Current through all regulations passed and filed through March 18, 2024
(A) Title and term. Game number nine hundred
fifty-five is the Ohio-adopted modified version of the "Powerball" game for
"Powerball" draws beginning August 23, 2021. Game number nine
hundred nine hundred fifty-five shall be conducted at such times and for such
periods as the director may determine. For the purpose of this rule, "sales
cycle" shall mean any such period beginning on the date when ticket sales are
commenced and continuing through the date established by the Ohio lottery
commission executive director as the date on which sales agents are to make
final settlement with respect to such period.
(B) General design.
(1) "Powerball" is a statewide joint lottery
game that is based on an agreement for the sale of "Powerball" by participating
party lotteries.
(2) As used in
this rule, "Powerball" shall hereinafter be referred to as "game number nine
hundred fifty-five" as it applies to statewide ticket sales in Ohio conducted
by the Ohio lottery commission for draws beginning August 23,
2021.
(3) As used in this
rule, "MUSL" shall mean the multi-state lottery association.
(4) Game number nine hundred fifty-five shall
be conducted in accordance with this rule and the "Powerball" group rules as
last amended by MUSL on
January 7, 2021 (hereinafter "Group Rules"). The
"Group Rules" are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein and
shall be posted on the Ohio lottery commission website. The "Group Rules" as
last amended
January 7, 2021 may be accessed by going to the
link
https://www.ohiolottery.com/Claiming/RulesAndRegulations
and clicking on the "Powerball" tab.
(5) As used in this rule, "panel or play
area" shall mean the area of an official "Powerball" ticket which sets forth a
player's selection and is identified by the following two fields of play: one
field of five numbers consisting of one or two digits that were selected by the
player or through the gaming system through the auto pick feature, and second
field of one number consisting of one or two digits selected by the player or
through the gaming system through the auto pick feature. Up to ten such panels
or play areas may appear on any one ticket in game number nine hundred
fifty-five. The director may change the number of panels or play areas
appearing on any one ticket in game number nine hundred fifty-five. Each panel
shall constitute a separate wager.
(6) As used in this rule, "party lottery" or
"party lotteries" shall mean the lottery or lotteries established and operated
pursuant to the laws of the jurisdictions participating in "Powerball"
including but not limited to members and licensees of "MUSL" who are
participating in "Powerball."
(7)
As used in this rule, "Ohio lottery" shall mean the state lottery
commission.
(8) As used in this
rule, "directors" shall mean the chief officers of the party lotteries or any
other persons to whom a chief officer's or a group of chief officers' authority
is lawfully delegated.
(9) As used
in this rule, "director" shall mean the executive director of the Ohio lottery
commission.
(10) As used in this
rule, "set prize" means all other prizes except the grand prize that are
advertised to be paid by a single cash payment and, except as otherwise
provided or authorized herein, will be equal to the prize amount established by
applicable procedures.
(11) As used
in this rule "grand prize" shall mean the top prize in game number nine hundred
fifty-five.
(12) As used in this
rule, "subscription play" is only valid when registered with a party lottery in
accordance with the rules and procedures of a party lottery who has authorized
sales through subscription and the person or, if permitted by the party
lottery's rules, the persons registering the play shall be the owner of the
subscription play. A receipt for a subscription play has no value and is not
evidence of a play.
(13) As used in
this rule, "applicable procedures" shall mean procedures, "Group Rules" and/or
agreements relating to or associated with "Powerball," as designated or agreed
to by the director for the operation of game number nine hundred
fifty-five.
(14) Game number nine
hundred fifty-five is not required to be amended when a party lottery is added
or removed from participating, unless the addition or removal of a party
lottery shall substantively change the game matrix, play style or the method of
prize payments in game nine hundred fifty-five. Nothing contained herein shall
be deemed to be a prohibition against amendments to game number nine hundred
fifty-five, as determined by the director to be appropriate or
necessary.
(15) Each ticket in game
number nine hundred fifty-five shall be imprinted with one set of five unique
numbers from a set of numbers, one through sixty-nine inclusively ("field
one"), and one unique number from a second set of numbers, one through
twenty-six, inclusively ("field two"), as determined by choice of the ticket
purchaser or the auto pick feature on the gaming system, and recorded on the
ticket at the time of the purchase. Players may use a bet card to have the auto
pick feature select their numbers in either field one, field two or both
fields. Bet cards are available at no cost to the player and shall have no
pecuniary or prize value, nor shall a bet card constitute evidence of purchase
or number selection. When a player verbally places a "Powerball" wager, the
player must either manually select the numbers from both fields or request
usage of the auto pick feature to select numbers from both fields. A player may
also place a wager through other means that are approved by the director. A
ticket may contain one or more panels as described in paragraph (B)(5) of this
rule.
(16) As used in this rule,
game number nine hundred fifty-five winning numbers shall be randomly selected
during each official "Powerball" drawing, and shall consist of five numbers
selected from a field of numbers one through sixty-nine inclusively, and one
number selected from a second field of numbers one through twenty-six
inclusively. Holders of valid winning tickets for a given drawing bearing the
numbers drawn in that drawing, in whole or in part, and excluding the "Power
Play" option shall be entitled to the set prize award in accordance with the
applicable section(s) of this rule. In addition, as set forth in this rule or
as approved by the director, with each official "Powerball" drawing, a single
"Power Play" number shall be randomly selected.
(C) Price of tickets. The price of a
"Powerball" wager in game number nine hundred fifty-five shall be two dollars.
The player may purchase up to the number of wagers per ticket, or multiples
thereof, as designated by the director if a multi-draw wager is requested at
the player's discretion in accordance with the number of panels and inclusive
drawings. The cost of every two dollar wager will be increased by one dollar if
a player purchases the "Power Play" option.
(D) Structure, nature and value of prize
awards. Except as otherwise provided or authorized herein, all prize awards for
prizes described in paragraphs (D)(1) to (D)(8) of this rule shall be set as
set prizes. The grand prize described in paragraph (D)(9) of this rule shall be
paid on a pari-mutuel basis. Except as otherwise determined in accordance with
applicable procedures, no advertised grand prize is a guaranteed amount. In the
event that an advertised grand prize is determined in accordance with
applicable procedures to be a guaranteed amount, funding and payment of such
guaranteed grand prize amounts shall be in accordance with applicable
procedures. Except as otherwise provided or authorized herein, based upon the
numbers drawn in each regular drawing for game nine hundred fifty-five, prizes
shall be awarded to holders of valid winning tickets for that drawing as
follows:
(1) For each ticket bearing a
selection which matches none of the five numbers drawn for field one, and
matching the one number for field two, the player shall be entitled to a set
prize award of four dollars.
(2)
For each ticket bearing a selection which matches one of the five numbers drawn
for field one, and matching the one number for field two, the player shall be
entitled to a set prize award of four dollars.
(3) For each ticket bearing a selection which
matches two of the five numbers drawn for field one, and matching the one
number for field two, the player shall be entitled to a set prize award of
seven dollars.
(4) For each ticket
bearing a selection which matches three of the five numbers drawn for field
one, and no matching number for field two, the player shall be entitled to a
set prize award of seven dollars.
(5) For each ticket bearing a selection which
matches three of the five numbers drawn for field one, and matching the one
number for field two, the player shall be entitled to a set prize award of one
hundred dollars.
(6) For each
ticket bearing a selection which matches four of the five numbers drawn for
field one, and no matching number for field two, the player shall be entitled
to a set prize award of one hundred dollars.
(7) For each ticket bearing a selection which
matches four of the five numbers drawn for field one, and matching the one
number for field two, the player shall be entitled to a set prize award of
fifty thousand dollars.
(8) For
each ticket bearing a selection which matches five of the five numbers drawn
for field one, and no matching number for field two, the player shall be
entitled to a set prize award of one million dollars.
(9) For each ticket bearing a selection which
matches five of the five numbers drawn for field one, and matching the one
number for field two, the player shall win the grand prize award which shall be
divided equally among the winning selections if there is more than one winning
selection. The grand prize shall be determined on a pari-mutuel basis and shall
be equal to the amount designated in accordance with applicable
procedures.
(10) In the event that
there are no winning tickets for the grand prize described in paragraph (D)(9)
of this rule for a drawing, except as otherwise approved in accordance with
applicable procedures, the designated grand prize amount from that drawing
shall be carried forward into the grand prize for the next consecutive
drawing.
(11) If the total prize
liability for the prize levels set forth in paragraphs (D)(1) to (D)(8) of this
rule exceeds the liability cap designated in accordance with applicable
procedures, then that liability cap may be enforced for the payment of the
prize awards set forth in paragraphs (D)(1) to (D)(8) of this rule. In the
event the prize liability is exceeded, then the prizes set forth in paragraphs
(D) (1) to (D)(8) of this rule may be paid on a pari-mutuel basis, or in
another manner as determined by the director, rather than a set prize basis,
provided, however, that in no event shall the pari-mutuel prizes or other
prizes awarded be greater than the applicable set prizes. In the event that the
liability cap is exceeded and prizes are paid on a pari-mutuel basis, the
amounts to be used for allocation of such pari-mutuel prizes, or other prizes
awarded, for each prize level shall be determined in accordance with applicable
procedures. If the liability cap is exceeded for a particular drawing, the
director shall make the liability cap publicly available by means that the
directors deems appropriate.
(12)
In a single game number nine hundred fifty-five drawing, a claimant may win in
only one prize category per wager as a result of processing winning numbers
selected in either one or both of the fields of play, and shall be entitled to
only the highest prize level won.
(13) 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 cash payment to the winner or winners. Prizes other than
the grand prize which, in accordance with applicable procedures, become
single-payment, pari-mutuel prizes, may be rounded down so that prizes can be
paid in multiples of whole dollars. Breakage resulting from rounding these
prizes shall be handled in accordance with applicable procedures.
(14) 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.
(E)
"Power Play." Powerball "Power Play" is an addition to the "Powerball" game
and, if approved by the director, shall be conducted in accordance with the
"Powerball" game rules and other applicable procedures. Provided that the
director approves "Power Play," as used in this rule, "Power Play" is an
available feature of game rule number nine hundred fifty-five, and a ticket
purchaser shall have the option to play the "Power Play" option as an addition
to the "Powerball" ticket purchased, except that "Power Play" shall not apply
to the "Powerball" grand prize. If the "Power Play" option is chosen by the
purchaser, the cost for every two dollar wager will be increased by one dollar,
and the words "Power Play YES" will be printed on the player's ticket. If the
"Power Play" option is not chosen, the words "Power Play NO" will be printed on
a player's ticket. The director may announce prior to a drawing that the "Power
Play" number of ten will not be available for drawings in which the advertised
grand prize amount is above a specified amount, but the "Power Play" number of
ten shall at a minimum be available for all drawings in which the advertised
annuitized grand prize amount is one hundred fifty million dollars or less. If
the "Power Play" option is chosen by the purchaser and the "Power Play" number
of ten is available, a single "Power Play" number shall be randomly selected
from forty-three numbers. Those numbers shall consist of: twenty-four twos;
thirteen threes; three fours; two fives; and one ten. If the "Power Play"
option is chosen by the purchaser and the "Power Play" number of ten is not
available, a single "Power Play" option shall be randomly selected from
forty-two numbers. Those numbers shall consist of: twenty-four twos; thirteen
threes; three fours; and two fives. The set prizes shall be multiplied by the
"Power Play" number drawn for that respective drawing, except that the "Power
Play" feature shall not apply to the "Powerball" grand prize. Except as
otherwise provided or authorized herein, instead of prizes set forth under
paragraphs (D)(1) to (D)(8) of this rule, prizes awarded to holders of valid
winning tickets for a given drawing bearing the numbers drawn in that drawing,
in whole or in part, and including the purchase of the "Power Play" option
shall be as follows in paragraphs (E)(1) to (E) (8) of this rule and shall be
paid as cash prizes. In the event that a higher promotional prize is designated
by the director in accordance with applicable procedures, prizes awarded in
connection with any such promotion shall be paid in accordance with applicable
procedures for that promotion. In certain instances, the "Powerball" set prizes
may be less than the amounts set forth in paragraphs (D)(1) to (D)(8) of this
rule. In such an event, the "Power Play" prizes set forth in paragraphs (E)(1)
to (E)(7) of this rule may be adjusted by the director in accordance with
applicable procedures and the "Power Play" prize set forth in paragraph (E)(8)
of this rule may be in an amount determined after the draw, rather than the
prizes set forth in paragraphs (E) (1) to (E)(8) of this rule.
(1) For each ticket bearing a selection which
matches none of the five numbers drawn for field one, and matching the one
number for field two, and in the event that the player has purchased the "Power
Play" option and the "Power Play" number selected for that respective drawing
is two, the set prize award of four dollars shall be multiplied by two and the
player shall be entitled to a total prize award of eight dollars. In the event
that a player has purchased the "Power Play" option and the "Power Play" number
selected for that respective drawing is three, the set prize award of four
dollars shall be multiplied by three and the player shall be entitled to a
total prize award of twelve dollars. In the event that a player has purchased
the "Power Play" option and the "Power Play" number selected for that
respective drawing is four, the set prize award of four dollars shall be
multiplied by four and the player shall be entitled to a total prize award of
sixteen dollars. In the event that a player has purchased the "Power Play"
option and the "Power Play" number selected for that respective drawing is
five, the set prize award of four dollars shall be multiplied by five and the
player shall be entitled to a total prize award of twenty dollars. In the event
that a player has purchased the "Power Play" option, the "Power Play" option of
ten is available and the "Power Play" number selected for that respective
drawing is ten, the set prize award of four dollars shall be multiplied by ten
and the player shall be entitled to a total prize award of forty
dollars.
(2) For each ticket
bearing a selection which matches one of the five numbers drawn for field one,
and matching the one number for field two, and in the event that the player has
purchased the "Power Play" option and the "Power Play" number selected for that
respected drawing is two, the set prize award of four dollars shall be
multiplied by two and the player shall be entitled to a total prize award of
eight dollars. In the event that a player has purchased the "Power Play" option
and the "Power Play" number selected for that respective drawing is three, the
set prize award of four dollars shall be multiplied by three and the player
shall be entitled to a total prize award of twelve dollars. In the event that a
player has purchased the "Power Play" option and the "Power Play" number
selected for that respective drawing is four, the set prize award of four
dollars shall be multiplied by four and the player shall be entitled to a total
prize award of sixteen dollars. In the event that a player has purchased the
"Power Play" option and the "Power Play" number selected for that respective
drawing is five, the set prize award of four dollars shall be multiplied by
five and the player shall be entitled to a total prize award of twenty dollars.
In the event that a player has purchased the "Power Play" option, the "Power
Play" option of ten is available and the "Power Play" number selected for that
respective drawing is ten, the set prize award of four dollars shall be
multiplied by ten and the player shall be entitled to a total prize award of
forty dollars.
(3) For each ticket
bearing a selection which matches two of the five numbers drawn for field one,
and matching the one number for field two, and in the event the player has
purchased the "Power Play" option and the "Power Play" number selected for that
respected drawing is two, the set prize award of seven dollars shall be
multiplied by two and the player shall be entitled to a total prize award of
fourteen dollars. In the event that a player has purchased the "Power Play"
option and the "Power Play" number selected for that respective drawing is
three, the set prize award of seven dollars shall be multiplied by three and
the player shall be entitled to a total prize award of twenty-one dollars. In
the event that a player has purchased the "Power Play" option and the "Power
Play" number selected for that respective drawing is four, the set prize award
of seven dollars shall be multiplied by four and the player shall be entitled
to a total prize award of twenty-eight dollars. In the event that a player has
purchased the "Power Play" option and the "Power Play" number selected for that
respective drawing is five, the set prize award of seven dollars shall be
multiplied by five and the player shall be entitled to a total prize award of
thirty-five dollars. In the event that a player has purchased the "Power Play"
option, the "Power Play" option of ten is available and the "Power Play" number
selected for that respective drawing is ten, the set prize award of seven
dollars shall be multiplied by ten and the player shall be entitled to a total
prize award of seventy dollars.
(4) For each ticket bearing a selection which
matches three of the five numbers drawn for field one, and no matching number
for field two, and in the event the player has purchased the "Power Play"
option and the "Power Play" number selected for that respected drawing is two,
the set prize award of seven dollars shall be multiplied by two and the player
shall be entitled to a total prize award of fourteen dollars. In the event that
a player has purchased the "Power Play" option and the "Power Play" number
selected for that respective drawing is three, the set prize award of seven
dollars shall be multiplied by three and the player shall be entitled to a
total prize award of twenty-one dollars. In the event that a player has
purchased the "Power Play" option and the "Power Play" number selected for that
respective drawing is four, the set prize award of seven dollars shall be
multiplied by four and the player shall be entitled to a total prize award of
twenty-eight dollars. In the event that a player has purchased the "Power Play"
option and the "Power Play" number selected for that respective drawing is
five, the set prize award of seven dollars shall be multiplied by five and the
player shall be entitled to a total prize award of thirty-five dollars. In the
event that a player has purchased the "Power Play" option, the "Power Play"
option of ten is available and the "Power Play" number selected for that
respective drawing is ten, the set prize award of seven dollars shall be
multiplied by ten and the player shall be entitled to a total prize award of
seventy dollars.
(5) For each
ticket bearing a selection which matches three of the five numbers drawn for
field one, and matching the one number for field two, and in the event the
player has purchased the "Power Play" option and the "Power Play" number
selected for that respected drawing is two, the set prize award of one hundred
dollars shall be multiplied by two and the player shall be entitled to a total
prize award of two hundred dollars. In the event that a player has purchased
the "Power Play" option and the "Power Play" number selected for that
respective drawing is three, the set prize award of one hundred dollars shall
be multiplied by three and the player shall be entitled to a total prize award
of three hundred dollars. In the event that a player has purchased the "Power
Play" option and the "Power Play" number selected for that respective drawing
is four, the set prize award of one hundred dollars shall be multiplied by four
and the player shall be entitled to a total prize award of four hundred
dollars. In the event that a player has purchased the "Power Play" option and
the "Power Play" number selected for that respective drawing is five, the set
prize award of one hundred dollars shall be multiplied by five and the player
shall be entitled to a total prize award of five hundred dollars. In the event
that a player has purchased the "Power Play" option, the "Power Play" option of
ten is available and the "Power Play" number selected for that respective
drawing is ten, the set prize award of one hundred dollars shall be multiplied
by ten and the player shall be entitled to a total prize award of one thousand
dollars.
(6) For each ticket
bearing a selection which matches four of the five numbers drawn for field one,
and no matching number for field two, and in the event the player has purchased
the "Power Play" option and the "Power Play" number selected for that respected
drawing is two, the set prize award of one hundred dollars shall be multiplied
by two and the player shall be entitled to a total prize award of two hundred
dollars. In the event that a player has purchased the "Power Play" option and
the "Power Play" number selected for that respective drawing is three, the set
prize award of one hundred dollars shall be multiplied by three and the player
shall be entitled to a total prize award of three hundred dollars. In the event
that a player has purchased the "Power Play" option and the "Power Play" number
selected for that respective drawing is four, the set prize award of one
hundred dollars shall be multiplied by four and the player shall be entitled to
a total prize award of four hundred dollars. In the event that a player has
purchased the "Power Play" option and the "Power Play" number selected for that
respective drawing is five, the set prize award of one hundred dollars shall be
multiplied by five and the player shall be entitled to a total prize award of
five hundred dollars. In the event that a player has purchased the "Power Play"
option, the "Power Play" option of ten is available and the "Power Play" number
selected for that respective drawing is ten, the set prize award of one hundred
dollars shall be multiplied by ten and the player shall be entitled to a total
prize award of one thousand dollars.
(7) For each ticket bearing a selection which
matches four of the five numbers drawn for field one, and matching the one
number for field two, and in the event the player has purchased the "Power
Play" option and the "Power Play" number selected for that respected drawing is
two, the set prize award of fifty thousand dollars shall be multiplied by two
and the player shall be entitled to a total prize award of one hundred thousand
dollars. In the event that a player has purchased the "Power Play" option and
the "Power Play" number selected for that respective drawing is three, the set
prize award of fifty thousand dollars shall be multiplied by three and the
player shall be entitled to a total prize award of one hundred fifty thousand
dollars. In the event that a player has purchased the "Power Play" option and
the "Power Play" number selected for that respective drawing is four, the set
prize award of fifty thousand dollars shall be multiplied by four and the
player shall be entitled to a total prize award of two hundred thousand
dollars. In the event that a player has purchased the "Power Play" option and
the "Power Play" number selected for that respective drawing is five, the set
prize award of fifty thousand dollars shall be multiplied by five and the
player shall be entitled to a total prize award of two hundred fifty thousand
dollars. In the event that a player has purchased the "Power Play" option, the
"Power Play" option of ten is available and the "Power Play" number selected
for that respective drawing is ten, the set prize award of fifty thousand
dollars shall be multiplied by ten and the player shall be entitled to a total
prize award of five hundred thousand dollars.
(8) For each ticket bearing a selection which
matches five of the five numbers drawn for field one, and no matching number
for field two, and in the event that a player has purchased the "Power Play"
option, regardless of the "Power Play" number selected, the player shall be
entitled to a prize award of two million dollars.
(9) If the total prize liability for the
prize levels set forth in paragraphs (E)(1) to (E) (8) of this rule exceeds a
liability cap designated in accordance with applicable procedures, then that
liability cap may be enforced for the payment of the prize awards set forth in
paragraphs (E)(1) to (E)(8) of this rule. In the event the prize liability is
exceeded, then the prizes set forth in paragraphs (E)(1) to (E) (8) of this
rule may be paid on a pari-mutuel basis, or in another manner as determined by
the director, rather than a set prize basis, provided, however, that in no
event shall the pari-mutuel prizes or other prizes awarded be greater than the
applicable set prizes. In the event that the liability cap is exceeded and
prizes are paid on a pari-mutuel basis, the amounts to be used for allocation
of such pari-mutuel prizes, or other prizes awarded, for each prize level shall
be determined in accordance with applicable procedures. If the liability cap is
exceeded for a particular drawing, the director shall make the liability cap
publicly available by means that the directors deems appropriate.
(10) In a single game number nine hundred
fifty-five drawing, a claimant may win in only one prize category per wager as
a result of processing winning numbers selected in either one or both of the
fields of play, and shall be entitled to only the highest prize level
won.
(11) Prizes other than the
grand prize, which, in accordance with applicable procedures, become
single-payment, pari-mutuel prizes, may be rounded down so that prizes can be
paid in multiples of whole dollars. Breakage resulting from rounding these
prizes shall be handled in accordance with applicable procedures.
(12) 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.
(F)
Frequency and location of prize drawings. Drawings shall be held at such times
and places determined by the directors.
(G) Manner of prize drawings.
(1) Prize drawings shall be open to the
public and may be held at such places and times in any party lottery
jurisdiction that the directors determine. The public shall be informed as to
the time and place of each prize drawing.
(2) Holders of valid tickets for a given
drawing are eligible to win in that drawing.
(3) All drawings conducted in association
with "Powerball" will be conducted randomly in accordance with applicable
procedures and with drawing devices for the selection of winning numbers
approved in accordance with applicable procedures.
(H) Validity of tickets.
(1) It shall be the sole responsibility of
each purchaser of a ticket in game number nine hundred fifty-five to verify the
accuracy of the game play or plays and other data printed on the ticket. The
Ohio lottery commission shall be free from any liability in connection with
this paragraph.
(2) Each ticket
issued in game number nine hundred fifty-five shall have imprinted thereon at
the time of purchase a control number, bar code data, or both, supplied by the
Ohio lottery commission. No prize shall be paid by the Ohio lottery commission
for any tickets without such control number or bar code data. A valid winning
ticket bearing matching player number selections or gaming system generated
number selections and also containing a control number, bar code data, or both,
supplied by the Ohio lottery commission, shall serve as the only valid proof of
the wager placed and the only valid receipt for claiming or redeeming any prize
in game number nine hundred fifty-five.
(3) As applicable to this rule, any and all
game tickets may not be canceled. This shall not prohibit the director, at the
director's discretion, from compensating a retailer for a returned ticket,
which is not eligible to win a prize at the time it is returned to the Ohio
lottery commission, except that tickets stolen by a retailer's employee or
agent cannot be accepted as a returned ticket. Any ticket that is accepted by
the director as a returned ticket is for Ohio lottery commission auditing
purposes only and shall have no effect on the outcome of the drawing for which
they were issued or reduce the Ohio lottery commission's required contribution
to the grand prize pool.
(4) In
addition to all other validation conditions contained in this rule, valid
winning game number nine hundred fifty-five tickets must meet the following
conditions:
(a) 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;
(b) The
ticket must be intact;
(c) The
ticket must not be mutilated, altered, reconstituted, or tampered with in any
manner;
(d) The ticket must not be
counterfeit or an exact duplicate of another winning ticket;
(e) The ticket must have been issued by an
authorized Ohio lottery commission sales location authorized to sell tickets
for game number nine hundred fifty-five on official paper stock of the Ohio
lottery commission;
(f) The ticket
must be submitted for payment in accordance with the Ohio lottery commission's
validation and claiming procedures;
(g) The ticket data must have been recorded
on the gaming system prior to the drawing and the ticket data must match this
computer record in every respect (in the event of contradiction between the
information as printed on the ticket and as accepted by the gaming system, the
wager accepted by the gaming system shall be the valid wager);
(h) The player selected or gaming system
selected 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 the exact data must not have been previously paid;
(i) The ticket must not be misregistered,
defectively printed or printed or produced in error to an extent that it cannot
be processed by the Ohio lottery commission;
(j) The ticket must pass all other
confidential security checks of the Ohio lottery commission;
(k) In submitting an official game number
nine hundred fifty-five ticket for validation, the claimant agrees to abide by
all applicable laws, all rules and regulations of the Ohio lottery commission,
all applicable procedures and any instructions, conditions and final decisions
of the Ohio director;
(l) There
must not be any breach of the rules or applicable procedures established for
"Powerball" which, in the opinion of the Ohio director, justifies
disqualification;
(m) To be
eligible for payment for a winning ticket sold in Ohio, all winning tickets
must be presented for payment to the Ohio lottery within the claiming period
established by the Ohio lottery. To be eligible for payment of a winning ticket
sold in a party lottery other than the Ohio lottery, all winning tickets must
be presented for payment to the party lottery which issued it within the
claiming period as established by that party lottery. If no such claim period
has been established, all grand prize claims shall be made within one hundred
eighty days after the drawing date; and
(n) All winning tickets in game number nine
hundred fifty-five are subject to validation by the gaming system under
applicable procedures and are subject to all other required validation
processes and requirements before the payment of any prize.
(5) An official game number nine
hundred fifty-five ticket submitted for validation which fails any of the
validation conditions established in this rule shall be considered void subject
to the following determination:
(a) In all
cases of doubt, the determination of the director shall be final and binding.
However, the director, at the director's option, may replace an invalid ticket
with an official game number nine hundred fifty-five ticket of equivalent sales
price or a refund of the purchase price;
(b) In the event a defective ticket is
purchased or in the event that the director determines to adjust an error, the
sole and exclusive remedy shall be the replacement of such defective or
erroneous ticket(s) with an official game number nine hundred fifty-five ticket
of equivalent sales price or a refund of the purchase price; and
(c) In the event an official game number nine
hundred fifty-five ticket is not paid by the Ohio lottery commission, and a
dispute occurs as to whether the ticket is a valid winning ticket, the Ohio
lottery commission may, at its option, replace the ticket or provide a refund
of the purchase price.
(6) The Ohio lottery commission shall not be
responsible for lost or stolen game number nine hundred fifty-five
tickets.
(7) The Ohio lottery
commission shall not be responsible to any claimant and sales agent for game
number nine hundred fifty-five tickets redeemed in error by an Ohio lottery
commission sales agent.
(8) Valid
prize winners are determined by the numbers drawn and not the numbers reported.
The Ohio lottery commission shall not be responsible for game number nine
hundred fifty-five winning numbers reported in error.
(9) In purchasing a ticket in game number
nine hundred fifty-five, the player agrees to comply with and be bound by all
applicable statutes, administrative rules, and procedures of the Ohio lottery
commission, and understands that unless designated or agreed to by the
director, directives and determinations of the other party lotteries do not
apply to game number nine hundred fifty-five purchases in Ohio. The player
agrees, as its sole and exclusive remedy, that claims arising out of any
"Powerball" ticket purchase can only be pursued against the state or
jurisdiction of ticket purchase. Therefore, litigation, if any, may only be
maintained against the Ohio lottery commission in the appropriate forum for
game number nine hundred fifty-five tickets purchased at an authorized Ohio
lottery commission sales location.
(10) For purposes of determining the number
of winning wagers, division of the grand prize jackpot is contingent on the
gaming system's determination of winning wagers sold, and not by the number of
winning wagers presented for payment.
(I) Procedures for claiming and payment of
prize awards.
(1) Effective upon a
determination of prize payouts, prizes shall be redeemed or claimed only in the
jurisdiction where the official winning "Powerball" ticket was purchased.
Claimants of prizes in "Powerball" must comply with the claiming periods of
deadlines of the jurisdiction where the winning "Powerball" ticket was
purchased. Claimants of game number nine hundred fifty-five prizes for winning
tickets purchased in Ohio must comply with the following terms and conditions:
(a) Prizes for game number nine hundred
fifty-five purchased in Ohio may be redeemed or claimed only through Ohio
lottery sales agents authorized to sell game number nine hundred fifty-five, or
other authorized claim centers or locations designated by the Ohio lottery
commission;
(b) Claimants of
winning game number nine hundred fifty-five prizes for tickets purchased in
Ohio must comply with the prize claim requirements of the Ohio lottery
commission and the applicable claiming period of one hundred eighty days as set
forth in division (A)(1) of section
3770.07
of the Revised Code;
(c) In the
event a single game number nine hundred fifty-five ticket purchased in Ohio
contains two or more winning wagers, the cumulative prize amount shall be
claimed or redeemed in accordance with the specified prize payment limits of
the Ohio lottery commission;
(d)
State and federal withholding taxes for winning tickets purchased in Ohio shall
be withheld from game number nine hundred fifty-five prizes awarded by the Ohio
lottery commission in such amounts as may be required by law, along with any
other deductions required by law;
(e) A "Powerball" prize, including but not
limited to any promotional prizes associated with "Powerball," awarded by any
party lottery shall not be paid to any persons prohibited from playing or
claiming an Ohio lottery prize by the governing law or rules of the Ohio
lottery commission. In addition, those persons designated by a party lottery's
law as being ineligible to play its games shall also be ineligible to play
"Powerball," and any promotions associated therewith, in that party lottery's
jurisdiction;
(f) A "Powerball"
ticket or a share of "Powerball" ticket, or any promotional tickets associated
with "Powerball," issued by any party lottery shall not be purchased by, and a
prize won by any such ticket or share shall not be paid to:
(i) A "MUSL" employee, officer, or
director;
(ii) A contractor or
consultant under agreement with "MUSL" to review the "MUSL" audit and security
procedures;
(iii) An employee of an
independent accounting firm under contract with "MUSL" to observe drawings or
site operations and actually assigned to the "MUSL" account and all partners,
shareholders, or owners in the local office of the firm; or
(iv) An immediate family member (parent,
stepparent, child, stepchild, spouse or sibling) of an individual described in
paragraphs (I)(1)(f) (i) to (I)(1)(f)(iii) of this rule and residing in the
same household.
(g) For
winning official game number nine hundred fifty-five tickets purchased in Ohio
for which no claim or redemption is made within one hundred eighty days after
the date of the drawing as required by the procedures set forth in Ohio lottery
commission rules, following any required reconciliation of prize liability as
may be agreed to from time to time by the directors of the party lotteries,
such unclaimed prize(s) shall be paid into the state lottery fund and
distributed in accordance with section
3770.06
of the Revised Code.
(J) Payment of grand prize jackpot award.
(1) Payment of a grand prize, if due, shall
be paid in thirty annual payments ("annuity option"). Within sixty days after a
holder of a valid winning ticket presents for payment his or her valid claim
for a grand prize, he or she may elect to receive payment of a grand prize as a
lump sum cash payment ("lump sum cash option"). Calculation of the amount of
"lump sum cash option" or the amount of the "annuity option" shall be in
accordance with applicable procedures. Grand prizes shall be paid, at the
election of the player made not later than sixty days after the player becomes
entitled to the prize, with either an annuity or cash payment. If the payment
election is not made by the player within sixty days after the player becomes
entitled to the prize, then the prize shall be paid as an annuity prize. The
election to take the cash payment may be made at the time of the prize claim or
within sixty 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.
(2) Share of the grand prize shall be
determined by dividing the cash available in the grand prize pool equally among
all winning grand prize wagers from all participating party lotteries.
Winner(s) who elect a cash payment shall be paid their share(s) in a single
cash payment. The annuitized option prize shall be determined by multiplying a
winner's share of the grand prize by the annuity factor. If individual shares
of the cash held to fund an annuity is less than two hundred fifty thousand
dollars, the Ohio lottery may elect, in its sole discretion, to pay the winners
their share of the cash held in the grand prize pool. In the event that a claim
is submitted jointly by one or more persons, all persons submitting that claim
must elect to receive his or her share either through a cash payment or annuity
payment (different options may not be chosen).
(3) The "MUSL" annuity factor is determined
through a process as approved by the "MUSL" finance and audit
committee.
(4) Except in those
instances where the grand prize has been designated as a guaranteed amount in
accordance with applicable procedures, neither "MUSL" nor the party 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."
(5) Except as otherwise provided by law, all
annuitized prizes shall be paid annually in thirty payments with the initial
payment being made in cash, to be followed by twenty-nine payments funded by
the annuity, and all annuitized payments shall be paid in thirty graduated
payments (increasing each year) by a rate as determined in accordance with
applicable procedures. Prize payments may be rounded down to the nearest one
thousand dollars. After the first initial payment, annual payments shall
coincide with the anniversary month of the grand prize.
(6) Payment of prize payments upon the death
of a prize winner. In the event of the death of a prize winner, payments will
be made in accordance with rule
3770:1-8-01
of the Administrative Code and applicable procedures, relating to payment and
calculation of the cash value of prize payments in a statewide joint lottery
game upon the death of a prize winner.
(K) Payment of prizes other than grand prize.
All prizes, other than the grand prize, shall be paid in cash through the party
lottery that sold the winning ticket(s). Payment of all prizes, other than the
grand prize, may be made after a party lottery receives authorization to pay
from "MUSL." In accordance with applicable procedures, in the event that the
total amount of any prizes exceeds the percentage of the prize pool allocated
to those prizes, then in such an event, the prizes may be paid on a parimutuel
basis in accordance with applicable procedures.
(L) Net proceeds to lottery profits education
fund. The entire net proceeds from the sale of game number nine hundred
fifty-five in Ohio that remain after associated operating expenses, prize
disbursements, lottery sales agent bonuses, commissions, and reimbursements,
and any other expenses necessary to comply with the agreements or the rules are
deducted from the gross proceeds of game number nine hundred fifty-five, shall
be transferred to the lottery profits education fund as required under division
(B) of section
3770.06
of the Revised Code.
(M) Conduct by
director(s) in game number nine hundred fifty-five.
(1) The director shall conduct game number
nine hundred fifty-five and any promotions conducted in association with game
number nine hundred fifty-five in a manner consistent with the Ohio Lottery Act
and the rules of the Ohio lottery commission, including this rule.
(2) Names and definitions of elements of game
number nine hundred fifty-five used in this rule are considered generic terms
used solely for the purpose of this rule.
(3) The director may discontinue drawings
conducted pursuant to game number nine hundred fifty-five. In the event that
Ohio discontinues drawings conducted pursuant to game number nine hundred
fifty-five, the director shall designate the applicable procedures to be
followed in discontinuing drawings conducted pursuant to game number nine
hundred fifty-five. Should the directors determine that "Powerball" shall be
discontinued and replaced by a modified version of "Powerball" or another
statewide joint lottery game with a grand prize agreed to by the party
lotteries, then the directors shall have the discretion to transfer any
existing funds from the "Powerball" grand prize that was not won before such
drawings were discontinued, to such new statewide joint lottery game.
(4) The directors shall have discretion to
authorize any funding mechanism deemed necessary to accomplish payment of any
prize pool or any prizes. The directors may collectively authorize sale of
"Powerball" tickets at a discount for promotional purposes. In addition, the
director may authorize sale of game number nine hundred fifty-five tickets at a
discount for promotional purposes within the state of Ohio, provided that such
discounted sales are reported to the other party lotteries at full gross sales
value.
(5) Nothing contained in
this rule shall prohibit a party lottery from offering Powerball tickets as
prizes in any other non-"MUSL" game or promotion operated by the party lottery
after advising the party lotteries and "MUSL" of the terms and dates of the
offering.
(6) In the event that a
party lottery offers "Powerball" tickets as a prize or as part of an authorized
discount, promotion or rebate, the party lottery shall contribute that party
lottery's share of the prizes based on the full value of a ticket sold at a
uniform price.
(7) In the event of
any conflict between paragraphs (A) to (M) of this rule and the "Group Rules,"
this rule shall control.
(8) All
decisions made by the director with respect to the play of game number nine
hundred fifty-five in Ohio, including but not limited to the declaration of
prizes and the payment thereof and the interpretation of Ohio lottery
commission rules, shall be final and binding on all purchasers and on every
person making a claim in respect thereof.
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