Code of Maine Rules
18 - DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES
553 - BUREAU OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LOTTERY OPERATIONS (BABLO)
Chapter 80 - LOTTO AMERICA GAME RULES
Part II - Lotto America Game Rules
Section 553-80-II-4.0 - Lotto America Prize Pool

Universal Citation: 18 ME Code Rules ยง 553-80-II-4.0

Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024

4.1 Lotto America Prize Pool. The prize pool for all prize categories shall consist of fifty percent (50%) of each Drawing period's Lotto America sales, inclusive of any specific statutorily mandated tax of a Selling Lottery to be included in the price of a Play, and including contributions to the prize pool accounts and prize reserve accounts but may be higher or lower based upon the number of winners at each prize level.

4.2 Lotto America Prize Pool Accounts and Prize Reserve Accounts. The Product Group shall set the contribution rates to the prize pools and prize reserve accounts established by this Rule.

4.2.1 The following prize reserve accounts for the Lotto America game are hereby established:
4.2.1.1 The Prize Reserve Account (PRA) which is used to guarantee the payment of valid, but unanticipated, Grand Prize claims that may result from a system error or other reason; to fund deficiencies in low-tier Lotto America Game prize payments (subject to the limitations of these rules); deficiencies in guaranteed Grand Prize funding if approved by the Group; and for other purposes as established in these Rules.

4.2.2 The following prize pool accounts for the Lotto America game are hereby established:
4.2.2.1 The Grand Prize Pool (GPP), which is used to fund the current Grand Prize;

4.2.2.2 The Set Prize Pool (SPP), which is used the fund the Set Prizes. The SPP shall hold the temporary balances that may result from having fewer than expected winners in the Set Prize (aka low-tier prize) categories. The Source of the SPP is the Party Lottery's weekly prize contributions less actual Set Prize liability;

4.2.2.3 The Set-Aside Pool (SAP) which is used to fund the payment of the awarded minimum starting annuity Grand Prizes and the minimum annuity Grand Prize increase, if necessary (subject to the limitations in these rules), as may be set by the Product Group; and

4.2.2.4 The Grand Prize Carry Forward Pool (GPCFP), which is used to fund the starting minimum annuity Grand Prize, as may be set by the Product Group, if such funds are available, and if sales do not fund the Grand Prize.

4.2.3 The above prize reserve accounts, the GPCFP and the SAP may have maximum balance amounts or balance limiter triggers that are set by the Product Group.

The maximum balance amounts and balance limit triggers are subject to review by the MUSL Board Finance and Audit Committee. The Finance and Audit Committee shall have two weeks to state objections, if any, to the approved maximum balance amounts or balance limiter triggers. Approved maximum balance amounts or balance limiter triggers shall become effective no sooner than two weeks after notice is given to the Finance and Audit Committee and no objection is stated or sooner if the Committee affirmatively approves the maximum balance amounts or balance limiter triggers. The Group may appeal the Committee's objections to the full Board. Group approved changes in the maximum balance amounts or balance limiter triggers set by the Product Group shall be effective only after the next Grand Prize win.

4.2.4 The maximum contribution rate to the GPP shall be 46.1982% of the prize pool (23.0991% of sales).

An amount of a Party Lottery's sales shall be deducted from a Party Lottery's GPP contribution and placed in trust in one or more prize pools and prize reserve accounts held by the Product Group (hereinafter the "prize pool and reserve deduction") at any time that the SAP and Party Lottery's share of the prize reserve accounts(s) is below the amounts designated by the Product Group.

An additional amount up to twenty percent (20%) of a Party Lottery's sales shall be deducted from a Party Lottery's GPP contribution and placed in trust in the GPCFP to be held by the Product Group at a time as determined by the Product Group.

4.2.5 The Product Group may determine to expend all or a portion of the funds in the Lotto America prize pools and the prize reserve accounts (except the GPP account and the GPCFP):
4.2.5.1 for the purpose of indemnifying the Party Lotteries in the payment of prizes to be made by the Selling Lotteries; and

4.2.5.2 for the payment of prizes or special prizes in the game, limited to prize pool and prize reserve contributions from lotteries participating in the special prize promotion, subject to the approval of the Board's Finance & Audit Committee or that Committee's failure to object after given two weeks' notice of the planned action, which actions may be appealed to the full Board by the Product Group.

The GPCFP may only be expended to fund the starting minimum annuity Grand Prize.

4.2.6 The prize reserve shares of a Party Lottery may be adjusted with refunds to the Party Lottery from the prize reserve account(s) as may be needed to maintain the approved maximum balance and sales percentage shares of the Party Lotteries.

4.2.7 A Party Lottery may contribute to its sales percentage share of prize reserve accounts over time, but in the event of a draw down from the reserve account, a Party Lottery is responsible for its full sales percentage share of the account, whether or not it has been paid in full.

4.2.8 Any amount remaining in the Lotto America prize pool accounts or prize reserve accounts when the Product Group declares the end of the game shall be returned to the lotteries participating in the prize pools and prize reserve accounts after the end of all claim periods of all Selling Lotteries, carried forward to a replacement game, or otherwise expended in a manner at the election of the individual Members of the Product Group in accordance with jurisdiction statute.

4.3 Reserved.

4.4 Expected Lotto America Prize Payout Percentages. The Grand Prize payout shall be determined on a Pari-Mutuel basis. Except as otherwise provided for in these rules, all other prizes awarded shall be paid as single payment prizes. All prize payouts are made with the following expected prize payout percentages, which does not include any amount contributed to or held in prize reserves, although the prize payout percentages per draw may vary:

Number of Matches per Play

Prize Payment

Prize Pool Percentage Allocated to Prize

Sale Percentage Allocated in Prize

All five (5) of first set plus one (1) of second set

Grand Prize Value

46.1983%*

23.0991%

All five (5) of first set and none of second set

$20,000.00

1.3852%

0.6926%

Any four (4) of first set plus one (1) of second set

$ 1,000.00

1.8084%

0.9042%

Any four (4) of first set and none of second set

$ 100.00

1.6276%

0.8138%

Any three (3) of first set plus one (1) of second set

$ 20.00

1.6637%

0.8319%

Any three (3) of first set and none of second set

$ 5.00

3.7434%

1.8717%

Any two (2) of first set plus one (1) of second set

$ 5.00

6.2390%

3.1195%

Any one (1) of first set plus one (1) of second set

$ 2.00

13.7259%

6.8629%

None of first set plus one (1) of second set

$ 2.00

23.6085%

11.8043%

* The maximum contribution rate may include contributions to reserves and pools as described in these rules.
4.4.1 The prize money allocated to the Grand Prize category shall be divided equally by the number of Lotto America Plays winning the Grand Prize as described in Sections 6.1.2 and 6.1.3 of these rules.

4.4.2 Lotto America Game Set Prize Pool (SPP) Carried Forward. The SPP (for single payment prizes of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) or less) shall be carried forward to subsequent draws if all or a portion of it is not needed to pay the Set Prizes awarded in the current draw.

4.4.3 Pari-Mutuel Lotto America Game Prize Determinations.
4.4.3.1 If the total of the Lotto America Set Prizes (as multiplied by the All Star Bonus Multiplier if applicable) awarded in a drawing exceeds the percentage of the prize pool allocated to the Lotto America Game Set Prizes, then the amount needed to fund the Lotto America Game Set Prizes, including All Star Bonus Multiplier prizes, awarded shall be drawn from the following sources, in the following order:
4.4.3.1.1 the amount available in the SPP and the All Star Bonus Multiplier Prize Pool; and, if needed,

4.4.3.1.2 an amount from the PRA, if available, not to exceed the balance of the PRA; and, if needed,

4.4.3.1.3 an amount from the SAP, if available, not to exceed the balance of the pool.

4.4.3.2 If, after these sources are depleted, there are not sufficient funds to pay the Set Prizes, including the All Star Bonus Multiplier prizes, then the highest Set Prize shall become a Pari-Mutuel prize. If the amount of the highest Set Prize, including All Star Bonus Multiplier Prizes, when paid on a Pari-Mutuel basis, drops to or below the next highest Set Prize and there are still not sufficient funds to pay the remaining set prizes awarded, including All Star Bonus Multiplier prizes, then the next highest Set Prize shall become a Pari-Mutuel prize. This procedure shall continue down through all Set Prize levels, if necessary, until all Set Prize levels become Pari-Mutuel prize levels. In that instance, the money available from the funding sources listed in this rule shall be divided among the winning Plays in proportion to their respective prize percentages. Lotto America Game and All Star Bonus Multiplier prizes will be reduced by the same percentage.

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