Ohio Admin. Code 3770:1-9-208 - Game rule number two hundred eight

(A) Title and term. Ohio lottery commission game rule number two hundred eight, "$500,000 Cashword" shall be conducted at such times and for such periods as the commission may determine. For the purpose of this rule, "sales cycle" shall mean any such period, including reprints, beginning on the date when ticket sales are commenced and continuing through the date established by the director as the date on which sales with respect to tickets allocated to sales agents during the period in game rule number two hundred eight will cease.

(B) General design.

(1) Game rule number two hundred eight is a "Letter Match" word game and is generally known as an "instant lottery."

(2) The holder of a valid ticket will remove the covering over the "Call Letters" play area to reveal twenty letters. The player will then scratch off each letter in the "Cashword" puzzle play areas ("Puzzle 1" and "Puzzle 2") that matches the "Call Letters." The letters in "Puzzle 1" shall be black and the letters in "Puzzle 2" shall be red. To win a prize award, the player must uncover four or more horizontal or vertical words using the "Call Letters." The prize amount won is determined by comparing the number of uncovered words in each "Puzzle" to the corresponding "Puzzle Prize Key." Each letter appearing in the "Call Letters" play area may appear more than once in the "Cashword" puzzle play areas. Each "Word" must contain at least three "Call Letters." Letters combined to form a complete "Word" must appear in an unbroken horizontal or vertical sequence within the "Cashword" puzzle play areas. An unbroken string of letters cannot be interrupted by a black space and each "Word" must contain every single letter square between two black spaces. A "Word" cannot be formed by connecting the letters diagonally, by reading the letters from right to left or from bottom to top, or by using only a portion of the letters in a complete "Word." Words within words are not eligible for a prize. There is one chance to win on each ticket.

(3) As used in this rule, "prize award" shall mean one of the following monetary figures which is the total of all winning prize values appearing on the ticket: ten dollars, twenty dollars, thirty dollars, fifty dollars, one hundred dollars, two hundred dollars, five hundred dollars, one thousand dollars, ten thousand dollars and five hundred thousand dollars. Each ticket in game rule number two hundred eight shall be imprinted in such a way that prize awards from the set listed above may be won.

(C) Price of tickets. The price of a ticket issued by the commission in game rule number two hundred eight shall be ten dollars.

(D) Structure, nature and value of prize awards.

(1) There shall be one type of prize in game rule number two hundred eight called a "regular prize award."

(2) The only "prize values" which shall appear on a ticket in game rule number two hundred eight are: ten dollars, twenty dollars, thirty dollars, fifty dollars, one hundred dollars, two hundred dollars, five hundred dollars, one thousand dollars, ten thousand dollars and five hundred thousand dollars.

(3) Numbers, prize values and play symbols appearing on any ticket in a game rule number two hundred eight shall be concealed by an opaque covering or tab covering which may be scratched off or removed by the holder of the ticket to reveal the underlying numbers, prize values and play symbols.

(a) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal four complete black words in the "Cashword" "Puzzle 1" play area shall win a regular prize award of ten dollars;

(b) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal two complete black words in the "Cashword" "Puzzle 1" play area and matching "Call Letters" to reveal two complete red words in the "Cashword" "Puzzle 2" play area shall win a regular prize award of twenty dollars;

(c) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal four complete red words in the "Cashword" "Puzzle 2" play area shall win a regular prize award of thirty dollars;

(d) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal five complete black words in the "Cashword" "Puzzle 1" play area shall win a regular prize award of fifty dollars;

(e) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal three complete black words in the "Cashword" "Puzzle 1" play area and matching "Call Letters" to reveal two complete red words in the "Cashword" "Puzzle 2" play area shall win a regular prize award of one hundred dollars;

(f) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal two complete black words in the "Cashword" "Puzzle 1" play area and matching "Call Letters" to reveal three complete red words in the "Cashword" "Puzzle 2" play area shall win a regular prize award of two hundred dollars;

(g) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal six complete black words in the "Cashword" "Puzzle 1" play area shall win a regular prize award of five hundred dollars;

(h) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal four complete black words in the "Cashword" "Puzzle 1" play area and matching "Call Letters" to reveal two complete red words in the "Cashword" "Puzzle 2" play area shall win a regular prize award of one thousand dollars;

(i) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal three complete black words in the "Cashword" "Puzzle 1" play area and matching "Call Letters" to reveal three complete red words in the "Cashword" "Puzzle 2" play area shall win a regular prize award of ten thousand dollars; and

(j) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal six complete red words in the "Cashword" "Puzzle 2" play area shall win a regular prize award of five hundred thousand dollars.

(E) Number of prize awards. The number of prize awards in any sales cycle of game rule number two hundred eight will depend upon the number of tickets sold during that cycle. Tickets shall be printed in accordance with this rule using random techniques in order that the following occur:

(1) Combinations winning each prize award are randomly distributed throughout the prize pool; and

(2) Mathematical reasoning indicates that the number of winning tickets per four million tickets sold in the following prize categories should be as follows:

(a) Four tickets with the winning prize combination as set forth in paragraph (D)(2)(j) of this rule to win five hundred thousand dollars;

(b) Sixty tickets with the winning prize combination as set forth in paragraph (D)(2)(i) of this rule to win ten thousand dollars;

(c) One thousand five hundred tickets with the winning prize combination as set forth in paragraph (D)(2)(h) of this rule to win one thousand dollars;

(d) Two thousand tickets with the winning prize combination a set forth in paragraph (D)(2)(g) of this rule to win five hundred dollars;

(e) Ten thousand tickets with the winning prize combination as set forth in paragraph (D)(2)(f) of this rule to win two hundred dollars;

(f) Thirty thousand tickets with the winning prize combination as set forth in paragraph (D)(2)(e) of this rule to win one hundred dollars;

(g) Eighty thousand tickets with the winning prize combination as set forth in paragraph (D)(2)(d) of this rule to win fifty dollars;

(h) Eighty thousand tickets with the winning prize combination as set forth in paragraph (D)(2)(c) of this rule to win thirty dollars;

(i) Four hundred thousand tickets with the winning prize combination as set forth in paragraph (D)(2)(b) of this rule to win twenty dollars; and

(j) Four hundred eighty thousand tickets with the winning prize combination as set forth in paragraph (D)(2)(a) of this rule to win ten dollars.

(F) Tickets sold. Chances of winning and the number of winning tickets are established at the time of printing and will change as prizes are won.

(G) Frequency of prize drawings.

(1) Random imprinting of prize awards on all tickets issued in game rule number two hundred eight shall be accomplished in a manner which complies with the commission's rules and procedures.

(2) When a ticket issued in game rule number two hundred eight is sold or deemed sold in accordance with this rule, the holder shall be deemed to have drawn the prize values and play symbol on that ticket which determine whether the holder is entitled to a regular prize award. A regular prize award shall be deemed announced on the date a ticket is purchased.

(H) Special claim, entry, receipt and validation procedures. The director shall establish special claim, entry, receipt and validation procedures, including procedures for validation by sales agents of tickets winning prize awards which are to be paid by sales agents in accordance with commission rules. Prize awards shall be claimed within the time limits set forth by commission rules.

(I) Validity of tickets.

(1) A mechanical error in printing prize awards, symbols, words or other numbers on a ticket shall not automatically invalidate that ticket. To the extent feasible, the director shall establish procedures by which the holder of any ticket on which information is incorrectly printed due to mechanical malfunction may be advised of correct information for the ticket. If it is not technically feasible to recover the information from a mechanically misprinted ticket, the director may declare the ticket void and the holder shall be entitled to a return of the ticket price or a replacement ticket of comparable price.

(2) In addition to, but not in limitation of, all other power and authority conferred on the director by the commission's rules, the director may declare a ticket in game rule number two hundred eight void if it is stolen, unissued not sold or deemed not sold in accordance with commission rules; if it is illegible, mutilated, altered, counterfeit, reconstituted, miscut, defective, printed or produced in error or incomplete; or if the ticket fails any of the validation tests or procedures established by the director. The commission's liability and responsibility for a ticket declared void, if any, is limited to refund of the retail sales price of the ticket or issuance of a replacement ticket of comparable price.

(J) Director's conduct of game rule number two hundred eight.

(1) The director shall conduct game rule number two hundred eight and any promotions or drawings associated therewith in a manner consistent with the Lottery Act and the rules of the commission including, without limitation, this rule and the regulations of the director. As deemed necessary or advisable, the director shall adopt management regulations, orders or directives to implement and operate this lottery game and any promotions or drawings associated therewith. The director shall inform the public of the provisions of this rule and the procedures established pursuant hereto which affect the play of game rule number two hundred eight. The director reserves the right to declare any instant game as unavailable for sale at any time to maintain game integrity and accountability.

(2) Names and definitions of elements of game rule number two hundred eight used in this rule are to be considered generic terms used solely for purposes of this rule. In actual operation, game rule number two hundred eight and these elements may be given names or titles chosen by the commission.

Notes

Ohio Admin. Code 3770:1-9-208

Effective: 6/26/2014
Promulgated Under: 111.15
Statutory Authority: 3770.03
Rule Amplifies: 3770.01, 3770.02, 3770.03, 3770.04, 3770.05, 3770.06, 3770.07, 3770.08