WORD SEARCH

 

DEPARTMENT OF THE LOTTERY

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

53ER20-51WORD SEARCH

SUMMARY: This emergency rule describes the Fast Play™ game, WORD SEARCH. The rule sets forth the specifics of the game; determination of prizewinners; estimated odds of winning, value and number of prizes in the game.

This emergency rule is replacing Emergency Rule 53ER20-11 to modify and add provisions related to the Florida Lottery’s new Mobile Convenience App.

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:              

53ER20-51 WORD SEARCH.

(1) Name of Game. WORD SEARCH.

(2) Price. WORD SEARCH lottery tickets sell for $2.00 per play.

(3) Game Description. WORD SEARCH is a Fast Play™ instant-win game (also known as an online terminal game) printed from an authorized Florida Lottery retailer terminal at the time of purchase. Players may play the game and determine immediately if the ticket is a winner. All prizes are predetermined. The player does not have the ability to select his or her own numbers or play symbols.   

(4) WORD SEARCH Lottery Ticket Purchase. Players may purchase a WORD SEARCH lottery ticket at an authorized retailer by telling the retailer; presenting to the retailer a barcode found on WORD SEARCH supporting materials or on the Florida Lottery Mobile Convenience App; or by submitting a WORD SEARCH paper play slip for processing through a retailer terminal. In addition, a WORD SEARCH barcode may be printed from the Florida Lottery’s website at flalottery.com. Supporting materials with a WORD SEARCH barcode include tear pads, game brochures or Florida Lottery emails.  

       (a) Players who choose to purchase a WORD SEARCH lottery ticket or tickets by telling the retailer shall specify the number of plays desired. Each play will print on a separate ticket.

(b) Players who choose to present a barcode to purchase a WORD SEARCH lottery ticket shall provide the barcoded material or their mobile device to the retailer to scan. One scanned barcode will produce one WORD SEARCH lottery ticket. 

(c) Players who choose to use a paper play slip to purchase a WORD SEARCH lottery ticket or tickets may mark the appropriate box on the paper play slip for the number of plays desired and submit it to the retailer. The retailer will process the paper play slip through the retailer terminal. Each play will print on a separate ticket. Paper play slips must be Florida Lottery approved and players must use only blue or black ink or pencil for making selections. The use of mechanical, electronic, computer-generated or any other non-manual method of marking WORD SEARCH paper play slips is prohibited.

(d) WORD SEARCH lottery tickets cannot be purchased through a Florida Lottery vending machine.

(e) WORD SEARCH lottery tickets cannot be canceled.

(5) The play symbols that may appear in the form of a word in the word search grid play area, the YOUR WORDS play area, or the BONUS WORD play area are as follows:

(6) The prize symbols that may appear in the BONUS WORD play area are as follows:

(7) How to Play and Determination of Prizewinners. A list of fifteen words will appear in the YOUR WORDS play area. Circle those words from the YOUR WORDS list that appear in the word search grid. Words may appear horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Count the total number of words circled and matched.

(a) A ticket having seven or more words matched shall entitle the claimant to the corresponding prize shown in the PRIZE LEGEND for the total number of words matched. The prizes are: $2, $5, $10, $50, $500 and $10,000. Only the highest number of winning words matched will be paid.

(b) BONUS WORD. A ticket having a word in the BONUS WORD play area that matches the same word in the word search grid area shall entitle the claimant to the corresponding prize shown in the BONUS WORD play area. The BONUS WORD is played separately.

(c) Partial words do not count towards a match. Words found in the grid area that do not appear in the YOUR WORDS play area or the BONUS WORD play area do not count towards a match.

(8) The prize structure and odds of winning are as follows:

GAME PLAY	PRIZE	NUMBER OF WINNERS IN 360,000 (Per Pool)	ODDS PER POOL OF 1 IN
12 Words	$10,000	1	360,000.00
11 Words	$500	30	12,000.00
BONUS WORD	$50	515	699.03
10 Words	$50	515	699.03
BONUS WORD	$10	7,500	48.00
9 Words	$10	7,500	48.00
BONUS WORD	$5	16,000	22.50
8 Words	$5	16,000	22.50
BONUS WORD	$2	24,000	15.00
7 words	$2	24,000	15.00

(9) The estimated overall odds of winning some prize in the WORD SEARCH game are 1:3.75. The WORD SEARCH prize structure will be replenished automatically as each ticket is sold in each prize tier, including both winning and non-winning prize tiers. The odds remain the same for each ticket purchased for the life of the game.

(10) WORD SEARCH Additional Provisions.

(a) By purchasing a WORD SEARCH lottery ticket, a player agrees to comply with and abide by all rules and regulations of the Florida Lottery.

(b) Prizes must be claimed within 60 days after the official end of game. All WORD SEARCH prizes shall be paid in a single, lump-sum payment. Ticket validation requirements for Fast Play WORD SEARCH lottery tickets are set forth in the rule of the Florida Lottery governing payment of prizes. Payment of prizes for Fast Play WORD SEARCH lottery tickets shall be made in accordance with the rule of the Florida Lottery governing payment of prizes. A copy of the current rule can be obtained from the Florida Lottery, Office of the General Counsel, 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-4011. 

(c) It is the responsibility of the player to verify the readability of the information printed on the WORD SEARCH lottery ticket at the time of purchase. Additionally, the player should check the date and time printed on a WORD SEARCH lottery ticket to confirm that the printed date and time of purchase correspond to the actual date and time of purchase. It shall be the responsibility of the player to immediately notify the retailer of any such errors or discrepancies of a ticket prior to leaving the retailer location.

(d) Subject to a retailer’s hours of operation and gaming system availability, WORD SEARCH lottery tickets are available for purchase daily between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 midnight, Eastern Time (ET).

(11) The effective date of the emergency rule is June 26, 2020.

Rulemaking Authority 24.105(9)(a), (b), (c), (e), (h) 24.109(1), 24.115(1) FS. Law Implemented 24.105(9)(a), (b), (c), (e), (h), 24.115(1) FS. History- New 6-26-20, Replaces 53ER20-11.

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: June 26, 2020.