Mega Bucks Promotion

 

DEPARTMENT OF THE LOTTERY

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

53ER20-22Mega Bucks Promotion

SUMMARY: This emergency rule describes the Mega Bucks Promotion in which players who purchase a MEGA MILLIONS® or MEGA MILLIONS with Megaplier® ticket of any price point during the promotion period can earn entries into a drawing for a chance to win cash prizes.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE EMERGENCY RULE IS: Diane D. Schmidt, Legal Analyst, Department of the Lottery, 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-4011.

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE EMERGENCY RULE IS:

 

53ER20-22 Mega Bucks Promotion.

(1) Beginning April 1, 2020, and continuing through April 30, 2020, (“Promotion Period”) the Florida Lottery will conduct the Mega Bucks (“Promotion”). Players who purchase a MEGA MILLIONS® or MEGA MILLIONS with Megaplier® ticket of any price point can scan the barcode on their tickets using the Florida Lottery Collect ‘N Win app on a smartphone or tablet or can manually enter the ticket number through the Florida Lottery’s website (flalottery.com) to collect symbols and earn entries into a drawing for a chance to win cash prizes and Buy One Get One (BOGO) coupons. Both winning and non-winning tickets of any value that are purchased during the Promotion Period may be used to enter the Promotion.

(2) How to Participate.

(a) Florida Lottery Collect ‘N Win App Download and Registration. A player may participate in the Promotion by downloading the free Florida Lottery Collect ‘N Win app at the App Store for iOS devices, or for other devices including Android smartphones, the app is available to download from the Florida Lottery’s website at flalottery.com/mbucks. After the app is downloaded and opened, the “Welcome” page will be displayed. Click on the navigation bar found in the top left corner, select the “Login” button and click on “Sign in with email,” “Sign in with Facebook,” or “Sign in with Twitter” to log in. After logging in, a “Register” page will be displayed. Players must register their contact information one time upon first usage to activate their account. A player will be sent an email directing the player to confirm his or her registration. The player should check the junk mail or spam folder if he or she does not promptly receive an email confirmation. After confirming registration, a player may log in. Thereafter, the player may directly log in by selecting his or her preferred “Sign in” method. Players that have participated in a previous Florida Lottery Collect ‘N Win Promotion need not re-register and may directly log in. A player may only create one account. Any attempt by a player to use more than one account by using multiple or different email addresses, identities, registrations, logins, or any other methods will subject the player and any associated entries to disqualification.

(b) Web Browser. A player may participate in the Promotion via web browser by visiting the Florida Lottery’s homepage, flalottery.com, clicking on the Mega Bucks banner and following the directions, or by going directly to flalottery.com/mbucks and clicking on the Register/Login link at the top right corner of the page to reach the Login page to register and/or login as described above.

(c) Regardless of whether a player chooses to participate in the Promotion by smartphone, tablet or web browser the following provisions shall apply:

1. the player may use the same account login information to enter tickets;

2. the player will only be required to register one time; and

3. the player’s entry history will be cumulative among the entry platforms.

(3) How to Earn Entries. To collect play symbols and earn entries into the drawing, players using a smartphone or tablet may either scan the barcode on the bottom of a ticket or may manually enter the 19-digit ticket number (located near the bottom of the ticket) on the ticket entry page. Players using the website may manually enter the 19-digit ticket number (omitting spaces and dashes) on the ticket entry page at flalottery.com/mbucks. Four game cards will appear on the screen. Each game card contains four spots to collect the four symbols. A qualifying game ticket number entered will randomly generate a quantity (2, 4, 6, or 8) symbols and place them automatically in an available game card. When all four symbols have been collected on a game card, the player will earn one entry into the drawing. The number of tickets needed to generate one entry can range from one ticket entered up to a maximum of seven tickets entered. When a filled game card generates an entry into the drawing, the symbols will be cleared on that game card, and a player can begin collecting more symbols. A player may earn multiple entries during the entry period; however, a player may only manually enter or scan up to two hundred tickets per day. Each ticket number can only be scanned or entered one time to earn entries. The purchase price of a ticket does not affect the number of symbols generated or the number of entries produced. Entries that include training tickets that were produced by a retailer terminal while in training mode or tickets with invalid ticket numbers will be disqualified from the drawing. The odds of winning depend on the number of entries in the drawing. All entries are subject to validation by the Florida Lottery and may be disqualified if eligibility requirements are not met. Lottery tickets should not be mailed to the Lottery for entry into the drawing. Lottery tickets received in the mail by the Florida Lottery will not be entered into the drawing and will not be returned.

(4) Coupons. During the Promotion Period, a total of 3,000 BOGO coupons will be generated for every “nth” ticket scanned or entered up to approximately ninety coupons per day. When an nth ticket is generated, a coupon will be added to the “My Coupons” section of the “Coupons” page of the player’s account. The following coupons will be randomly produced during the Promotion:

(a) 1,500 “Buy one $3 MEGA MILLIONS® with Megaplier® ticket and get one $1 JACKPOT TRIPLE PLAY™ Quick Pick ticket free.”

(b) 1,500 “Buy one $6 MEGA MILLIONS® with Megaplier® ticket and get one $2 JACKPOT TRIPLE PLAY with Combo™ Quick Pick ticket free.”

Coupons may be redeemed by players at a Florida Lottery retailer or a Florida Lottery District Office by presenting the coupon barcode on their mobile device for scanning, or players may redeem the coupon by printing the coupon from the website and presenting a hardcopy. Coupons may not be redeemed by mail. Coupons are valid for one use only and must be redeemed by 11:59:59 ET on July 31, 2020. The odds of winning a coupon depend on the number of tickets entered per day.

(5) Drawing and Number of Prizes. The Florida Lottery will conduct one drawing in the Promotion on May 6, 2020. Prizewinners for the drawing will be randomly selected from entries earned, submitted and received before midnight ET on April 30, 2020. Prizewinners will be randomly selected using a certified random number generation process. The drawing shall be public, held in Tallahassee, Florida, and witnessed by an accountant employed by an independent certified public accounting firm. The drawing date and entry period is as follows:

 

NUMBER OF DRAWINGS		DRAWING DATE		ENTRY PERIOD
1		May 6, 2020		April 1, 2020 – April 30, 2020
	PRIZE		PRIZE AMOUNT		NUMBER OF PRIZES
	Top Prize		$25,000		2
	Second Prize		$10,000		5
	Third Prize		$5,000		10
	Fourth Prize		$1,000		75
	Fifth Prize		$500		150
	TOTAL				242

 

In the drawing, the Florida Lottery will select a total of 392 entries. The first and second valid entries drawn will each win a top prize of $25,000. The third through seventh valid entries drawn will each win a second prize of $10,000. The eighth through seventeenth valid entries drawn will each win a third prize of $5,000. The eighteenth  through ninety-second valid entries drawn will each win a fourth prize of $1,000. The ninety-third through two hundred forty second valid entries drawn will each win a fifth prize of $500. The two hundred forty-third through the remaining valid entries drawn will be alternates and used in the order in which they were drawn and in the order of need to select an alternate prizewinner in the event a prizewinner cannot be notified as set forth is subsection (6) below, or fails to timely provide required claim documentation as set forth in subsection (7) below. A total of 242 prizes will be available.

     (6) Prizewinner Notification.

(a) The prizewinners in the drawing will be announced and posted on flalottery.com on May 11, 2020, or as soon thereafter as practicable.

(b) The Florida Lottery will attempt to notify each prizewinner by telephone or email using the contact information provided in the prizewinner’s registration data no later than one business day after the prizewinners are posted on the Florida Lottery’s website. The Florida Lottery deems the prizewinner’s registration data as the prizewinner’s official contact information, including the physical mailing address. The Florida Lottery will not attempt to further locate a prizewinner if attempts to reach the prizewinner by telephone or email are unsuccessful. If the Florida Lottery is unable to have contact by telephone or email with a prizewinner within seven business days of the date the prizewinners are posted on the website, the prizewinner will forfeit his or her right to claim the prize and the Florida Lottery will select an alternate prizewinner in accordance with subsection (5) above. If the Florida Lottery is unable to have contact by email or telephone with the alternate prizewinner within seven business days of the date of notification, the alternate prizewinner will forfeit his or her right to claim the prize and the Florida Lottery will select the next alternate prizewinner. This process will continue until an alternate is contacted or the Florida Lottery has exhausted the list of alternates due to unsuccessful notification attempts or due to failure by a prizewinner or an alternate prizewinner to timely provide required claim documentation as set forth in subsection (7) below. If the Florida Lottery exhausts the list of alternate prizewinners, the prize will not be awarded.

(7) How to Claim a Prize.

(a) To claim a top, second, third or fourth prize in the drawing, a prizewinner must submit to the Florida Lottery a completed Winner Claim Form DOL-173-2, Revised 9/13, or Spanish Winner Claim Form DOL-173-2S, Revised 9/13, and a copy of acceptable identification as set forth in the rule of the Florida Lottery governing payment of prizes. A copy of the current prize payment rule can be obtained from the Florida Lottery, Office of the General Counsel, 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-4011. Forms DOL-173-2 and DOL-173-2S are hereby incorporated by reference and can be obtained from any Florida Lottery office or retailer, from the Florida Lottery’s website, flalottery.com, from flalottery.com/mbucks or by writing to: Florida Lottery, Customer Service, 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-4016. The required documents must be received by the Florida Lottery no later than fourteen business days after the Florida Lottery has first made contact by telephone or email with the prizewinner. If the Florida Lottery does not receive the required documents from a prizewinner by the fourteenth business day after notification, the prizewinner will forfeit his or her right to claim the prize and the Florida Lottery will award the prize to an alternate prizewinner as described in subsections (5) and (6), above. The same timeframe for a prizewinner to return required documentation to the Florida Lottery shall apply to an alternate prizewinner.

(b) To claim a fifth prize in the drawing, a prizewinner must submit to the Florida Lottery a copy of acceptable identification as set forth in the rule of the Florida Lottery governing payment of prizes. The same timeframes for prizewinners and alternate prizewinners that are set forth in paragraph (7)(a) above, shall apply to a fifth prize winner or an alternate fifth prize winner.

(c) A prizewinner in this Promotion is not required to submit the MEGA MILLIONS or MEGA MILLIONS with Megaplier ticket(s) he or she scanned or manually entered to generate an entry to claim a prize.

(d) The risk of mailing any required documentation for claiming a prize remains with the player.

(8) Award of Prizes.

(a) Top Prize. Upon the Florida Lottery’s timely receipt of a top prize winner’s required documentation, the Florida Lottery will award a top prize of $25,000, less applicable federal income tax withholding.

(b) Second Prize. Upon the Florida Lottery’s timely receipt of a second prize winner’s required documentation, the Florida Lottery will award a second prize of $10,000, less applicable federal income tax withholding.

(c) Third Prize. Upon the Florida Lottery’s timely receipt of a third prize winner’s required documentation, the Florida Lottery will award a third prize of $5,000.

(d) Fourth Prize. Upon the Florida Lottery’s timely receipt of a fourth prize winner’s required documentation, the Florida Lottery will award a fourth prize of $1,000.

(e) Fifth Prize. Upon the Florida Lottery’s timely receipt of a fifth prize winner’s required documentation, the Florida Lottery will award a fifth prize of $500.

(9) Taxes. Except as specifically described herein, all federal, state and/or local taxes or other fees on the prizes won in the Mega Bucks Promotion will be the responsibility of the prizewinner. Thirty percent federal income tax withholding will be withheld from any prize won by a nonresident alien prizewinner in the Promotion, regardless of the amount of the prize. The reporting and subsequent payment of any additional federal, state and/or local taxes shall be the responsibility of the nonresident alien prizewinner.

(10) Other Restrictions and Provisions.

(a) All prizes are subject to the provisions of Chapter 24, Florida Statutes, and rules promulgated thereunder. Prizes shall be paid in accordance with the rule of the Florida Lottery governing payment of prizes. A copy of the current prize payment rule can be obtained from the Florida Lottery, Office of the General Counsel, 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-4011.  

(b) All prizewinners, except fifth prize winners, will be analyzed for state-owed debt. If a prizewinner is identified as owing an outstanding debt to any state agency or owes child support collected through a court, the debt will be offset in accordance with section 24.115(4), Florida Statutes. If the debt is an amount less than the amount of the prize, the balance of the prize after deduction of the debt shall be awarded. If the debt is an amount greater than the amount of the prize, the entire prize amount will be applied to the outstanding debt.

(c) Players must be at least 18 years of age. Persons prohibited by section 24.116, Florida Statutes, from purchasing a Florida Lottery ticket are not eligible to enter the Mega Bucks Promotion.

(d) By entering the Mega Bucks Promotion, a player gives his or her permission for the Florida Lottery to photograph and/or videotape and record the prizewinner with or without prior notification and to use the name, photograph, videotape, and/or recording of the prizewinner for advertising or publicity purposes without additional compensation.

Rulemaking Authority 24.105(9), 24.109(1), FS.  Law Implemented 24.105(9), 24.115(1) FS.  History – New 3-30-20.

 

THIS RULE TAKES EFFECT UPON BEING FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE UNLESS A LATER TIME AND DATE IS SPECIFIED IN THE RULE.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 30, 2020.