for example, 1 × Scratcher Payout −$10.00. The payout entry is colored red to clearly distinguish it from regular sale lines.

Step 4 — Decide: cash out or apply to purchase

This is where the workflow forks. The negative line is now sitting in the cart.

Path A — Customer cashes out (no purchase)

The customer just wants the money. Don't add any other items to the cart.

1. Tap Pay at the bottom-right. The order total is the negative payout (e.g. −$10.00).

2. The Balance screen opens. The system treats the negative as cash going out of the drawer.

3. Tap Cash as the tender. Confirm and complete.

4. The cash drawer opens automatically. Hand the customer the cash.

Path B — Customer applies winnings to a product purchase

The customer wants to use the win toward a purchase. Add the regular products to the cart after the payout line. Example:

The customer's $10 scratcher win covered $10 of the $15.98 + tax, so they only owe $7.50 to take both coils home.

1. Tap Pay. The Balance screen shows the remaining balance ($7.50).

2. The customer can pay the remainder with any tender — Cash, Credit, Debit, EBT, Gift Card, Store Credit, Loyalty.

3. Complete the sale normally.

Path C — Winnings exceed purchase

The customer has a $20 scratcher and wants to buy a $7.99 coil. The math goes negative: $7.99 − $20.00 ≈ −$12.01 (after tax adjustment). The customer takes the coil and $12.01 in cash. The Balance screen shows the negative as cash owed back to the customer; cash goes out of the drawer; the system handles this as a single transaction.

Partial payment

The "Tap to adjust and make a partial payment" hint below the amount field allows you to split the payout across multiple tenders if the customer requests it (for example, $15 cash and $5 to store credit).

Receipt options

After the payout completes, the Change Due modal asks "How would you like your receipt?":

What gets recorded

Permissions

Also gated in the web backend under Employees → Permissions → Lottery Permissions. Without the permission, the option doesn't appear in the three-dot menu.

Common questions

Why is the payout showing as a negative line in the cart instead of just opening the drawer?

The system has to handle two scenarios — cash-out only and applied-to-purchase — with the same flow. Adding a negative line works for both: if the cart has only the negative line, it's a pure cash-out; if there are also products, the negative reduces the customer's bill. This unified flow keeps reporting consistent and prevents double-counting.

The customer wants to use a $20 win toward a $50 purchase. Does it work?

Yes. Add the $50 product, then run a $20 payout. The cart shows: product +$50, payout −$20, total $30 (plus tax). Customer pays $30 plus applicable tax with any tender.

The customer has a $50 win and wants to buy a $7.99 item — they take the item plus $42 cash.

Same flow. Add the $7.99 product, run a $50 payout. Cart total goes negative. The Balance screen treats this as cash owed back to the customer. Hand them the item and $42 cash (after tax math) from the drawer.

My drawer is showing overbalanced and I'm seeing lottery payouts I never made

This was a known issue affecting all merchants after a release in April 2025 — phantom lottery payouts appeared even when the feature wasn't enabled. The root cause was fixed. If you're still seeing this:

1. Confirm the Add Lottery Payout checkbox in Register Settings is set to your intended state (off if you don't sell lottery, on if you do)

2. Refresh the POS app

3. If it persists, contact support with your merchant ID, store name, and the date the phantom payouts started

The payment buttons (Cash) gray out when I do a lottery payout

That's correct behavior when the cart is payout-only and the total is negative — most tenders aren't valid for cashing out (you can only cash out via Cash). When you add a customer or a product, the buttons may visually re-enable but should still only allow valid tenders.

The order summary is missing the Scratcher Payout entry

A previous bug dropped the payout line from the order summary in some flows (especially when the remaining balance was paid by card). It's been fixed. If you still see it missing, update the app and reprint the receipt from Order Details — the data is in the order, it's just a display issue.

I see "Cashback" in my Location Report instead of "Scratcher Payout"

This was a misclassification bug — lottery payouts were aggregated under Cashback in some reports. Fixed. Current reports separate Cashback and Lottery/Scratcher Payouts.

Can I refund a scratcher payout?

No. You can't refund lottery payouts.

Is there a separate Lottery Activity Report?

A dedicated Lottery Activity Report is being built (currently in development). It will show total lottery sold, total payouts, and net lottery activity in a standalone report. Until it ships, lottery activity is reported within the Sales Overview Report and the Location Report.

The customer's purchase was paid entirely with scratcher winnings (zero balance owed). What happens?

The order completes with $0 due. No tender prompt, no cash drawer kick. The cart's negative payout line covered the products' cost exactly.

Can I use Scratcher Payout for vendor returns or cash refunds?

No. Scratcher Payout is specifically for state-lottery winnings. Vendor returns go through Vendor Payout (or Pay In if cash is being received). Customer cash refunds go through the regular order refund flow.

Important notes