53ER19-9. Draw Games Drawing Procedures

(1) This rule shall apply to Draw games (also known as online lottery games) drawings conducted by the Florida Lottery.

(2) Florida Lottery drawings shall be public and witnessed by an accountant employed by an independent certified public accounting firm (“Accountant”) who shall certify to the integrity, security and fairness of each drawing. All drawings shall be recorded by a video recorder.

(3) The ball sets and drawing machines used in Florida Lottery drawings shall be determined by random selection and shall be inspected by an employee of the Florida Lottery’s Security Division (“Draw Manager”) and the Accountant before and after each drawing. The Draw Manager and the Accountant shall ensure that all balls within a set contain the same security code. A primary and secondary ball set and drawing machine shall be selected for each draw.

(4) The primary ball sets shall be weighed. If the weight of the ball set is outside of the tolerance range provided by the manufacturer, the secondary ball set shall be weighed. If the secondary ball set is outside of the tolerance range, other ball sets shall be selected and weighed by the Draw Manager and Accountant until an acceptable set is determined.

(5) Once a ball set has been determined, it shall be loaded by the Draw Manager into the primary drawing machine and a number of test draws shall be conducted, as follows:

(a) For FLORIDA LOTTO®, six test draws will be conducted. If the same digit is selected four times during the six draws, four additional test draws will be conducted. If the same digit is selected two additional times, an alternative ball set shall be used.

(b) For FANTASY 5®, seven test draws will be conducted. If the same digit is selected five times during the seven draws, three additional test draws will be conducted. If the same digit is selected two additional times, an alternative ball set shall be used.

(c) For JACKPOT TRIPLE PLAY™ six test draws will be conducted. If the same digit is selected four times during the six draws, four additional test draws will be conducted. If the same digit is selected two additional times, an alternative ball set shall be used.

(d) For PICK 5™, five test draws will be conducted. If the same digit is selected three times during the five draws, three additional test draws will be conducted. If the same digit is selected two additional times, an alternative ball set shall be used.

(e) For PICK 4™, five test draws will be conducted. If the same digit is selected three times during the five draws, three additional test draws will be conducted. If the same digit is selected two additional times, an alternative ball set shall be used.

(f) For PICK 3™, five test draws will be conducted. If the same digit is selected three times during the five draws, three additional test draws will be conducted. If the same digit is selected two additional times, an alternative ball set shall be used.

(g) For PICK 2™, five test draws will be conducted. If the same digit is selected three times during the five draws, three additional test draws will be conducted. If the same digit is selected two additional times, an alternative ball set shall be used.

(6) If the alternative ball set does not pass the test drawing parameters, the backup drawing machine will be used. Tests will be conducted with ball sets whose weight falls within the tolerance range until an acceptable ball set and drawing machine have been determined.

(7) If the game for which a drawing is being held cannot be closed on the gaming system, the drawing will be delayed until the game can be closed.

(8) During the drawing, balls will be mixed and pushed into the display devices by the action of an air blower. A ball must be “trapped” in the display position at the top of the mixing chamber to be a winning number.

(9) In the event of a power failure, drawing equipment malfunction or error in the drawing process, including but not limited to the Host/Hostess announcing a ball number that was not trapped as specified in subsection (8), the drawing will be stopped and will resume as soon thereafter as possible. The balls drawn before the occurrence, if any, will be declared valid.

(10) If a Draw Host/Hostess incorrectly announces the number of a ball that has been trapped in the display position, the Draw Manager shall immediately correct the Draw Host/Hostess by announcing the correct number.

(11) Upon certification by the Draw Manager and the Accountant, the numbers shown on the balls will be announced as the official winning numbers for the drawing.

(12) Following removal of the balls from the drawing machine, the ball set will be weighed. If the weight of the ball set differs from the pre-draw weight by more than 1 gram or is outside of the tolerance range provided by the manufacturer, the ball set will be secured and delivered to the Florida Lottery’s Division of Security for investigation.

(13) If an incorrect Xtra number is displayed on the countdown slate prior to the FLORIDA LOTTO drawing and is discovered prior to display during the drawing, the drawing will be delayed until the correct Xtra number is displayed. If an incorrect Xtra number is revealed during the FLORIDA LOTTO draw, the Florida Lottery will pay prizes based on the higher of the Xtra number revealed and the actual Xtra number drawn.

(14) In the event a problem occurs that is not contemplated under this rule, the Florida Lottery shall use such substitute procedures as are fair and effective to perform the drawing. Such substitute procedures shall be determined in consultation with the Accountant referred to in subsection (2). In using such substitute procedures the Florida Lottery shall strive to maintain the highest level of public confidence, security and integrity.

(15) The effective date of this emergency rule is January 30, 2019.

Rulemaking Authority 24.105(9)(d), 24.109(1) FS. Law Implemented 24.105(9)(d), 24.108(6) FS. History–New 1-30-19, Replaces 53ER16-40.