Code of Massachusetts Regulations
961 CMR - STATE LOTTERY COMMISSION
Title 961 CMR 2.00 - Rules and Regulations
Section 2.63 - Multi-state Game - POWERBALL

(a) Powerball is a five out of 69 plus one out of 26 numbers lottery game drawn every Wednesday and Saturday, and effective August 23, 2021, or such other date as set by the Product Group Rules, will be drawn every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday as part of the Powerball drawing event, which pays the Grand Prize, at the election of the player made in accordance with 961 CMR 2.63 or by a default election either on an annuitized pari-mutuel basis or as a single lump sum payment of the total funding held in the Grand Prize Pool for the winning drawing on a pari-mutuel basis. Except as provided in 961 CMR 2.63, all other prizes are paid on a single payment basis. Powerball Winning Numbers applicable to determine Powerball prizes will be determined in the Powerball Drawing event.

To play Powerball, a player shall select (or computer pick) five different numbers, from one through 69 and one additional number from one through 26. The additional number may be the same as one of the first five numbers selected by the player. Plays can be purchased for $2.00, including any specific statutorily mandated tax of a Selling Lottery to be included in the price of a play. Plays may be purchased from a Selling Lottery approved sales outlet in a manner as approved by the Selling Lottery and in accordance with MUSL Rules.

The Drawing Procedures shall include procedures for randomly selecting the Powerball game Winning Numbers and the Power Play multiplier.

(b) Claims. Unless otherwise permitted by a selling lottery, a ticket (subject to the validation requirements set forth in 961 CMR 2.63(7)) or properly registered ticketless transaction shall be the only proof of a game Play or Plays and the submission of a winning ticket to the issuing Selling Lottery or its authorized agent shall be the sole method of claiming a prize or prizes. A Play Slip has no pecuniary or prize value and shall not constitute evidence of play purchase or of numbers selected. A terminal-produced paper receipt has no pecuniary or prize value and shall not constitute evidence of play purchase or of numbers selected.

(c) Cancellations Prohibited. A play may not be voided or canceled by returning the ticket or ticketless transaction to the selling agent or to the lottery, including tickets that are printed in error. A Selling Lottery may develop an approved method of compensating retailers for plays that are not transferred to a player for a reason acceptable to the Selling Lottery. No play that is eligible for a prize can be returned to the lottery for credit. Plays accepted by retailers as returned plays and that cannot be resold shall be deemed owned by the bearer thereof.

(d) Player Responsibility. It shall be the sole responsibility of the player to verify the accuracy of the game Play or Plays and other data printed on the ticket or contained in a ticketless transaction. The placing of Plays is done at the player's own risk through the agent that is acting on behalf of the player in entering the Play or Plays. The purchaser of a Play or Plays through a ticketless transaction has the sole responsibility for verifying the accuracy and condition of the data at the time of purchase.

(e) Entry of Plays. Plays may only be entered manually using the lottery terminal keypad or touch screen or by means of a Play Slip provided by the Selling Lottery and hand-marked by the player or by such other means approved by the Selling Lottery. Retailers shall not permit the use of facsimiles of Play Slips, copies of Play Slips, or other materials that are inserted into the terminal's Play Slip reader that are not printed or approved by the Selling Lottery. Retailers shall not permit any device to be connected to a lottery terminal to enter plays, except as approved by the Selling Lottery.

(f) Registration of Plays. Ticketless transaction plays may be registered by the Selling Lottery at a lottery processing site that meets the requirements established by the Product Group and the MUSL Board.

(a) Powerball Prize Pool. The prize pool for all prize categories shall consist of 50% of each drawing period's sales, inclusive of any specific statutorily mandated tax of a Selling Lottery to be included in the price of a play, after the prize pool accounts and prize reserve accounts are funded to the amounts set by the Product Group. Any amount remaining in the prize pool at the end of this game shall be returned to all lotteries participating in the prize pool after the end of all claim periods of all Selling Lotteries, carried forward to a replacement game or expended in a manner as directed by the Members of the Product Group in accordance with jurisdiction statute.

(b) Powerball Prize Pool Accounts and Prize Reserve Accounts. An amount up to 5% of a Party Lottery's sales, including any specific statutorily mandated tax of a Party Lottery to be included in the price of a play, shall be deducted from a Party Lottery's Grand Prize Pool contribution and placed in trust in one or more Powerball prize pool accounts and prize reserve accounts held by the Product Group at any time that the prize pool accounts and Party Lottery's share of the prize reserve account(s) is below the amounts designated by the Product Group.

The Product Group has established the following prize reserve accounts for the Powerball game: the Powerball 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; and the Powerball Set Prize Reserve Account (SPRA), which is used to fund deficiencies in low-tier Powerball prize payments (subject to limitations of 961 CMR 2.63) .

The Product Group has established the following prize pool accounts for the Powerball game: the Grand Prize pool, which is used to fund the immediate Grand Prize; the Powerball Set Prize Pool, which is used to fund the Powerball Set Prize payments; and the Powerball Set-aside Account, which is used to guarantee payment of the minimum or starting Grand Prize. The Power Play Prize Pool and Power Play Pool Account are described in 961 CMR 2.63(11). The Set Prize Pool holds the temporary balances that may result from having fewer than expected winners in the Powerball Set Prize (aka low-tier prize) categories and the source of the Set Prize Pool is the Party Lottery's weekly prize contributions less actual Powerball Set Prize liability. The source of the Set-aside Account funding shall be the prize reserve deduction until such time as the Set-aside Account is fully funded.

Once the Powerball prize pool accounts and the Party Lottery's share of the Powerball prize reserve accounts exceeds the designated amounts, the excess shall become part of the Grand Prize pool.

The Product Group, with approval of the Finance and Audit Committee, may establish a maximum balance for the Powerball prize pool accounts and prize reserve accounts.

The Product Group may determine to expend all or a portion of the funds in the Powerball prize pool accounts (except the Grand Prize pool account) and the prize reserve accounts, (1) for the purpose of indemnifying the Party Lotteries and Licensee Lotteries in the payment of prizes to be made by the Selling Lotteries, subject to the approval of the Board; and (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 following review and comment of the Finance and Audit Committee. 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 shares of the Party Lotteries.

A Party Lottery may contribute to its 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 percentage share of the account, whether or not it has been paid in full.

Any amount remaining in the Powerball prize pool accounts or prize reserve accounts when the Product Group declares the end of this game shall be returned to the lotteries participating in the 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. Licensee Lotteries shall adhere to 961 CMR 2.63(4)(b) unless a different process is approved by the Product Group.

(c) Expected Powerball Prize Payout Percentages. The Grand Prize payout shall be determined on a pari-mutuel basis. Except as otherwise mandated by jurisdiction statute or judicial requirements, or provided for in 961 CMR 2.63, all other prizes awarded shall be paid as set single payment prizes with the following expected prize payout percentages:

(a) Grand Prizes. Grand Prizes shall be paid, at the election of the player made no later than 60 days after the player becomes entitled to the prize, with either a per-winner annuity or single lump sum payment (which may be referred to as the "cash option"). If the payment election is not made at the time of purchase and is not made by the player within 60 days after the player becomes entitled to the prize, then the prize shall be paid as an annuity prize. An election for an annuity payment made by a player before ticket purchase or by system default or design may be changed to a cash option payment at the election of the player until the expiration of 60 days after the player becomes entitled to the prize. The election to take the cash option payment may be made at the time of the prize claim or within 60 days after the player becomes entitled to the prize. An election made after the winner becomes entitled to the prize is final and cannot be revoked, withdrawn or otherwise changed.

Shares of the Grand Prize shall be determined by dividing the funds available in the Grand Prize pool equally among all winning plays of the Grand Prize. Winner(s) who elect a cash option payment shall be paid their share(s) in a single lump sum payment. The annuitized option prize shall be determined by multiplying a winner's share of the Grand Prize pool by the MUSL Annuity Factor. The MUSL Annuity Factor is determined through a process as approved by the Finance and Audit Committee. Neither MUSL nor the Selling Lotteries shall be responsible or liable for changes in the advertised or estimated annuity prize amount and the actual amount purchased after the prize payment method is actually known to MUSL.

In certain instances announced by the Product Group, the Grand Prize shall be a guaranteed amount and shall be determined pursuant to 961 CMR 2.63(6)(e).

If individual shares of the Grand Prize Pool funds held to fund an annuity is less than $250,000, the Product Group, in its sole discretion, may elect to pay the winners their share of the funds held in the Grand Prize pool.

All annuitized prizes shall be paid annually in 30 payments with the initial payment being made in a single payment, to be followed by 29 payments funded by the annuity. Except as may be controlled by a Selling Lottery's governing statute, all annuitized prizes shall be paid annually in 30 graduated payments (increasing each year) by a rate as determined by the Product Group. Prize payments may be rounded down to the nearest $1,000. Annual payments after the initial payment shall be made by the lottery on the anniversary date or if such date falls on a non-business day, then the first business day following the anniversary date of the selection of the Grand Prize Winning Numbers.

Funds for the initial payment of an annuitized prize or the lump sum cash option prize payment shall be made available by MUSL for payment by the Selling Lottery no earlier than the 15th calendar day (or the next banking day if the 15th day is a holiday) following the drawing. If necessary, when the due date for the payment of a prize occurs before the receipt of funds in the prize pool trust sufficient to pay the prize, the transfer of funds for the payment of the full lump sum cash option amount may be delayed pending receipt of funds from the Selling Lotteries. A paying lottery may elect to make the initial payment from its own funds after validation, with notice to MUSL. If a Party Lottery purchases or holds the prize payment annuity for a prize won in that jurisdiction, that Party Lottery's game rules, and any prize agreement with the prize winner, shall indicate that the prize winner has no recourse on the MUSL or any other Party Lottery for payment of that prize.

In the event of the death of a lottery winner during the annuity payment period, unless prohibited by jurisdictional law, the MUSL Finance and Audit Committee, in its sole discretion excepting a discretionary review by the Product Group, upon the petition of the estate of the lottery winner (the "Estate") to the lottery of the jurisdiction in which the deceased lottery winner purchased the winning play, and subject to federal, state, district, or territorial applicable laws, may accelerate the payment of all of the remaining lottery proceeds to the Estate. If such a determination is made, then securities and/or cash held to fund the deceased lottery winner's annuitized prize may be distributed to the Estate. The identification of the securities to fund the annuitized prize shall be at the sole discretion of the Finance and Audit Committee or the Product Group.

(b) Powerball Prize Payments. All prizes (whether described as "cash" payment prizes or otherwise) shall be paid through the Selling Lottery that sold the winning play(s) and at the discretion of the Selling Lottery that sold the winning play(s) may be paid by cash, check, or warrant or electronic transfer.

A Selling Lottery may begin paying low-tier prizes after receiving authorization to pay from the MUSL central office. If a Selling Lottery, due to jurisdictional law requirements, separately determines its low-tier prize amounts, it shall be solely responsible for its low-tier prize liability, and may begin paying low-tier prizes after a drawing when it determines appropriate to do so.

(c) Powerball Prizes Rounded. Annuitized payments of the Grand Prize or a share of the Grand Prize may be rounded to facilitate the purchase of an appropriate funding mechanism. Breakage on an annuitized Grand Prize win shall be added to the first payment to the winner or winners. Prizes other than the Grand Prize, which, under 961 CMR 2.63, may become single-payment, pari-mutuel prizes, may be rounded down so that prizes can be paid in multiples of whole dollars. Except with regards to low-tier prizes paid by a Selling Lottery which separately determines its low-tier prize amounts pursuant to 961 CMR 2.63(6)(b), breakage resulting from rounding these prizes shall be carried forward to the prize pool for the next drawing.

(d) Powerball Prize Rollover. If the Grand Prize is not won in a drawing, the prize money allocated for the Grand Prize shall roll over and be added to the Grand Prize pool for the following drawing.

(e) Funding of Guaranteed Powerball Prizes. The Product Group may offer guaranteed minimum Grand Prize amounts or minimum increases in the Grand Prize amount between drawings or make other changes in the allocation of prize money where the Product Group finds that it would be in the best interest of the game. If a minimum Grand Prize amount or a minimum increase in the Grand Prize amount between drawings is offered by the Product Group, then the Grand Prize shares shall be determined as follows: If there are multiple Grand Prize winners during a single drawing, each selecting the annuitized option prize, then a winner's share of the guaranteed annuitized Grand Prize shall be determined by dividing the guaranteed annuitized Grand Prize by the number of winning plays. If there are multiple Grand Prize winners during a single drawing and at least one of the Grand Prize winners has elected the annuitized option prize, then the best bid submitted by MUSL's pre-approved qualified brokers shall determine the cash pool needed to fund the guaranteed annuitized Grand Prize. If no winner of the Grand Prize during a single drawing has elected the annuitized option prize, then the amount of cash in the Grand Prize pool shall be an amount equal to the guaranteed annuitized amount divided by the MUSL Annuity Factor. Changes in the allocation of prize money shall be designed to retain approximately the same prize allocation percentages, over a year's time, set out in 961 CMR 2.63. Minimum guaranteed prizes or increases may be waived if the alternate funding mechanism set out in 961 CMR 2.63(4)(c) becomes necessary. Approval of the Group is required to change the guaranteed minimum Grand Prize amounts or minimum increases in the Grand Prize amount. Any reduction in the guaranteed minimum Grand Prize amount or reduction in the minimum increases to the Grand Prize amount shall not become effective until after a Grand Prize win following the action taken by the Group.

(f) Limited to Highest Powerball Prize Won. The holder of a winning play may win only one prize per play in connection with the Winning Numbers drawn and shall be entitled only to the prize won by those numbers in the highest matching prize category.

(g) Powerball Prize Claim Period. Prize claims shall be submitted within the period set by the Selling Lottery selling the play. If no such claim period is established, all Grand Prize claims shall be made within 180 days after the drawing date. In Massachusetts, all tickets must be claimed within one year of the drawing date.

(a) Prize Claims. Prize claim procedures shall be governed by the rules of the Selling Lottery. The MUSL and the Selling Lotteries shall not be responsible for prizes that are not claimed following the proper procedures as determined by the Selling Lottery.

(b) (Reserved).

(c) Stolen Tickets. The Product Group, the MUSL and the Party Lotteries shall not be responsible for lost or stolen tickets.

(d) Ticketless Transactions. A receipt for a ticketless transaction play has no value and is not evidence of a play. A ticketless transaction play is valid when registered with the lottery in accordance with lottery rules and the person or, if permitted by the lottery rules, the persons registering the play shall be the owner of the ticketless transaction play.

(a) A play or share for a MUSL game issued by the MUSL or any of its Party Lotteries shall not be purchased by, and a prize won by any such play or share shall not be paid to:

(b) Those persons designated by a Selling Lottery's law as ineligible to play its games shall also be ineligible to play the MUSL game in that Selling Lottery's jurisdiction.

(a) Description. The Powerball Power Play promotion is a limited extension of the Powerball game and is conducted in accordance with the Powerball game rules and other lottery rules applicable to the Powerball game except, as may be amended in 961 CMR 2.63(11). The promotion will begin at a time announced by the Selling Lottery and will continue until discontinued by the lottery. The promotion will offer to the owners of a qualifying play a chance to increase the amount of any of the eight lowest Set Prizes (the prizes normally paying $4 to $1,000,000) won in a drawing held during the promotion. The Grand Prize is not a Set Prize and will not be increased.

(b) Qualifying Play . A qualifying play is any single Powerball play for which the player pays an extra dollar for the Power Play option play and which is recorded at the Selling Lottery's central computer as a qualifying play.

(c) Prizes To Be Increased. Except as provided in 961 CMR 2.63, a qualifying play which wins one of seven lowest Set Prizes (excluding the Match 5 + 0 prize) will be multiplied by the number selected, either two, three, four, five or sometimes ten (2, 3, 4, 5 or sometimes 10), in a separate random Power Play drawing announced during the official Powerball drawing show. The ten (10X) multiplier will be available for drawings in which the initially advertised annuitized Grand Prize amount is $150,000,000 or less. The announced Match 5 + 0 prize, for players selecting the Power Play option, shall be paid $2,000,000 unless a higher limited promotional dollar amount is announced by the Group.

(d) Power Play Draws. MUSL will conduct a separate random "Power Play" drawing and announce results during each of the regular Powerball drawings held during the promotion. During each Powerball drawing a single number (2, 3, 4, 5 and sometimes10) shall be drawn. The ten (10X) multiplier shall be available for all drawings in which the initially advertised Grand Prize amount is $150,000,000 or less. The Powerball Group may modify the multiplier features for special promotions from time to time.

(e) Prize Pool.

(f) Probability of Winning. The following table sets forth the probability of the various Power Play numbers being drawn during a single Powerball drawing, except that the Power Play amount for the Match 5 + 0 prize will be $2,000,000. The Group may elect to run limited promotions that may modify the multiplier features.

Power Play does not apply to the Grand Prize. Except as provided in 961 CMR 2.63(11)(e)4., a Power Play Match 5 prize is set at $2,000,000 regardless of the multiplier selected.

(g) Limitations on Payment of Power Play Prizes.

(h) Prize Payments.

(a) Powerball 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:

(c) Effective August 23, 2021, or such other commencement date the Product Group Rules set Powerball to be drawn every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, the above section (12)(b) shall no longer be applicable, and Season Tickets will be sold in the following manner:

(d) The Director reserves the right to adjust both price and number of drawings as defined in 961 CMR 2.63(12)(b) and/or (c).

(e) 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. Powerball 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.

(f) Based upon the Plan selected as defined in 961 CMR 2.63(12)(b) and/or (c), Season Tickets, unless renewed, automatically expire at the end of the consecutive drawings of the applicable Plan. Prior to expiration, renewal applications will be sent to registered Season Ticket holders with a Massachusetts address. Renewal applications received after the time period specified upon the renewal form may be assigned a new effective date. If, upon renewal, the customer requests a change in any or all of the numbers, his or her renewal application shall be treated as a new ticket rather than a renewal. Said new ticket will be effective upon completion of processing by the Season Ticket Department.

(g) Purchasers of Season Tickets shall select six numbers, the first five from a field of 69 numbers and the last one from a field of 26 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 Lottery Computer shall control.

(h) Purchasers of Season Tickets may elect to use the "Quic Pic" feature for the selection of his or her numbers in which the numbers will be randomly selected by the computer system 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 on the Season Ticket and registered on the Lottery's Computer. In the event of a conflict, the numbers as registered on the Lottery Computer shall control.

(i) The Powerball Power Play option is not available on Season Tickets.

(j) In the event the Lottery receives a Season Ticket application or renewal application with less than those required, as selected by the applicant, the Lottery may randomly select all or any of those omitted numbers to assure each application contains the numbers required for a valid ticket.

(k) In the event the Lottery receives a Season Ticket application or renewal application with more than the required numbers, as selected by the applicant, the Lottery may randomly delete one or more of the numbers selected in order to obtain a valid ticket.

(l) 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 or on-line through the Lottery's website if prizes are to be paid automatically and renewal information to be sent.

(m) 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 pro0portionate share of each of the winners.

(n) A Powerball 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.

(o) The Director may change the set of numbers from which winning numbers will be selected to a number greater or less than the set of numbers available at the time the Season Ticket is purchased. In the event a set of numbers is enlarged, a Season Ticket holder may request in writing at least four weeks before the effective date of such change that his/her number selection be changed; provided, however, this option shall be limited to changing one or more numbers from a set of numbers in existence at the time the ticket was purchased to one or more of the numbers added to that set of numbers. In the event a set of numbers is decreased and one or more of the numbers selected at the time the tickets was purchased is eliminated from the set of available numbers, the holder may request, in writing, that the numbers so eliminated be replaced by one or more numbers from the set 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 herein.

(p) In the event the Commission cancels the operation of Powerball, 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 Powerball Season Tickets in the event of said cancellation.

All other provisions of 961 CMR 2.00 shall, if applicable, apply to the Multi-state Game - Powerball.