CHAPTER Lot 1000  RULES FOR ALL INSTANT LOTTERY GAMES

 

REVISION NOTE:

 

            Document #12747, effective 3-23-19, readopted with amendments and renumbered Chapter Sw 1000 titled “Rules for All Instant Lottery Games” as Chapter Lot 1000.  Document #12747 replaces all prior filings for the former Chapter Sw 1000, which included the following documents:

 

            #1573, eff 5-6-80; EXPIRED 5-6-86

            #6580, eff 9-19-97

            #7168, eff 12-21-99

            #8366, eff 6-2-05

            #9164, eff 5-31-08

            #12018, eff 10-27-16

 

          Pursuant to 2004, 97:1-9, effective 7-10-04, the Sweepstakes Commission had been renamed the Lottery Commission.

 

          The rules in Sw 1000 filed by Document #9164, effective 5-31-08, did not expire on 5-31-16 but were extended pursuant to RSA 541-A:14-a until replaced by rules in Document #12018, effective 10-27-16.

 

PART Lot 1001  PURPOSE AND SCOPE

 

          Lot 1001.01  Purpose.  The purpose of this chapter is to set forth the provisions for how instant lottery game prizes are claimed and tickets are validated.

 

Source.  (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Lot 1000) #12747, eff 3-23-19

 

          Lot 1001.02  Scope.  This chapter applies to all players seeking to claim an instant lottery game prize.

 

Source.  (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Lot 1000) #12747, eff 3-23-19

 

PART Lot 1002  DEFINITIONS

 

          Lot 1002.01  Definitions.  The following definitions shall apply for instant lottery games:

 

          (a) “Claim” means the process by which a player completes the required paperwork and presents a purported winning ticket to the commission or a licensed lottery retailer for prize payment;

 

          (b) Commission means the New Hampshire lottery commission established pursuant to RSA 284:21-a, or its designated staff having authority to perform administrative and clerical functions for the commission;

 

          (c)  “Instant lottery game” means a game approved and distributed by the commission consisting of a preset number of game tickets containing a pre-determined number of randomly distributed winning tickets that pay a fixed prize;

 

          (d)  “Lottery retailer” means a sales outlet authorized to sell lottery tickets; and.

 

(e)  “Validation” means successful authorization of a winning ticket pursuant to the game’s prize structure, and subject to claim processing procedures.

 

Source.  (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Lot 1000) #12747, eff 3-23-19

 

PART Lot 1003  INSTANT LOTTERY GAMES

 

          Lot 1003.01  Method of Play.

 

          (a)  To purchase an instant lottery game ticket, an individual shall be 18 years of age or older.

 

          (b)  Winners of a prize shall be determined by such activities as locating, matching, or adding the play symbols on the ticket or by any other play action approved by the commission, the exact method of which shall be set forth in the game’s play instructions.

 

          (c)  The game shall be played in accordance with the game’s play instructions and shall be interpreted in accordance with the game’s specifications on file with the commission.

 

Source.  (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Lot 1000) #12747, eff 3-23-19

 

          Lot 1003.02  Ticket Validation.

 

          (a)  Each instant lottery game ticket shall be validated according to validation procedures, described in (b) below. prior to payment of a prize.

 

          (b)  For an instant lottery game ticket to be deemed valid for payment or claim, the following shall be true:

 

(1)  The ticket shall have:

 

a.  Been issued by the lottery in an authorized manner;

 

b.  Been received and recorded by the commission by applicable deadlines;

 

c.  Passed all the confidential validation and security tests appropriate to the applicable playstyle; and

 

d.  A validation number that appears on the commission’s official list of validation numbers of winning tickets for the particular game and pack;

 

(2)  The ticket shall not be:

 

a.  Altered, unreadable, mutilated, reconstituted or tampered with in any manner;

 

b.  Counterfeit or forged in whole or in part;

 

c.  Stolen or appear on any list of omitted tickets on file with the lottery;

 

d.  Mis-registered; or

 

e.  Paid previously;

 

(3)  For games that issue physical tickets, the ticket shall contain at least one of the following validation methods:

 

a.  The validation bar code and 3 boxed digits of the validation code;

 

b.  The human readable code associated with the validation bar code, including the 3 boxed digits of the validation code;

 

c.  The prize validation serial number, and the 3 boxed digits of the validation code; or

 

d.  The PDF417 barcode located under the scratch off coating;

 

(4)  The symbols, numbers, or words shall be consistent with their respective caption or validation number; and

 

(5)  The winning ticket’s validation methods shall be verified and correspond to the data in:

 

a.  The commission’s central computer system’s validation file; or

 

b.  The commission’s third-party system and transaction history.

 

          (c)  In the event that some, but not all of the required validation methods in (b)(3) above are damaged and unreadable, the player shall submit the ticket and a New Hampshire Lottery Claim form (July 2017) to the commission for further review in order to be validated.

 

          (d)  The commission shall review tickets submitted in accordance with (c) above and pay the prize won when:

 

(1)  The commission can positively identify the ticket on the validation file by using other identifying information located on the ticket; and

 

(2)  The commission determines that no missing part of the same ticket contains validation information that would allow another claim to be filed for the same prize.

 

          (e)  Any ticket that the commission cannot positively identify as a valid ticket using the methods described in (b)-(d) above shall be void and ineligible for any prize.

 

          (f)  The commission shall make the final decision as to whether any ticket is valid or void and such decision shall be final.

 

Source.  (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Lot 1000) #12747, eff 3-23-19

 

          Lot 1003.03  Defective, Lost or Stolen Tickets.

 

          (a)  In the event that a defective instant lottery game ticket is purchased, the only responsibility or liability of the commission shall be the replacement of the defective ticket, with an un-played ticket or tickets of equivalent sales price from any other current lottery game. This shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the bearer of the ticket.

 

          (b)  The commission shall not be responsible for any lost or stolen instant lottery game tickets.

 

Source.  (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Lot 1000) #12747, eff 3-23-19

 

PART Lot 1004  CLAIMS

 

          Lot 1004.01  Claims.  Claims for payment of a winning instant lottery game ticket shall be made in accordance with the requirements set forth in Lot600.

 

Source.  (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Lot 1000) #12747, eff 3-23-19

 

          Lot 1004.02  Surrendering a Ticket for Prize Payment.  After an instant lottery game ticket has been provided to a clerk for payment and the prize payment has been provided to the player, the clerk shall retain and process the ticket in accordance with that lottery retailer’s policy.

 

Source.  (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Lot 1000) #12747, eff 3-23-19

 

PART Lot 1005  GAME END

 

          Lot 1005.01  Termination of a Game by the Commission.

 

          (a)  The commission or its designee shall terminate a game at any time if:

 

(1)  The security or integrity of the instant lottery game program is at risk; or

 

(2)  The last top prize has been claimed at lottery headquarters.

 

          (b)  The commission or its designee shall terminate a game if the instant lottery game has been on sale for more than 26 consecutive weeks, and the actual or predicted sales performance deems the game to no longer be viable in the market.

 

          (c)  When a game is terminated, the lottery field representatives shall return all instant lottery game tickets for that game to the warehouse.

 

Source.  (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Lot 1000) #12747, eff 3-23-19

 

Lot 1005.02  Natural Game End.  When the commission’s supply of an instant lottery game tickets have been exhausted, the commission or its designee shall announce the game end. All lottery retailers shall be notified by the lottery field representative that the game is no longer available for sale.

 

Source.  (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Lot 1000) #12747, eff 3-23-19

 

PART Lot 1006  INSTANT LOTTERY GAMES SALES RETAILERS

 

Lot 1006.01  Lottery Retailer Commissions.  Pursuant to RSA 284:21-h, II, all lottery retailers, excluding the lottery sales offices and online retailers, shall receive a minimum 5 percent commission basis for services rendered, and a 10 percent commission on those sales made during a fiscal year which exceed the sales made during the previous fiscal year.

 

Source.  (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Lot 1000) #12747, eff 3-23-19

 

          Lot 1006.02  Lottery Retailer Bonus.  All lottery  retailers, excluding the lottery sales offices and online retailers, who cash a winning instant lottery game ticket of $599.99 or under, shall receive as a cashing bonus, one percent of the cashed amount pursuant to RSA 284:21-s.

 

Source.  (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Lot 1000) #12747, eff 3-23-19

 

APPENDIX

 

Rule

Specific State Statutes the Rule Implements

 

 

Lot 1001

RSA 541-A:16, I(b); RSA 284:21-i, IV

Lot 1002

RSA 541-A:16, I(b); RSA 284:21-i, IV

Lot 1003

RSA 541-A:16, I(b); RSA 284:21-i, IV

Lot 1004

RSA 541-A:16, I(b); RSA 284:21-i, IV

Lot 1005

RSA 541-A:16, I(b); RSA 284:21-i, IV;

Lot 1006

RSA 541-A:16, I(b); RSA 284:21-i, IV; RSA 284:21-h,II(d) and RSA 284:21-s