(1)
Effective Date. Beginning October 4, 2015, the
following shall be in effect.
(2)
Definitions. The following definitions apply unless
the context requires a different meaning or is otherwise inconsistent with the
intention of the rules adopted by the Product Group.
Advertised Grand Prize shall mean the
estimated annuitized Grand Prize amount as determined by the MUSL central
office by use of the MUSL Annuity Factor and communicated through the Selling
Lotteries prior to the Grand Prize drawing. The Advertised Grand Prize is not a
guaranteed prize amount and the actual Grand Prize amount may vary from the
advertised amount, except in circumstances where there is a guaranteed Grand
Prize amount as described in 961 CMR 2.63(6)(e).
Agent or Retailer means a person or
entity authorized by a Selling Lottery to sell lottery plays.
Computer Pick, also known as
Quic Pic, means the random selection of indicia by the
computer that appear on a ticket or ticketless transaction and are played by a
player in the game.
Drawing refers collectively to the
formal draw event for randomly selecting the winning indicia that determine the
number of winners for each prize level of the Powerball game and the Power Play
multiplier. Winning indicia include the Winning Numbers for the Powerball game,
and the Power Play multiplier.
Game Board or
Boards means that area of the Play Slip, also known as
a panel, that contains sets of numbered squares to be marked by the
player.
Game Ticket or
Ticket means an acceptable evidence of play, which is
a ticket produced in a manner that meets the specifications defined in the
rules of each Selling Lottery and 961 CMR 2.63(7) and is a physical
representation of the play or plays sold to the player or is a properly and
validly registered ticketless transaction play.
Grand Prize shall refer to the top
prize in the Powerball game.
Licensee Lottery shall mean a state
lottery or lottery of a governmental unit, political subdivision, or entity
thereof that is not a Party Lottery but has agreed to comply with all
applicable MUSL and Product Group requirements and has been authorized by the
MUSL and by the Powerball Product Group to sell the Powerball game.
MUSL means the Multi-state Lottery
Association, a government-benefit association wholly owned and operated by the
Party Lotteries.
MUSL Annuity Factor shall mean the
annuity factor as determined by the MUSL central office through a method
approved by the MUSL Finance and Audit Committee and which is used as described
in 961 CMR 2.63.
MUSL Board means the governing body of
the MUSL, which is comprised of the chief executive officer of each Party
Lottery.
Party Lottery or Member
Lottery means a state lottery or lottery of a political
subdivision or entity that has joined the MUSL and, in the context of the
Product Group Rules, that is authorized to sell the Powerball game. Unless
otherwise indicated, Party Lottery or Member Lottery does not include Licensee
Lotteries.
Play or Bet
means the six numbers, the first five from a field of 69 numbers and the last
one from a field of 26 numbers, that appear on a ticket or communicated in a
ticketless transaction as a single lettered selection and are to be played by a
player in the Powerball game.
Product Group or the
Group means a group of lotteries that has joined
together to offer a product pursuant to the terms of the Multi-state Lottery
Agreement and the Product Group's own rules.
Play Slip or Bet
Slip means a card used in marking a player's game plays and
containing one or more boards.
Selling Lottery shall mean a lottery
authorized by the Product Group to sell Powerball plays, including Party
Lotteries and Licensee Lotteries.
Set Prize, also referred to as
low-tier prize, means all other prizes, except the Grand Prize, and, except in
instances outlined in 961 CMR 2.63, will be equal to the prize amount
established by the MUSL Board for the prize level.
Terminal means a device authorized by
a Selling Lottery to function in an on-line, interactive mode with the gaming
computer system for the purpose of issuing lottery tickets and entering,
receiving, and processing lottery transactions, including making purchases,
validating tickets, and transmitting reports.
Ticketless Transaction shall include
plays sold through subscription, internet, or non-standard terminals.
Winning Numbers means the indicia
randomly selected during a Drawing event which shall be used to determine
winning plays for the Powerball game contained on a game ticket or ticketless
transaction.
(3)
Game Description.
(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.
(4)
Powerball Prize
Pool.
(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:
|
Number of Matches Per Play
|
Prize Pool Percentage
|
|
Prize Payment
|
Allocated to Prize
|
|
All five of first set plus one of second
set
|
Grand Prize
|
68.0131%
|
|
All five of first set and none of second
set.
|
$1,000,000
|
8.5558%
|
|
Any four of first set plus one of second
set.
|
$50,000
|
5.4757%
|
|
Any four of first set and none of second
set.
|
$100
|
0.2738%
|
|
Any three of first set plus one of second
set.
|
$100
|
0.6899%
|
|
Any three of first set and none of second
set.
|
$7
|
1.2074%
|
|
Any two of first set plus one of second
set.
|
$7
|
0.9981%
|
|
Any one of first set plus one of second
set.
|
$4
|
4.3489%
|
|
None of first set plus one of second
set.
|
$4
|
10.4373%
|
1. The prize money
allocated to the Grand Prize category shall be divided equally by the number of
plays winning the Grand Prize.
2.
Powerball Set Prize Pool Carried Forward. For Party
Lotteries, the Powerball Set Prize Pool (for single prizes of $1,000,000 or
less) shall be carried forward to subsequent draws if all or a portion of it is
not needed to pay the Powerball Set Prizes awarded in the current
draw.
3.
Pari-mutuel
Powerball Prize Determinations. Except as provided for in 961 CMR
2.63(4)(c)3.c., for Party Lotteries:
a. If the
total of the Powerball Set Prizes (as multiplied by the respective Power Play
multiplier if applicable) awarded in a drawing exceeds the percentage of the
prize pool allocated to the Powerball Set Prizes, then the amount needed to
fund the Powerball Set Prizes, including Power Play prizes, awarded shall be
drawn from the following sources, in the following order:
i. the amount allocated to the Powerball Set
Prizes and carried forward from previous draws, if any;
ii. an amount from the SPRA, if available,
not to exceed $40,000,000 per drawing; and
iii. other amounts as agreed to by the Product Group in their sole
discretion.
b. If, after
these sources are depleted, there are not sufficient funds to pay the Set
Prizes awarded, including Power Play prizes, then the highest Set Prize shall
become a pari-mutuel prize. If the amount of the highest Set Prize, when paid
on a pari-mutuel basis, drops to or below the next highest Set Prize and there
are still not sufficient funds to pay the remaining Set Prizes awarded, then
the next highest Set Prize, including Power Play prizes, shall become a
pari-mutuel prize. This procedure shall continue down through all Set Prize
levels, if necessary, until all Set Prize levels become pari-mutuel prize
levels. In that instance, the money available from the funding sources listed
in 961 CMR
2.63 shall be divided among the winning plays in proportion to their
respective prize percentages. Powerball Set Prizes and Power Play prizes will
be reduced by the same percentage.
c. By agreement with the Licensee Lotteries,
the Licensee Lotteries shall independently calculate their Set Prize
pari-mutuel amounts. The Party Lotteries and the Licensee Lotteries shall then
agree to set the pari-mutuel prize amounts for all lotteries selling the game
at the lesser of the independently-calculated prize amounts.
4.
Licensee
Lotteries. Licensee Lotteries shall adhere to 961 CMR
2.63(4)(c)3.a. and b. unless a different process is approved by the Product
Group.
(5)
Probability of Winning Powerball Prizes. 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 Powerball. The Set Prize Amount shall be the prizes
set for all Selling Lotteries unless prohibited or limited by a jurisdiction's
statutes or judicial requirements.
|
Number of Matches Per Play
|
Probability Distribution
|
Probable/Set Prize Amount
|
|
Winners
|
Probability
|
|
All five of first set plus one of second
set
|
1 1:
|
292,201,338.0000
|
Grand Prize
|
|
All five of first set and none of second
set
|
25 1:
|
11,688,053.5200
|
$1,000,000
|
|
Any four of first set plus one of second
set
|
320 1:
|
913,129.1813
|
$50,000
|
|
Any four of first set and none of second
set
|
8,000 1:
|
36,525.1673
|
$100
|
|
Any three of first set plus one of second
set
|
20,160 1:
|
14,494.1140
|
$100
|
|
Any three of first set and none of second
set
|
504,000 1:
|
579.7646
|
$7
|
|
Any two first set plus one of second
set
|
416,640 1:
|
701.3281
|
$7
|
|
Any one of first set plus one of second
set
|
3,176,880 1:
|
91,9775
|
$4
|
|
None of first set plus one of second
set
|
7,624,512 1:
|
38.3239
|
$4
|
|
Overall
|
11,750,538 1:
|
24.8671
|
(6)
Powerball Prize Payment.
(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.
(7)
Ticket Validation. To be a valid play and eligible to
receive a prize, a play's ticket or ticketless transaction shall satisfy all
the requirements established by a Selling Lottery for validation of winning
plays sold through its gaming system and any other validation requirements
adopted by the Product Group, the MUSL Board and published as the Confidential
MUSL Minimum Game Security Standards. The MUSL and the Selling Lotteries shall
not be responsible for tickets or ticketless transactions which are altered in
any manner.
(8)
Ticket
Responsibility.
(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.
(9)
Ineligible Players.
(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:
1. a MUSL employee, officer, or
director;
2. a contractor or
consultant under agreement with the MUSL to review the MUSL audit and security
procedures;
3. 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
4. an immediate family member (parent,
stepparent, child, stepchild, spouse, or sibling) of an individual described in
961 CMR
2.63(9)(a)1. through 3. and residing in the same household.
(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.
(10)
Applicable
Law. In purchasing a play, the purchaser agrees to comply with and
abide by all applicable laws, rules, regulations, procedures, and decisions of
the Selling Lottery where the play was purchased.
(11)
Powerball Power Play
Promotion. Power Play Promotion rules are applicable to all
Selling Lotteries, except as may be controlled by a Selling Lottery's governing
jurisdiction statute. The Product Group shall reach an agreement with such
lotteries that will permit the operation of the promotion in a manner
consistent with statute.
(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.
1.
Power Play Prize
Pool. 50% of each draw's sales shall be collected for the payment
of prizes. In drawings where the "ten" multiplier is available, the expected
payout for all prize categories shall consist of up to 49.969% of each drawing
period's sales, including any specific statutorily mandated tax of a Selling
Lottery to be included in the price of a lottery ticket. In drawings where the
ten (10X) multiplier is not available, the expected payout for all prize
categories shall consist of up to 45.934% of each drawing period's sales,
including any specific statutorily mandated tax of a Selling Lottery to be
included in the price of a lottery ticket.
The prize payout percentage per draw may vary. The Power Play
Prize Pool shall be carried forward to subsequent draws if all or a portion of
it is not needed to pay the Power Play prizes awarded in the current draw and
held in the Power Play Pool Account.
2.
Power Play Pool Account. In drawings
where the ten (10X) multiplier is available, an additional 0.031% of sales,
including any specific statutorily mandated tax of a Selling Lottery to be
included in the price of a lottery ticket, may be collected and placed in trust
in the Power Play Pool Account, for the purpose of paying Power Play prizes. In
drawings where the ten (10X) multiplier is not available, 4.066% of sales,
including any specific statutorily mandated tax of a Selling Lottery to be
included in the price of a lottery ticket, may be collected and placed in trust
in the Power Play Pool Account, for the purposes of paying Power Play prizes.
Any amount remaining in the Power Play Pool Account when the
Product Group declares the end of this game shall be returned to the lotteries
participating in the account 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.
3.
Licensee
Lotteries. Licensee Lotteries shall adhere to 961 CMR
2.63(11)(e)2. unless a different process is approved by the Product
Group.
4.
Expected
Prize Payout.
|
Prize Amount
|
Regardless of Power Play number selected:
|
|
Match 5 + 0
|
$1,000,000
|
$2,000,000
|
$2,000,000
|
$2,000,000
|
$2,000,000
|
$2,000,000
|
|
Set Prize Amount
|
10X
|
5X
|
4X
|
3X
|
2X
|
|
Match 4 + 1
|
$50,000
|
$500,000
|
$250,000
|
$200,000
|
$150,000
|
$100,000
|
|
Match 4 + 0
|
$100
|
$1,000
|
$500
|
$400
|
$300
|
$200
|
|
Match 3 + 1
|
$100
|
$1,000
|
$500
|
$400
|
$300
|
$200
|
|
Match 3 + 0
|
$7
|
$70
|
$35
|
$28
|
$21
|
$14
|
|
Match 2 + 1
|
$7
|
$70
|
$35
|
$28
|
$21
|
$14
|
|
Match 1 + 1
|
$4
|
$40
|
$20
|
$16
|
$12
|
$8
|
|
Match 0 + 1
|
$4
|
$40
|
$20
|
$16
|
$12
|
$8
|
In certain rare instances, the Powerball set prize amount may
be less than the amount shown. In such case, the eight lowest Power Play prizes
will be changed to an amount announced after the draw. For example, if the
Match 4 + 1 Powerball set prize amount of $50,000 becomes $25,000 under the
rules of the Powerball game and a 5X Power Play multiplier is selected, then a
Power Play player winning that prize amount would win
$125,000.
(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.
|
When the 10X multiplier is available:
|
|
Power Play
|
Probability of Prize Increase
|
Chance of Occurrence
|
|
10X - Prize won times ten
|
1 in 43
|
2.3255%
|
|
5X - Prize won times five
|
2 in 43
|
4.6512%
|
|
4X - Prize won times four
|
3 in 43
|
6.9767%
|
|
3X - Prize won times three
|
13 in 43
|
30.2326%
|
|
2X - Prize won times two
|
24 in 43
|
55.8140%
|
|
When the 10X multiplier is not available:
|
|
Power Play
|
Probability of Prize Increase
|
Chance of Occurrence
|
|
10X - Prize won times ten
|
0 in 42
|
0.00%
|
|
5X - Prize won times five
|
2 in 42
|
4.7619%
|
|
4X - Prize won times four
|
3 in 42
|
7.1429%
|
|
3X - Prize won times three
|
13 in 42
|
30.9523%
|
|
2X - Prize won times two
|
24 in 42
|
57.1429%
|
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.
1.
Prize Pool Carried Forward. For Party Lotteries, the
prize pool percentage allocated to the Power Play set prizes shall be carried
forward to subsequent draws if all or a portion of it is not needed to pay the
set prizes awarded in the current draw.
2.
Pari-mutuel Prizes - All Prize
Amounts. Except as provided for in 961 CMR
2.63(11)(g)2., for
Party Lotteries: If the total of the original Powerball set prizes and the
Power Play prizes awarded in a drawing exceeds the percentage of the prize
pools allocated to the set prizes, then the amount needed to fund the set
prizes (including the Power Play prize amounts) awarded shall be drawn from the
following sources, in the following order:
a.
the amount allocated to the set prizes and carried forward from previous draws,
if any;
b. an amount from the
Powerball Set-prize Reserve Account, if available in the account, not to exceed
$40,000,000 per drawing; and
c.
other amounts as agreed to by the Product Group in their sole discretion.
If, after these sources are depleted, there are not sufficient
funds to pay the set prizes awarded (including Power Play prize amounts), then
the highest set prize (including the Power Play prize amounts) shall become a
pari-mutuel prize. If the amount of the highest set prize, when paid on a
pari-mutuel basis, drops to or below the next highest set prize and there are
still not sufficient funds to pay the remaining set prizes awarded, then the
next highest set prize, including the Power Play prize amount, shall become a
pari-mutuel prize. This procedure shall continue down through all set prizes
levels, if necessary, until all set prize levels become pari-mutuel prize
levels. In that instance, the money available from the funding sources listed
in 961 CMR 2.63 shall be divided among the winning plays in proportion to their
respective prize percentages. Powerball and Power Play prizes will be reduced
by the same percentage.
Licensee Lotteries shall adhere to 961 CMR 2.63(11)(g), unless
a different process is approved by the Product Group.
By agreement with the Licensee Lotteries, the Licensee
Lotteries shall independently calculate their set pari-mutuel prize amounts,
including the Power Play prize amounts. The Party Lotteries and Licensee
Lotteries shall then agree to set the pari-mutuel prize amounts for all
lotteries selling the game at the lesser of the independently-calculated prize
amounts.
(h)
Prize Payments.
1.
Prize Payments.
All Power Play prizes shall be paid in one single payment through the Selling
Lottery that sold the winning ticket(s). A Selling Lottery may begin paying
Power Play prizes after receiving authorization to pay from the MUSL central
office.
2.
Prizes
Rounded. Prizes that, under 961 CMR
62.63(11)(h), may become
pari-mutuel prizes, may be rounded down so that prizes can be paid in whole
dollars. Breakage resulting from rounding these prizes shall be carried forward
to the prize pool for the next drawing.
(12)
Season Tickets
.
(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:
1. Plan "A" 52 consecutive
drawings sold for the price of $100.00.
2. Plan "B" 104 consecutive drawings sold for
the price of $200.00.
3. Plan "C"
26 consecutive drawings sold for the price of $50.00.
(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:
1. Plan "A" 78 consecutive drawings sold for
the price of $150.00.
2. Plan "B"
156 consecutive drawings sold for the price of $300.00.
3. Plan "C" 39 consecutive drawings sold for
the price of $76.00.
(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.
