91488 Lottery and Charitable Games Control Board: Rules to Implement the Mega Millions Game (Chapter 6)
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THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
LOTTERY AND CHARITABLE GAMES CONTROL BOARD
NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING
The Executive Director of the District of Columbia Lottery and Charitable Games Control Board, pursuant to the authority set forth in D.C. Official Code §3-1306, District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority Order issued September 21, 1996, and Office of the Chief Financial Officer Financial Management Control Order No. 96-22 issued November 18, 1996, hereby gives notice of the adoption of amendments to Chapters 5, 6 9 and 99 of Title 30 DCMR, “Lottery and Charitable Games.” These amendments are necessary to implement the MEGA MILLIONS® game pursuant to the Multi-State Lottery Association (“MUSL”) MEGA MILLIONS Game Group Agreement. MEGA MILLIONS® is scheduled to start on January 31, 2009. The Executive Director gives notice of his intent to take final rulemaking action to adopt the amendments in not less than thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register.
Amend subsections 503 “Cancelled Tickets” by substituting the following:
Amend subsections 605 “On-Line Lottery Ticket Validation” by adding the following:
605.1(b) For the POWERBALL®, MEGA MILLIONS®, Hot Lotto , Sizzler and Rolling Cash 5 games, the player selected numbers on the ticket shall be in individual groups of prescribed numbers each associated with a single letter "A," "B," "C," "D," or "E";
605.1(g) The MEGA MILLIONS® tickets meets all the rules for validation pursuant to the MUSL MEGA MILLIONS Game Group Agreement.
Amend subsections 606. “Annuitized Prizes” by adding the following:
606.7 The MEGA MILLIONS® annuitized prize shall be paid in twenty-six (26) annual installments upon completion of all validation procedures. The initial payment shall be paid upon completion of all validation procedures. The subsequent twenty-five (25) 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 be within seven (7) days of the anniversary of the annual auction date.
AMEND CHAPTER 9. “DESCRIPTION OF ON-LINE GAMES”
Amend Chapter 9 by amending sections 917 and 918 as follows:
917. DESCRIPTION OF THE MEGA MILLIONS®GAME
917.1 MEGA MILLIONS® is a five (5) out of fifty-six (56) plus one (1) out of forty-six (46) online lottery game which pays out the Grand Prize, at the player’s election, as provided in this Chapter either on an annuitized pari-mutuel basis or as a cash lump sum payment of the total cash held for this prize pool on a pari-mutuel basis. Except as provided in these rules, all other prizes are paid on a fixed cash basis.
917.2 To play MEGA MILLIONS®, a player shall select five (5) different numbers, between one (1) and fifty-six (56) and one additional number, the Mega Ball which is between one (1) out of forty-six (46) for input into a terminal.
917.3 The price of each MEGA MILLIONS® play shall be $1.00. A player may purchase up to five plays on one ticket. Multiple draws are available for up to twenty (20) consecutive draws beginning with the current draw. From time to time, the executive director may authorize the sale of MEGA MILLIONS® tickets at a discount for promotional purposes. Additionally, a multiplier feature, MEGAPLIER®, is available for an additional $1 per play. Each bet and the respective prize payouts are listed in Section 918 of this chapter.
917.4 MEGA MILLIONS® tickets may be purchased in the District of Columbia only at a licensed location or a D.C. Lottery Agent. No MEGA MILLIONS® ticket purchased outside of the District of Columbia may be presented to a D.C. Lottery Agent for payment or validation.
917.5 MEGA MILLIONS® drawings shall be held at the time(s) and location set out in the MUSL MEGA MILLIONS Game Group Agreement.
917.6 In a single drawing, a player may win in only one prize category per single MEGA MILLIONS® play in connection with MEGA MILLIONS® winning numbers, and shall be entitled only to the highest prize.
917.7 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 one dollar.
917.8 With respect to the MEGA MILLIONS® grand/jackpot prize, the prize amount paid shall be the advertised grand/jackpot prize amount. However, the advertised grand/jackpot prize amount is subject to change based on sales forecasts and/or actual sales. Additionally, this prize amount may be rounded up to the next highest affordable multiple of one million dollars, at the discretion of the party lotteries.
917.9 The prize money allocated to the Grand Prize category shall be awarded equally to the number of game boards winning a Grand Prize.
917.10 If in any game drawing there are no plays which qualify for the prize, the prize money for that game drawing shall be added to the prize pool.
917.11 Subject to the laws and rules 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 public notice.
917.12 Prize liability cap. Notwithstanding any provision in the rule to the contrary, should total prize liability (exclusive of jackpot prize carry forward) exceed 300 percent of draw sales or 50 percent of draw sales plus $50,000,000, whichever is less, (both hereinafter referred to as the "liability cap"), the second through fifth prizes shall be paid on a pari-mutuel rather than guaranteed prize basis, provided, however, that in no event shall the pari-mutuel prize be greater than the guaranteed prize. The amount to be used for the allocation of such pari-mutuel prizes (two through five) shall be the liability cap less the amount paid for the jackpot prize and prize levels six through nine.
917.13 A subscription sales program may be offered, at the discretion of the Executive Director.
917.14 MEGA MILLIONS® tickets shall show the player's selection of numbers or quick pick numbers, election of the multiplier feature, MEGAPLIER®, boards played, drawing date, jackpot payment option, and validation and reference numbers.
917.15 It shall be the exclusive responsibility of the player to verify the accuracy of the player's selection(s) and other data printed on the ticket. A ticket is a bearer instrument until signed. Neither a party lottery nor its sales agents shall be responsible for lost or stolen tickets.
917.16 In purchasing a ticket issued for MEGA MILLIONS®, the player agrees to comply with and be bound by all applicable statutes, administrative rules and regulations, and procedures of the party lottery of the Jurisdiction in which the MEGA MILLIONS® ticket is issued, and by directives and determinations of the Executive Director of that party lottery. Additionally, the player shall be bound to all applicable provisions in the MEGA MILLIONS® Finance and Operations Procedures. The player agrees, as its sole and exclusive remedy that claims arising out of a 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 MEGA MILLIONS® ticket was purchased and only against the party lottery that issued the ticket. Nothing in this rule shall be construed as a waiver of any defense or claim the D.C. Lottery may have in the event a player pursues litigation against the D.C. Lottery, its officers, or employees.
917.17 A ticket subject to the validations requirements of this title shall be the only proof of a wager.
917.18 Prior to the MEGA MILLIONS® Drawing there shall be a drawing for the MEGAPLIER®.
917.19 Each drawing shall determine, at random, the six winning numbers in accordance with the MEGA MILLIONS® drawing procedures. Any numbers drawn are not declared winning numbers until the drawing is certified by the commission in accordance with the drawing procedures. The winning numbers shall be used in determining all MEGA MILLIONS® winners for that drawing.
917.20 For winning 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 pursuant to the MUSL MEGA MILLIONS Game Group Agreement and as may be agreed to from time to time by the directors of the party lotteries.
917.21 The executive director shall announce each incentive or bonus program prior to its commencement. The announcement shall specify the beginning and ending time, if applicable, of the incentive or bonus program and the value for the award(s).
917.22 The Prize Pool shall consist of at least fifty-one percent (51%) of each drawing period’s sales.
918 MEGA MILLIONS® FIXED PRIZE STRUCTURE AND PROBABILITY
918.1 Provided the prize pools are fully funded, the fixed prize payments for MEGA MILLIONS® based on a one dollar (1) bet are as follows:
Number of Matches Per Play
(a) All five (5) of the first set and
no Mega Ball $ 250,000.00*
(b) Any four (4) of the first set plus
the Mega Ball $ 10,000.00*
(c) Any four (4) of the first set and
no Mega Ball $ 150.00*
(d) Any three (3) of the first set plus
the Mega Ball $ 150.00*
(e) Any two (2) of the first set plus
the Mega Ball $ 10.00
(f) Any three (3) of the first set and
no Mega ball $ 7.00
(g) Any one (1) of the first set plus
The Mega Ball $ 3.00
(h) None of the first set plus
the Mega Ball $ 2.00
* In certain circumstances covered by the MEGA MILLIONS Game Group Agreement these prizes may be paid on a pari-mutuel basis.
918.2 The following table sets forth the probability of winning and the probable distribution of winners in and among each prize category, based upon the total number of possible combinations in MEGA MILLIONS®
PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION
Number of Matches Probable Set
Per Ticket Winners Probability Prize Amount
All five (5) of first
set plus the Mega Ball 1 1:175,711,536 JACKPOT*
All five (5) of the
first set and no
Mega Ball 38 1:3,904,701 $250,000.00*
Any four (4) of the
first set plus the Mega Ball 270 1:689,065 $10,000.00*
Any four (4) of the
first set and no Mega Ball 10,260 1:15,313 $150.00*
Any three (3) of the
first set plus the Mega Ball 14,310 1:13,781 $150.00*
Any two (2) of the first
set plus the Mega Ball 248,040 1:844 $10.00
Any three (3) of the first
set plus no Mega Ball 543,780 1:306 $7.00
Any one (1) of the first
set plus the Mega Ball 1,581,255 1:141 $3.00
None of the first set
plus the Mega Ball 3,162,510 1:75 $2.00
Overall Odds 5,560,464 1:39.89
* In certain circumstances covered by the MEGA MILLIONS Game Group Agreement these prizes may be paid on a pari-mutuel basis.
918.3 Except as provided in these rules, all prizes awarded shall be paid as lump sum set prizes.
918.4 Qualifying MEGAPLIER® plays will pay the amounts shown below when matched with the MEGAPLIER® number drawn, instead of the MEGA MILLIONS® set prize amount.
Prize Amount 4X 3X 2X
Match 5+0 $250,000 $1,000,000 $750,000 $500,000
Match 4+1 $10,000 $40,000 $30,000 $20,000
Match 4+0 $150 $600 $450 $300
Match 3+1 $150 $600 $450 $300
Match 2+1 $10 $40 $30 $20
Match 3+0 $7 $28 $21 $14
Match 1+1 $3 $12 $9 $6
Match 0+1 $2 $8 $6 $4
918.5 In certain rare instances, the MEGA MILLIONS® set prize amount may be less than the amount shown. In such case, the MEGAPLIER® prizes will be a multiple of the changed MEGA MILLIONS® prize amount announced at the draw. For example, if the Match 5 MEGA MILLIONS® set prize amount of $250,000 becomes $150,000 under the rules of the MEGA MILLIONS® game, then a MEGAPLIER® player receives the new amount multiplied by the matching MEGAPLIER® that was drawn.
918.6 The following table sets forth the probability of the various MEGAPLIER® numbers being drawn during a single MEGA MILLIONS® drawing, The MEGA MILLIONS® and or MUSL Group may elect to run limited promotions that may increase the multiplier numbers.
MEGAPLIER® Probability of Prize Increase
4X – Prize Won Times 4 12 in 21
3X – Prize Won Times 3 7 in 21
2X – Prize Won Times 2 2 in 21
918.7 MEGAPLIER® does not apply to the MEGA MILLIONS® Grand Prize.
AMEND CHAPTER 99 “DEFINITIONS”
Amend by adding the following:
MUSL MEGA MILLIONS Game Group Agreement -The amended and restated agreement regarding the Mega Millions game and MUSL, or any subsequent amended agreement, signed by the party lotteries and including the finance and operations procedures for Mega Millions, and on-line drawing procedures for Mega Millions.
MEGAPLIER-A Mega Millions game feature 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, excluding the Grand/Jackpot prize by a factor of two, three, or four times depending upon the multiplier number that is drawn prior to the Mega Millions drawing.
All persons desiring to comment on the subject matter of this proposed rulemaking should file comments in writing not later than twenty-nine (29) days from the date of publication of this notice in the Register. Comments should be filed with the Executive Director, District of Columbia Lottery and Charitable Games Control Board, 2101 Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20020. Copies of these proposed rules may be obtained at the address stated above.
