Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(1)
Effective
Date/Purpose. Beginning October 28, 2017, the following shall be
in effect. The purpose of the MEGA MILLIONS game is the generation of revenue
for Party Lotteries through the operation of a specially-designed multi-state
lottery game that will award prizes to ticket holders matching specified
combinations of numbers randomly selected in regularly scheduled drawings.
During each MEGA MILLIONS drawing, six MEGA MILLIONS Winning
Numbers will be selected from two fields of numbers in the following manner:
five winning numbers from a field numbered one through 70; and one winning
number from a second field numbered one through 25.
Add-on Game. Where permitted by the governing laws, policies,
procedures, regulations or rules of any Party Lottery jurisdiction, any Party
Lottery, or several Party Lotteries together, may institute an Add-on Game that
may provide prize amounts in addition to MEGA MILLIONS prize
amounts.
(2)
Definitions. Capitalized words and terms set forth
below, when used within 961 CMR 2.59 shall have the following meaning unless
otherwise indicated:
Add-on Game. A game that may provide
prize amounts in addition to the MEGA MILLIONS prizes, other than the MEGA
MILLIONS Grand/Jackpot Prize.
Annual/Annuitize(d)/Annuity Option.
The manner in which the MEGA MILLIONS Grand/Jackpot Prize may be paid in 30
graduated annual installments.
Authorized Claim Center. Any MEGA
MILLIONS Agent or Retailer, or Party Lottery office, in the state where the
winning Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket was purchased.
Cash Option. The manner in which the
MEGA MILLIONS Grand/Jackpot Prize may be paid in a single payment.
Claimant. Any person or (where
permitted) entity submitting a claim form or, for a Mobile Claim, all claim and
ticket information as required by the Mobile Claim Process, within the required
time period to collect a prize for an Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket. A Claimant
may be the Purchaser, the person or (where permitted) entity named on a signed
Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket, the bearer of an unsigned Official MEGA MILLIONS
Ticket, or any other person or (where permitted) entity who may seek
entitlement to a MEGA MILLIONS prize payment in accordance with the MEGA
MILLIONS Rules and Party Lottery governing laws, policies and rules. No
Claimant may assert rights different from the rights acquired by the original
Purchaser at the time of purchase.
Director(s). The chief executive of
any Party Lottery or any other person to whom the Director's authority is
lawfully delegated.
Grand/Jackpot Prize. The top prize in
the MEGA MILLIONS game.
Internet Game Ticket. A game ticket
for MEGA MILLIONS purchased via the internet, with or without
the Megaplier option, where permitted by the governing laws, policies or rules
of a Party Lottery. Where sales of MEGA MILLIONS game tickets
via the internet are authorized, such sales shall constitute
Official MEGA MILLIONS Tickets for validation and other purposes set forth in
961 CMR 2.59.
MEGA MILLIONS Agent, Sales Agent or
Retailer. A location in the State of Georgia, Illinois, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia, Washington or
California licensed or contracted and equipped by its respective Party Lottery
to sell Official MEGA MILLIONS Tickets.
MEGA MILLIONS Panel, Play Area or Play
Board. That area of an Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket containing
one field of five one or two-digit player or computer selected numbers, and a
second field of one one or two-digit player or computer selected
numbers.
MEGA MILLIONS Play/Bet Slip. A
computer-readable form, printed and issued by each Party Lottery, used in
purchasing an Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket, having a certain number of
separate play areas (as designated by each Party Lottery), with each play area
consisting of two fields. One field contains 70 areas/spaces, numbered one
through 70; and one field contains 25 areas/spaces, numbered one through 25.
The Play/Bet Slip may additionally include boxes for selection of Cash Option
or Annuity Option or other play features, at the discretion of each Party
Lottery.
MEGA MILLIONS Winning Numbers. Five
one or two digit numbers, from one through 70 and one one or two-digit number
from one through 25, randomly selected at each MEGA MILLIONS drawing, which
shall be used to determine winning MEGA MILLIONS plays contained on Official
MEGA MILLIONS Tickets.
Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket. A game
ticket, produced on official paper stock by a MEGA MILLIONS Agent or Retailer
in an authorized manner, bearing player or computer selected numbers, game
name, drawing date, amount of wager, and validation data. Where
Subscription/Season Ticket sales of Official MEGA MILLIONS Tickets are
authorized by a Party Lottery pursuant to 961 CMR 2.59(3), such sales may not
necessarily be made by a MEGA MILLIONS Agent or Retailer and may not be
recorded on official paper stock, but shall nevertheless constitute Official
MEGA MILLIONS Tickets for validation and other purposes set forth in 961 CMR
2.59, for the duration of the Subscription/Season Ticket.
Megaplier. Megaplier is a MEGA
MILLIONS Add-on game as defined in 961 CMR 2.59(2) by which a player, for an
additional wager of $1 per play, can increase the guaranteed prize amount or
pari-mutuel prize amount, as applicable, for all non-Grand/Jackpot prizes,
depending on the multiplier number that is drawn prior to the Mega Millions
drawing. There is no multiplier for the Grand/Jackpot Prize.
Megaplier Feature Play.
(a)
Type of Play. A
Mega Millions player may elect to participate in the "Megaplier" feature by
paying an additional $1 per play at the time of his or her MEGA MILLIONS ticket
purchase.
(b)
Megaplier
Drawing. A random drawing will occur before every MEGA MILLIONS
drawing to determine one multiplier number for that drawing. The multiplier
number that will be selected will be either a 2, 3, 4 or 5. The multiplier
number drawn will be used to multiply the value of all non-Grand/Jackpot
prizes. In the event the multiplier drawing does not occur prior to the MEGA
MILLIONS drawing, the multiplier number will be a 5.
(c)
Multiplier Number
Frequency. The one multiplier number will be selected from a field
of numbers according to the following relative frequencies:
|
Number |
Relative Frequency |
|
2 |
5 of 15 |
|
3 |
6 of 15 |
|
4 |
3 of 15 |
|
5 |
1 of 15 |
(d)
Application of Multiplier Number.
1.
Non-grand/Jackpot
Prizes. The multiplier number selected is the number that is used
to increase the prize amount for all non-Grand/Jackpot prizes. A
non-Grand/Jackpot prize winner who chose to participate in the Megaplier
feature by paying an additional $1 per play at the time of the player's MEGA
MILLIONS ticket purchase is paid a prize in the amount of the guaranteed prize
amount or the pari-mutuel prize amount, as applicable, multiplied by the
multiplier number for that drawing.
2.
Grand/Jackpot
Prize. The Megaplier feature does not apply to the Grand/Jackpot
prize.
(e)
Special Megaplier Promotions. The Mega Millions Group
may periodically agree to change one or more of the Megaplier multiplier
numbers for non-Grand/Jackpot prizes, in order to conduct special Megaplier
promotions during specified time periods. The relative frequency of the
Megaplier numbers may be changed and/or additional numbers may be added to the
matrix at the discretion of the Mega Millions Group, from time to time for
promotional purposes. Such special promotions and matrix changes shall be
announced by public notice; each participating state will announce the
promotion according to the laws or customs of the participating state.
Pari-mutuel. Total amount of sales
allocated to pay prize Claimants, at the designated prize level, divided among
the number of winning Official MEGA MILLIONS plays.
Party Lottery or Lotteries. One or
more of the state lotteries established and operated pursuant to the laws of
Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York,
Ohio, Virginia, Washington and California.
Prize Fund. That portion of MEGA
MILLIONS gross sales set aside for the payment of prizes. The Prize Fund for
any drawing is expected to be 50% of sales, but may be higher or lower based
upon the number of winners at each prize level, as well as the funding required
to meet the advertised jackpot.
Purchaser(s). Player(s) of MEGA
MILLIONS who purchase tickets in accordance with MEGA MILLIONS Rules and Party
Lottery governing laws, policies and rules.
Quick-pick, Auto Pick or Easy Pick. A
player option in which MEGA MILLIONS number selections are determined at random
by computer software.
Shared Liability. The liability of the
participating states in any MEGA MILLIONS game prize, or any MEGA MILLIONS
Add-on game, will be in accordance with the MEGA MILLIONS Members' Finance and
Operations Procedures applicable to that game.
Subscription/Season Ticket. An
extended, multi-draw purchase option wherein the same set(s) of numbers may be
played for a specified number of consecutive drawings (for example, 26, 52 or
104), effective on a future date prescribed by the governing laws, policies and
rules of the Party Lottery offering the Subscription/Season Ticket option.
Subscriptions/Season Tickets are distinguished from multi-draw tickets
authorized by 961 CMR 2.59(4) and (5)(j), which are effective with the next
scheduled drawing.
(3)
Ticket Sales.
The sale of Official MEGA MILLIONS Tickets may be conducted only by such
locations as the Directors shall contract with and/or license pursuant to the
governing laws, policies and rules of the Party Lotteries and the MEGA MILLIONS
Rules.
Where permitted by the governing laws, policies or rules of a
Party Lottery, the Director of the Party Lottery may authorize Purchasers to
purchase via the internet and/or to make Subscription
purchases of Official MEGA MILLIONS Tickets. Subscriptions will be subject to
the policies, procedures and rules established by the Party Lottery selling the
Subscription, subject to the following parameters and restrictions:
(a) The maximum number of consecutive
drawings encompassed by a Subscription is 104.
(b) In the event the Directors authorize a
matrix change for MEGA MILLIONS, the Party Lottery which issued the
Subscription will determine the option(s) available to Subscription Purchasers
from that Party Lottery for the balance of plays remaining on their
Subscriptions effective as of the date of the matrix change.
(c) Except as set forth in 961 CMR
2.59(3)(b), and notwithstanding 961 CMR 2.59(5)(d), game play information for a
Subscription may be edited by a Party Lottery's Subscription Coordinator only
when an error in the numbers entered has been identified, a change in the
frequency of drawings occurs, or a change in the game matrix occurs. A
Subscription may be edited to correct an error in the numbers entered before
the time of the first drawing for which the Subscription is effective.
(Liability for any number entered in error is limited to the Party Lottery that
entered the number in error.) For a change in the game matrix, or for errors in
the numbers entered which are identified AFTER the first drawing under the
Subscription, the Subscription Coordinator may correct the Subscription game
play prospectively for the remaining number of draws on the Subscription. The
only other condition under which Subscription game play may be edited is to
correct the Subscription end date if the Directors authorize a change in the
frequency of MEGA MILLIONS drawings.
(4)
Ticket Price.
(a) Official MEGA MILLIONS Tickets may be
purchased for $2.00 per play, or multiples thereof, in accordance with the
rules of the Party Lottery of the state in which the wager is placed. The
Purchaser receives one play for each $2.00 wagered in MEGA MILLIONS. In
addition or alternatively, a Party Lottery may, in its discretion, offer a
subset of Official MEGA MILLIONS Tickets known as Just The JackpotT tickets
which may be purchased for $3.00 per two (2) plays for only the Grand/Jackpot
prize (which excludes all other prizes), or multiples thereof, in accordance
with the rules of the Party Lottery of the state in which the wager is placed.
The Purchaser receives two (2) plays for each $3.00 wagered for the chance to
win only the Grand/Jackpot prize. The two (2) plays shall have separate numbers
from the Official MEGA MILLIONS GAME. However, the numbers selected for Just
the JackpotT (by the player or the computer) may be the same number or numbers
as any or all of the numbers selected in the Official MEGA MILLIONS game. If
the player matches any non-Grand/Jackpot prize numbers with his or her Just The
JackpotT plays, the player who purchased a Just The JackpotT ticket is not
eligible to win those non-Grand/Jackpot prizes in the Just The JackpotT game.
Except as otherwise provided in these MEGA MILLIONS Rules, the
availability and cost of any Add-on Game (as defined in these rules [961 CMR
2.59]) or Just The JackpotT shall be determined by the Party Lottery offering
this game, shall not be included in the cost of the Official MEGA MILLIONS
ticket, and shall be subject to the laws, rules and regulations governing the
respective Party Lottery.
(b) Subject to the laws and regulations
governing each Party Lottery, the Directors may collectively authorize the sale
of Official MEGA MILLIONS Tickets at a discount for promotional purposes.
Individual Directors may authorize sale of Official MEGA MILLIONS Tickets at a
discount for promotional purposes within their respective jurisdictions,
provided that such discounted sales shall be reported to the Party Lotteries at
full gross sales value.
(5)
Play Characteristics and
Restrictions.
(a) Official MEGA
MILLIONS Tickets may only be sold to persons 18 years of age or older,
providing such persons are not prohibited from playing MEGA MILLIONS in a Party
Lottery state by the governing law, policies or rules of that Party Lottery, or
any contract executed by that Party Lottery.
(b) Official MEGA MILLIONS Tickets may not be
purchased in any other Party Lottery state by any Party Lottery board member or
commissioner; or any officer or employee; or any spouse, child, brother, sister
or parent residing as a member of the same household in the principal place of
residence of any such person.
(c)
Under no circumstances will a claim be paid for either the Grand/Jackpot Prize
or the Second Prize without an Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket matching all game
play, serial number and other validation data residing in the selling Party
Lottery's gaming system computer and such ticket (or for Internet Game Tickets,
the Party Lottery's electronic record of purchase) shall be the only valid
proof of the wager placed and the only valid receipt for claiming or redeeming
such prize.
(d) Except with respect
to a Subscription described in 961 CMR 2.59(3), official MEGA MILLIONS Tickets
may not be canceled.
(e) Purchasers
may submit a manually completed MEGA MILLIONS Play Slip to a MEGA MILLIONS
Agent, Sales Agent or Retailer to have issued an Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket.
MEGA MILLIONS Play Slips shall be available at no cost to the Purchaser and
shall have no pecuniary or prize value, or constitute evidence of purchase or
number selections. The use of mechanical, electronic, computer generated or any
other non-manual method of marking Play Slips is prohibited. As permitted by
that Party Lottery, Purchasers may submit a previously purchased ticket with
specified barcode, which will enable the Agent, Sales Agent or Retailer to scan
the barcode to produce the exact wager information for the next scheduled
drawing.
(f) Purchasers may orally
convey their selections to a MEGA MILLIONS Agent, Sales Agent or Retailer to
have issued an Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket. Such selections shall be manually
entered into the computer terminal by the MEGA MILLIONS Agent, Sales Agent or
Retailer.
(g) In those Party
Lottery states which offer player operated sales terminals (POST's) or self
service terminals (SST's), Purchasers may utilize POST's or SST's for the
purchase of Official MEGA MILLIONS Tickets, and may make number selections by
such methods as may be permitted by the Party Lottery's gaming system. Those
methods may include, but are not limited to, inserting a completed MEGA
MILLIONS Play Slip into the POST's or SST's optical mark reader, manually
entering the selections on the POST or SST touch screen, or selecting a Quick
Pick, Auto Pick or Easy Pick option.
(h) At the discretion of each Party Lottery,
Purchasers may specify at the time of ticket purchase whether any MEGA MILLIONS
Grand/Jackpot Prize won will be paid under the Cash Option or the Annuity
Option; however, the provisions of 961 CMR 2.59(7)(b)3. shall still
apply.
(i) It shall be the sole
responsibility of the Purchaser to verify the accuracy and condition of the
data printed on the Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket at the time of
purchase.
(j) Where permitted by
the governing laws, policies, regulations or rules of a Party Lottery, Official
MEGA MILLIONS Tickets may be purchased for one through 26 consecutive drawings,
commencing with the next scheduled drawing after the receipt and processing of
the Purchaser's Play/Bet Slip or upon manual entry of an oral request, where
allowed.
(6)
Time, Place and Manner of Conducting Drawings.
(a) MEGA MILLIONS drawings shall be conducted
at the studios of WSB-TV, Atlanta, Georgia at 11:00 P.M. Eastern Time (10:00
P.M. Central Time and 8:00 P.M. Pacific Time). MEGA MILLIONS drawings shall be
conducted on both Tuesday and Friday at the designated time. However, the day,
time or location of the MEGA MILLIONS drawings may be modified as determined by
the Directors and publicly announced by the Party Lotteries, and/or as stated
in the MEGA MILLIONS On-line Drawing Procedures. All MEGA MILLIONS drawings
will be open to the public.
(b) The
objective of MEGA MILLIONS drawings shall be to select at random, with the aid
of drawing equipment, MEGA MILLIONS Winning Numbers, pursuant to the controls
and methods defined by the Party Lotteries.
(7)
Prize Structure (effective
October 28, 2017).
(a)
Matrix of 5/70 and 1/25 with 50% Anticipated Prize
Fund. The Matrix set forth below will apply for all Party
Lotteries with respect to the Grand/Jackpot prize, and will apply for all Party
Lotteries except for California for the second through ninth prizes.
|
Match Field 1 |
Match Field 2 |
Odds |
Prize Category |
% of Prize Fund |
|
5 |
1 |
1: 302,575,350 |
Grand |
37.6509% |
|
5 |
0 |
1: 12,607,306 |
Second |
3.966% |
|
4 |
1 |
1: 931,001 |
Third |
0.5371% |
|
4 |
0 |
1: 38,792 |
Fourth |
0.6445% |
|
3 |
1 |
1: 14,547 |
Fifth |
0.6874% |
|
3 |
0 |
1: 606 |
Sixth |
0.8249% |
|
2 |
1 |
1: 693 |
Seventh |
0.7218% |
|
1 |
1 |
1: 89 |
Eighth |
2.2376% |
|
0 |
1 |
1: 37 |
Ninth |
2.7299% |
|
Reserve |
0% |
|
Totals |
1: 24.0 |
50.0001% |
(b)
Grand/Jackpot Prize Payments
1. Prior to each drawing, the Directors shall
determine the estimated Annuitized Grand/Jackpot Prize amount to be advertised.
The advertised Grand/Jackpot Prize amount shall be estimated and established
based upon sales and the annuity factor established for the drawing. The
Annuitized Grand/Jackpot Prize to be awarded for each MEGA MILLIONS Panel
matching all five of the five MEGA MILLIONS Winning Numbers drawn for Field 1
and the one MEGA MILLIONS Winning Number drawn for Field 2 shall be that amount
equivalent to the highest whole $1 million annuity that is funded by the amount
in that portion of the Prize Fund allocated to the Grand/Jackpot Prize category
when there is only one winning Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket. In no event,
however, shall the Annuitized Grand/Jackpot Prize be less than $40 million as a
starting jackpot, and each successive Annuitized Grand/Jackpot Prize in the
same roll cycle will be at least $5 million more than the previously
established jackpot.
2. If in any
MEGA MILLIONS drawing there are no MEGA MILLIONS Panels which qualify for the
Grand/Jackpot Prize category, the portion of the Prize Fund allocated to such
Grand/Jackpot Prize category shall remain in the Grand/Jackpot Prize category
and be added to the amount allocated for the Grand/Jackpot Prize category in
the next consecutive MEGA MILLIONS drawing. Unless there is a Grand/Jackpot
Prize winner, the estimated Annuitized Grand/Jackpot Prize amount to be
advertised will not be less than $5 million above the advertised jackpot amount
for the immediately prior drawing.
3. If the Annuitized Grand/Jackpot Prize
divided by the number of MEGA MILLIONS Panels matching all five of the five
MEGA MILLIONS Winning Numbers for Field 1 and the one MEGA MILLIONS Winning
Number for Field 2 is equal to or greater than $1,000,000, the Grand/Jackpot
Prize(s) may be paid under the Annuity Option unless a Cash Option was offered
to and accepted by the Grand/Jackpot Prize Claimant as prescribed in the
statutes, administrative rules and regulations, or procedures of the Party
Lottery selling the winning Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket.
4. Annuity Option Grand/Jackpot Prizes shall
be paid in 30 consecutive graduated annual installments by the Party Lottery
that sold the winning Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket, with graduated annual
installments defined in the MEGA MILLIONS Finance and Operations Procedures.
The initial payment shall be paid upon completion of internal validation
procedures. The subsequent 29 payments shall be paid annually to coincide with
the month of the federal auction date at which the bonds were purchased to fund
the Annuity. All such payments shall be made within seven days of the
anniversary of the annual auction date.
5. Cash Option Grand/Jackpot Prizes shall be
paid in a single payment upon completion of the internal validation procedures
and administrative processes of the Party Lottery that sold the winning
Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket. The Cash Option amount offered shall be the
amount determined by the highest whole $1 million annuity that is funded by the
amount in that portion of the Prize Fund allocated to the Grand/Jackpot Prize
category, divided by the annuity factor established by the MEGA MILLIONS
Finance Committee prior to each drawing (the "Cash Equivalent Grand/Jackpot
Prize"), divided by the number of Grand/Jackpot Prize winners. Subject to the
laws, rules and regulations of the Party Lottery of the state in which the
Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket was purchased, the Claimant has until the close
of business on the 60th day after the date the
Claimant becomes entitled to the prize (as defined by the rules of the Party
Lottery which sold the winning Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket) to select the
Cash Option Grand/Jackpot Prize method of payment. No payment will be processed
under the Cash Option Grand/Jackpot Prize provision until the Claimant submits
a form irrevocably selecting said payment option.
6. In the event multiple MEGA MILLIONS Panels
match all five of the five MEGA MILLIONS Winning Numbers for Field 1 and the
one MEGA MILLIONS Winning Number for Field 2, and the Annuitized MEGA MILLIONS
Grand/Jackpot Prize divided by the number of winning game panels is less than
$1,000,000, each MEGA MILLIONS Grand/Jackpot Prize winner shall be paid an
amount equal to the Cash Equivalent Grand/Jackpot Prize divided equally by the
number of Grand/Jackpot Prize winners. Each such Grand/Jackpot Prize winner
will be paid in a single cash payment.
(c) Second through Ninth Level Prizes for all
Party Lottery states except California:
1.
MEGA MILLIONS Panels matching five of the five MEGA MILLIONS Winning Numbers
drawn for Field 1, but not matching the MEGA MILLIONS Winning Number drawn for
Field 2 shall be entitled to receive a Second Prize of $1,000,000.
2. MEGA MILLIONS Panels matching four of the
five MEGA MILLIONS Winning Numbers drawn for Field 1 and the MEGA MILLIONS
Winning Number drawn for Field 2 shall be entitled to receive a Third Prize of
$10,000.
3. MEGA MILLIONS Panels
matching four of the five MEGA MILLIONS Winning Numbers drawn for Field 1, but
not matching the MEGA MILLIONS Winning Number drawn for Field 2 shall be
entitled to receive a Fourth Prize of $500.
4. MEGA MILLIONS Panels matching three of the
five MEGA MILLIONS Winning Numbers drawn for Field 1 and the MEGA MILLIONS
Winning Number drawn for Field 2 shall be entitled to receive a Fifth Prize of
$200.
5. MEGA MILLIONS Panels
matching three of the five MEGA MILLIONS Winning Numbers drawn for Field 1 but
not matching the MEGA MILLIONS Winning Number drawn for Field 2 shall be
entitled to receive a Sixth Prize of $10.
6. MEGA MILLIONS Panels matching two of the
five MEGA MILLIONS Winning Numbers drawn for Field 1 and the MEGA MILLIONS
Winning Number drawn for Field 2 shall be entitled to receive a Seventh Prize
of $10.
7. MEGA MILLIONS Panels
matching one of the five MEGA MILLIONS Winning Numbers drawn for Field 1 and
the MEGA MILLIONS Winning Number drawn for Field 2 shall be entitled to receive
an Eighth Prize of $4.
8. MEGA
MILLIONS Panels matching no numbers of the five MEGA MILLIONS Winning Numbers
drawn for Field 1 but matching the MEGA MILLIONS Winning Number drawn for Field
2 shall be entitled to receive a Ninth Prize of $2.
9. Each MEGA MILLIONS Second through Ninth
prize shall be paid in one payment. (d) Second Through Ninth Level Prizes in
California: California shall pay all second through ninth level MEGA MILLIONS
prizes for Official MEGA MILLIONS Tickets sold in California according to a
pari-mutuel distribution of the prize fund aggregated in California for second
through ninth prize levels. No other Party Lottery shall bear any expense for
second through ninth level prizes for Official MEGA MILLIONS tickets sold in
California; nor shall the California Lottery participate in the reconciliation
of prize liabilities for the second through ninth prize levels under the MEGA
MILLIONS Finance and Operations Procedures.
(e) In a single drawing, a Claimant may win
in only one prize category per single MEGA MILLIONS Panel in connection with
MEGA MILLIONS Winning Numbers, and shall be entitled only to the highest
prize.
(f) For purpose of prize
calculation with respect to any MEGA MILLIONS pari-mutuel prize, the
calculation shall be rounded down so that prizes shall be paid in multiples of
$1.00.
(g) With respect to any MEGA
MILLIONS Annuitized Grand/Jackpot Prize, the prize amount shall be the next
highest fully funded multiple of one million dollars, based solely upon the
Cash Option Grand/Jackpot Prize amount as determined in 961 CMR
2.59(7)(b)5.
(h) Subject to the
laws and regulations governing each Party Lottery, the number of prize
categories and the allocation of the Prize Fund among the prize categories may
be changed at the discretion of the Directors, for promotional purposes. Such
change shall be announced by advance public notice.
(i) Should total prize liability, as defined
by the MEGA MILLIONS Finance and Operations Procedures, exceed Liability Cap,
as defined in the MEGA MILLIONS Finance and Operations Procedures, the Second
and Third prizes shall be paid on a pari-mutuel rather than fixed prize basis,
provided, however, that in no event shall the pari-mutuel prize be greater than
the fixed prize. The amount to be used for the allocation of such pari-mutuel
prizes, and related calculations of pari-mutuel prize values, shall be as
defined in the MEGA MILLIONS Finance and Operations
Procedures.
(8)
Ticket Responsibility.
(a) Subject to the laws and regulations
governing the Party Lottery which issues the ticket, a winning Official MEGA
MILLIONS Ticket is deemed to be owned by the person or entity named on the
ticket or, in the case of a ticket not completed with name (and address, if
required), by the Claimant.
(b) A
Party Lottery shall not be responsible for lost or stolen Official MEGA
MILLIONS Tickets.
(c) The Purchaser
of an Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket has the sole responsibility for verifying
the accuracy and condition of the data printed on the ticket at the time of
purchase.
(d) The Party Lotteries
shall not be responsible to the Claimant for Official MEGA MILLIONS Tickets
redeemed in error by a MEGA MILLIONS Agent, Sales Agent or Retailer.
(e) Winners are determined by the numbers
drawn and certified by the independent auditor responsible for auditing the
MEGA MILLIONS draw. The Party Lotteries shall not be responsible for MEGA
MILLIONS Winning Numbers reported in error.
(9)
Ticket Validation
Requirements.
(a) In order to be
deemed a valid, winning Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket, all of the following
conditions must be met:
1. The validation data
must be present in its entirety and must correspond, using the computer
validation file, to the number selections printed on the ticket for the drawing
date(s) printed on the ticket;
2.
The ticket must be intact;
3. The
ticket must not be mutilated, altered, reconstituted, or tampered with in any
manner;
4. The ticket must not be
counterfeit or an exact duplicate of another winning ticket;
5. The ticket must have been issued by an
authorized MEGA MILLIONS Agent, Sales Agent or Retailer on official paper stock
of the selling Party Lottery;
6.
The ticket must not have been stolen, to the knowledge of the Party
Lottery;
7. The ticket must be
submitted for payment in accordance with 961 CMR 2.59(10) (Procedures for
Claiming and Payment of Prizes);
8.
The ticket data must have been recorded on the central computer system prior to
the drawing and the ticket data must match this computer record in every
respect. In the event of a contradiction between information as printed on the
ticket and as accepted by the Party Lottery computer, the wager accepted by the
Party Lottery computer shall be the valid wager;
9. The player or computer number selections,
validation data and the drawing date(s) of an apparent winning ticket must
appear on the official file of winning tickets, and a ticket with that exact
data must not have been previously paid;
10. The ticket must not be misregistered,
defectively printed or printed or produced in error to an extent that it cannot
be processed by the Party Lottery that issued the ticket;
11. The ticket must pass validation tests
using a minimum of three of the five validation methods as defined in the MEGA
MILLIONS Finance and Operations Procedures, Section 14. In addition, the ticket
must pass all other confidential security checks of the Party Lottery that
issued the ticket;
12. In
submitting an Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket for validation, the Claimant agrees
to abide by applicable laws, all rules and regulations, instructions,
conditions and final decisions of the Director of the Party Lottery that issued
the ticket;
13. There must not be
any other breach of these MEGA MILLIONS Rules in relation to the ticket, which,
in the opinion of the Director of the Party Lottery that issued the ticket,
justifies invalidation.
14. The
ticket must be submitted to the Party Lottery that issued it.
15. Internet Game Tickets must meet the
validation requirements of the Party Lottery that issued the ticket.
(b) An Official MEGA MILLIONS
Ticket submitted for validation which fails any of the preceding validation
conditions shall be considered void, subject to the following determinations:
1. In all cases of doubt, the determination
of the Director of the Party Lottery, which sold the Official MEGA MILLIONS
Ticket, shall be final and binding; however, the Director may, at his or her
option, replace an invalid ticket with an Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket of
equivalent sales price;
2. In the
event a defective ticket is purchased or in the event the Director determines
to adjust an error, the Claimant's sole and exclusive remedy shall be the
replacement of such defective or erroneous ticket(s) with an Official MEGA
MILLIONS Ticket of equivalent sales price;
3. In the event an Official MEGA MILLIONS
Ticket is not paid by a Party Lottery and a dispute occurs as to whether the
ticket is a winning ticket, the Party Lottery may, at its option, replace the
ticket as provided in 961 CMR 2.59(9)(b)1. This shall be the sole and exclusive
remedy of the Claimant unless the laws or regulations governing the Party
Lottery provide for further administrative review.
(10)
Procedures For
Claiming and Payment of Prizes.
(a) Prizes shall be redeemed or claimed only
in the jurisdiction where the Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket was purchased and
only through MEGA MILLIONS Agents, Sales Agents or Retailers or other
Authorized Claim Centers, effective upon determination of prize payouts, for
the legally established claim period established for the jurisdiction in which
the winning ticket was sold. In Massachusetts, Official MEGA MILLIONS Tickets
must be claimed within one year of the drawing date.
For those Party Lotteries that allow Official MEGA MILLIONS
Tickets to be claimed and scanned at authorized Agents, Sales Agents or
Retailers or other Authorized Claim Centers, within the time period noted
above, and then sent to the headquarters' office of the applicable Party
Lottery for validation, said Ticket must be received at the headquarters'
office of the applicable Party Lottery by the close of business on the
30th day after the expiration of the official claim
period of said Party Lottery in order to be paid.
(b) Claimants of a winning Official MEGA
MILLIONS Ticket must comply with the prize claim requirements of the Party
Lottery that issued the winning ticket.
(c) In the event that a single Official MEGA
MILLIONS Ticket contains two or more winning game panels, the cumulative prize
amount shall be claimed or redeemed in accordance with the specified prize
payment limits for the Party Lottery that issued the winning ticket.
(d) State, local and federal withholding
taxes, and any other statutorily required deductions, where applicable, shall
be withheld from MEGA MILLIONS prizes by the Party Lottery issuing a winning
ticket in such amounts as may be required by law.
(e) MEGA MILLIONS prizes shall not be paid to
any persons prohibited from playing MEGA MILLIONS in a particular Party Lottery
state by MEGA MILLIONS Rules or by the governing law or rules of that Party
Lottery or any contract executed by that Party Lottery.
(f) There shall be no assignment of MEGA
MILLIONS prizes except as set forth in the statutes or regulations of the Party
Lottery that sold the winning Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket.
(g) Subject to the laws and regulations of
the state of each Party Lottery relating to the disclosure of MEGA MILLIONS
winners, and at the discretion of each Party Lottery where disclosure is
permitted, the name and community of the winner of a Grand/Jackpot prize, or
the prize the next level down, will be disclosed in a press conference or in a
press release and the winner may be required to participate in a press
conference.
(11)
Unclaimed Prize Money.
(a) For winning Official MEGA MILLIONS
Tickets for which no claim or redemption is made within the specified claim
period for each respective Party Lottery, the corresponding prize monies shall
be returned to the other Party Lotteries in accordance with procedures for the
reconciliation of prize liability as stated in the Finance and Operations
Procedures for MEGA MILLIONS.
(b)
If after a winning Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket has not been claimed or
redeemed and the corresponding prize monies have been returned to Party
Lotteries pursuant to 961 CMR 2.59(11)(a), a claim is made or redemption sought
which a Party Lottery pays:
1. as a result of
the provisions of the Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act (SCRA) (50 U.S.C App.
§ 3901 as amended);
2. as a
result of state legislation adopted to satisfy the requirements of the
SCRA;
3. as a result of state
legislation requiring such payment to a member of the armed forces who was
engaged in active military service outside the paying Party Lottery state when
the usual permitted time period to make a claim or seek redemption expired,
each other Party Lottery shall reimburse the paying Party Lottery in an amount
equal to the amount such other Party Lottery would have contributed to the
prize had the claim been made or redemption sought within the usual permitted
time period for that claim or redemption. The provisions of 961 CMR 2.59(11)
shall remain in force and effect and be binding upon the Party Lotteries
without regard to whether the MEGA MILLIONS game remains in existence and/or
whether the Party Lottery seeking reimbursement has withdrawn from the game at
the time a Party Lottery seeks reimbursement pursuant to this rule [961 CMR
2.59(11)] .
(12)
Season Tickets.
(a) MEGA MILLIONS Season Tickets may be sold
by the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission and by licensed Sales Agents
operating terminals or by Season Ticket application.
(b) Season Tickets will be sold in the
following manner:
1. Plan "A" 52 consecutive
drawings sold for the price of $100.00.
2. Plan "B" 104 consecutive drawings sold for
the price of $200.00.
3. Plan "C" -
26 consecutive drawings sold for the price of $50.00.
(c) The Director reserves the right to adjust
both price and number of drawings as defined in 961 CMR 2.59(12)(b).
(d) Season Tickets become effective and
eligible to win a prize starting with the effective date printed on the ticket.
Season Tickets are not effective on the date of purchase. MEGA MILLIONS Season
Tickets may be canceled only if the original Season Ticket and registration
form is received in the office of the Season Ticket Department prior to the
effective date of the Season Ticket.
(e) Based upon the Plan selected as defined
in 961 CMR 2.59(12)(b), Season Tickets, unless renewed, automatically expire at
the end of 52, 104 or 26 drawings. Prior to expiration, renewal applications
will be sent to registered Season Ticket holders with a Massachusetts address.
If, upon renewal, the customer requests a change in any or all of the five
numbers in Field 1 or the one number in Field 2, his or her renewal application
shall be treated as a new ticket rather than a renewal and the effective date
of said new ticket will be the expiration date of the previous ticket. Renewal
applications received after the time period specified upon the renewal form may
be assigned a new effective date.
(f) Purchasers of Season Tickets shall select
the five numbers in Field 1 and one number in Field 2 that he or she wishes to
appear on the Season Ticket. Said Purchasers are cautioned to examine his or
her ticket upon purchase and prior to its effective date to assure the numbers
printed represent the numbers desired. The Lottery will only be liable for the
payment of a prize based upon the numbers as they appear on the Season Ticket
and registered on the Lottery's Computer. In the event of a conflict, the
numbers as registered on the Computer shall control.
(g) Purchasers of Season Tickets may elect to
use the "Quick Pick" feature for the selection of his or her numbers. The five
numbers in Field 1 and one number in Field 2 will be randomly selected by the
Lottery Computer and printed on the Season Ticket. The Lottery will only be
liable for the payment of a prize based upon the numbers as they appear of the
Season Ticket and registered on the Lottery's Computer. In the event of a
conflict, the numbers as registered on the Computer shall control.
(h) In the event the Lottery receives a
Season Ticket application with less than five numbers in Field 1 and/or one
number in Field 2 as selected by the applicant, the Lottery may randomly select
all or any of those omitted numbers to assure each application contains five
numbers in Field 1 and one number in Field 2.
(i) In the event the Lottery receives a
Season Ticket application with more than five numbers in Field 1 and/or one
number in Field 2 as selected by the applicant, the Lottery may randomly delete
one or more of the numbers selected in order to obtain a valid ticket with five
numbers in Field 1 and one number in Field 2.
(j) The owner of a Season Ticket purchased
through a Sales Agent must register his or her name with the Lottery on a form
provided with the purchase of the ticket if prizes are to be paid automatically
and renewal information to be sent.
(k) When more than one name appears on the
application or registration form, the Lottery may select the first name listed
and designate him or her as agent for collection. In the event the ticket wins
a prize, it will be the responsibility of the recorded agent to make known to
the Lottery, Internal Revenue Service, and the Department of Revenue, the name,
social security number and proportionate share of each of the
winners.
(l) A MEGA MILLIONS Season
Ticket purchased through an application is not effective until it is registered
on the Lottery's computer and a Season Ticket issued to the applicant
regardless of whether or not payment for such ticket has been accepted by the
Commission prior to such registration or otherwise.
(m) The Director may from time to time change
the field of numbers from which winning numbers will be selected to a number
greater or less than the field available at the time the Season Ticket is
purchased. In the event the field is enlarged, a Season Ticket holder may
request in writing at least four weeks before the effective date of such change
that his or her number selection be changed; provided, however, this option
shall be limited to changing one or more numbers from the field of numbers in
existence at the time the ticket was purchased to one or more of the numbers
added to that field. In the event the field is decreased and one or more of the
numbers selected at the time the tickets was purchased is eliminated from the
field of available numbers, the holder may request, in writing, that the
numbers so eliminated be replaced by one or more numbers from the field of
numbers remaining after said decrease. In the event the holder fails to
exercise this option at least four weeks prior to the effective date of such
change, the Lottery may randomly select new numbers on the holders behalf in
accordance with the limitations contained in 961 CMR 2.59.
(n) In the event the Commission cancels the
operation of MEGA MILLIONS, the amount paid for drawings so canceled shall be
refunded to the registered holder and said refund shall constitute the
Commission's sole obligation to the holders of MEGA MILLIONS Season Tickets in
the event of said cancellation.
All other provisions of 961 CMR shall, if applicable, apply to
the Season Ticket -MEGA MILLIONS.
(13)
Governing Law.
(a) In purchasing a ticket issued for MEGA
MILLIONS, the Purchaser agrees to comply with and be bound by all applicable
statutes, administrative rules and regulations, and procedures of the Party
Lottery of the state in which the Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket is issued, and
by directives, instructions, conditions, policies, and determinations of the
Director of that Party Lottery. The Purchaser agrees, as its sole and exclusive
remedy, that claims arising out of an Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket can only be
pursued against the Party Lottery of ticket purchase. Litigation, if any, shall
only be maintained within the state in which the Official MEGA MILLIONS Ticket
was purchased and only against the Party Lottery that issued the
ticket.
(b) In the event of
conflict between these MEGA MILLIONS Rules and the statutes, rules or
regulations of any Party Lottery, the Party Lottery's statutes, rules and
regulations shall control.
(c) All
decisions made by a Director of a Party Lottery, including the declaration of
prizes and the payment thereof and the interpretation of MEGA MILLIONS Rules,
shall be final and binding on all Purchasers and on every person making a claim
in respect thereof, but only in the state where the Official MEGA MILLIONS
Ticket was issued.
