CHAPTER Lot 600  RULES FOR PRIZE CLAIMS

 

Statutory Authority:  RSA 541-A:16, I(b)

 

Revision Note:

 

          Document #12746, effective 3-23-19, readopted with amendments and renumbered Chapter Sw 600 titled “Rules for Prize Claims” as Chapter Lot 600.  Document #12746 replaces all prior filings for the former Chapter Sw 600, which included the following documents:

 

          #7167, eff 12-21-99

          #7376, 10-13-00

          #7705, eff 6-8-02

          #8365, eff 6-2-05, EXPIRED 6-2-13

          #10718, eff 11-19-14

 

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

 

PART Lot 601  DEFINITIONS

 

          Lot 601.01  Definitions.  The following definitions shall apply for all prize claims:

 

          (a)  “Commission” means the New Hampshire lottery commission; and

 

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

 

Source.  (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Lot 600) #12746, eff 3-23-19

 

PART Lot 602  PRIZE CLAIMS

 

          Lot 602.01  Payments.

 

          (a)  The following shall apply to payments of prizes for lottery games that issue physical tickets, or confirmation cards in the case of subscription:

 

(1)  No prize shall be paid without the physical possession of a winning ticket or a valid subscription recorded in the lottery’s central computer system;

 

(2)  Each lottery ticket shall be a bearer instrument until such time as a signature is placed in the designated area on the back of the ticket;

 

(3)  To claim a winning ticket, a player shall complete the reverse side of the ticket with his/her name, address and signature;

 

(4)  A player in possession of a winning lottery ticket for a prize of $599.99 or less may claim the prize by filling out and signing the back of the ticket and submitting the ticket for payment:

 

a.  In person at:

 

1.  Any participating lottery retailer, including any state liquor store; or

 

2. Commission headquarters located at 14 Integra Drive in Concord, New Hampshire; or

 

b.  By mail to the commission at:

 

Attn: Claims

New Hampshire Lottery

14 Integra Drive

Concord, NH  03301

 

; and

 

(5)  A player in possession of a winning ticket for a prize greater than $599.99 may claim the prize by submitting the documentation as required in (c) below to the commission in person or by mail to the address provided in (4) above.

 

          (b)  The following shall apply to payments of prizes for games that do not issue a physical ticket, or confirmation card in the case of a subscription:

 

(1)  When a player wins a prize in an amount of $599.99 or less, the prize shall be automatically added to the balance in the player’s account on nhlottery.com;

 

(2)  When a player wins a prize in an amount greater than $599.99, less than $10,000, the player may claim the prize by completing the on-line claims process on nhlottery.com; and

 

(3)  When a player wins an annuity prize or any other prize in an amount of $10,0000 or more, the player shall claim the prize by submitting the documentation required in (c) below to the commission in person or by mail to the address provided in (a)(4) above.

 

          (c)  When claiming a prize in person or by mail in accordance with (a)(5) or (b)(3) above, the claimant shall provide the commission with the following:

 

(1)  Positive photo identification as described in Lot 602.02 below;

 

(2)  Proof of taxpayer identification number (TIN), such as a social security number, as described in Lot 602.03 below; and

 

(3)  A completed and signed “New Hampshire Lottery Claim Form” (Rev 7/17), available at nhlottery.com.

 

          (d)  The commission shall prepare a prize check and a federal W2-G, Certain Gambling Winnings, form which shall be signed by the winner.  Pursuant to Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 3402(q)(1) and the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, Sec. 101 (a), Table 7, prizes exceeding $5,000 shall be subject to applicable federal income tax withholding.

 

          (e)  All prize claims shall be subject to validation by the commission.

 

Source.  (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Lot 600) #12746, eff 3-23-19

 

          Lot 602.02  Identification.

 

          (a)  When required to do so in accordance with Lot 602.01 above, the claimant shall furnish any of the following documentation to the commission for purposes of positive photo identification:

 

(1)  A motor vehicle driver’s license issued by the state of New Hampshire, or a valid driver’s license issued by another state, or province of Canada, which bears the name, address, and date of birth of the licensee;

 

(2)  An identification card issued by the director of motor vehicles under the provisions of RSA 260:21, or any picture identification card issued by another state which bears the name, address, and date of birth of the individual;

 

(3)  An armed services identification card; or

 

(4)  A valid passport from the United States or from a country with whom the United States maintains diplomatic relations.

 

          (b)  Photographic identification presented under this section shall be consistent with the appearance of the person, shall not have expired, and shall be correct and free of alteration, erasure, blemish, or other impairment.

 

          (c)  A photostatic copy of the claimant’s original photographic identification shall be accepted when such copies are of a reasonable quality to allow for the positive identification of the individual.

 

          (d)  If the claimant is under the age of 16, and does not have photographic identification, the claimant shall present positive proof of their taxpayer identification number, such as a valid social security card, for verification by the commission.

 

          (e)  If the claimant is a trust, the individual named as trustee shall furnish photographic identification to the commission at the time of the claim. Acceptable forms of identification shall be those documents listed in Lot 602.02(a).

 

          (f)  If the claim is being filed by another individual on behalf of the claimant, the claimant’s original picture identification or a photostatic copy of the claimant’s picture identification as well as the filing individual’s original picture identification shall be presented to the commission at the time of the claim.

 

Source.  (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Lot 600) #12746, eff 3-23-19

 

          Lot 602.03  Taxpayer Identification Number Verification.

 

          (a)  When required to do so in accordance with Lot 602.01 above, the claimant shall furnish positive proof of their taxpayer identification number as reported on the claim form, to comply with the following:

 

(1)  IRC 3402(q)(1) requires the reporting and withholding, if appropriate, on any winnings reported; and

 

(2)  Per IRC 3406(a), if security taxpayer identification number is not furnished per proper reporting on withholding, a back-up withholding shall be withheld.

 

          (b)  Acceptable forms of positive proof shall include, but not be limited to:

 

(1)  Original signed social security card issued by Social Security Administration;

 

(2)  Valid driver's license in which the claimant's social security number is printed;

 

(3)  Original paycheck stub issued within the past 30 days, on which the claimant's complete social security number, or other valid taxpayer identification number is printed;

 

(4)  A current health insurance card issued in the claimants name and upon which the claimant’s social security number, or other valid taxpayer identification number printed; or

 

(5)  Any other original document that contains a printed taxpayer identification number, such as a social security number, and that the commission determines to be valid and genuine.

 

          (c)  If the claimant provides original documentation, other than what is stated above, with their taxpayer identification number, such as a social security number printed, the commission shall accept the documentation if it is determined to be a genuine document and is valid.  If the validity is questionable or cannot be determined, the commission shall then request an acceptable form as stated above in Lot 602.03(b).

 

          (d)  If the claimant fails to provide positive proof of the claimant’s taxpayer identification number, such as a social security number, the claimant shall complete and sign, the “W-9 Form, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification.”

 

Source.  (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Lot 600) #12746, eff 3-23-19

 

          Lot 602.04  Claim Period.

 

          (a)  All lottery prizes shall be claimed:

 

(1)  Prior to the expiration of one year from the termination of the game for instant scratch games pursuant to Lot 1004;

 

(2)  Within one year from the drawing date for draw based games; or

 

(3)  Within one year from the date that the prize was won for all other games.

 

          (b)  Any prize that is not claimed within the time period specified in (a) above shall be deemed unclaimed.

 

Source.  (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Lot 600) #12746, eff 3-23-19

 

APPENDIX

 

Rule

Specific State Statute which the Rule Implements

 

 

Lot 601.01

RSA 541-A:16, I(b)

Lot 602.01

26 U.S.C. 3402(q)(1) and RSA 541-A:16, I(b)

Lot 602.02

RSA 541-A:16, I(b)

Lot 602.03

RSA 541-A:16, I(b)

Lot 602.04

RSA 541-A:16, I(b)