Game Number 1539, $5,000,000 CROSSWORD CASH

DEPARTMENT OF THE LOTTERY

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

53ER23-42Game Number 1539, $5,000,000 CROSSWORD CASH

SUMMARY OF THE RULE: This emergency rule describes Game Number 1539, “$5,000,000 CROSSWORD CASH," for which the Department of the Lottery will start selling tickets on a date to be determined by the Secretary of the Department.  The rule sets forth the specifics of the game; determination of prizewinners; estimated odds of winning, value and number of prizes in the game.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE EMERGENCY RULE IS: Minerva A. Simpson, Attorney, Department of the Lottery, 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32399‑4011.

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THIS EMERGENCY RULE IS:

 

53ER23-42 Game Number 1539, “$5,000,000 CROSSWORD CASH.”

(1) Name of Game. Game Number 1539, “$5,000,000 CROSSWORD CASH.”

(2) Game Number 1539, $5,000,000 CROSSWORD CASH, is a Scratch-Off lottery game (also known as an instant lottery game).

(3) Price. $5,000,000 CROSSWORD CASH lottery tickets sell for $20.00 per ticket.

(4) “$5,000,000 CROSSWORD CASH” lottery tickets shall have a series of numbers in Machine Readable Code (or bar code) on the back of the ticket, along with a Void If Removed Number under the latex area on the ticket. To be a valid winning $5,000,000 CROSSWORD CASH lottery ticket, the ticket must meet the applicable requirements of rule 53ER23-20, F.A.C.

(5) The letters that may appear in the “YOUR LETTERS” play area are:

(6) The letters that may appear in the “GAME 1” or “GAME 2” play areas are:

(7) The symbols and symbol captions that may appear in the “GAME 3” play area are:       

(8) The prize amounts in the Prize Legend applicable to GAME 1 and GAME 2 are:  $20, $30, $50, $100, $200, $500, $1,000, $100,000, $1,000,000, and $5,000,000.

(9) The GAME 3 prize symbols and prize symbols captions are:

(10) The legend is:

                      

(11) Determination of Prizewinners.

(a) There are three (3) games on a ticket: GAME 1, GAME 2, and GAME 3. Each GAME is played separately. GAMES 1 and 2 use the same PRIZE LEGEND.

(b) GAMES 1 and 2. GAMES 1 and 2 are played separately.  Words from one GAME cannot be used in the other GAME. The holder of a ticket whose letters in the “YOUR LETTERS” play area match the letters in a GAME to form three (3) or more words in a GAME shall entitle the player to the corresponding prize in the PRIZE LEGEND for the total number of words matched.  A “word” must contain at least three (3) letters. A “word” cannot be formed by linking letters diagonally or by reading the letters from the bottom to top or right to left. Letters combined to form a “word” must appear in an unbroken horizontal or vertical string of letters in a GAME that are not interrupted by a blank space and must contain every single letter square between two (2) blank spaces or an edge and a blank space. Every letter in the unbroken string must be revealed in “YOUR LETTERS” and must be included to form a “word.” The possible completed words are shown in each GAME. Each possible complete word consists of three (3) or more letters and occupies an entire word space. All the letters in a possible complete word must be matched in order to complete the word.

(c) GAME 3. A ticket having a play symbol and symbol caption in GAME 3 shall entitle the player to the prize shown.

(d) Only the highest prize won is paid in each GAME. A player may win in all three GAMES.

(12) $1,000,000 Prize; Payment Options.

(a) A prizewinner of a $1,000,000 prize may choose one of two payment options for receiving his or her prize. Payment options are Cash Option or Annual Payment. At the time the $1,000,000 prize is claimed, the terminal will produce a player claim instructions ticket. The prizewinner has sixty (60) days from the date the player claim instructions ticket is produced to file a claim choosing the Cash Option. If a prizewinner does not choose the Cash Option within the sixty (60) day timeframe, the Annual Payment option will be applied. Once the prizewinner files a claim and exercises the winner’s chosen option, the election of that option shall be final. The Annual Payment method of payment will also be final when it is applied due to a $1,000,000 prize winner not making his or her payment election within sixty (60) days after the player claim instructions ticket is produced.

(b) Cash Option prizes will be paid in a single cash payment. A winner of a $1,000,000 prize who elects the Cash Option shall receive a single cash payment of $652,665.60, less applicable federal income tax withholding.

(c) Annual Payment prizes will be paid in twenty-five (25) equal annual installments. A prizewinner of a $1,000,000 prize who elects the Annual Payment option, or has it applied, shall receive annual installments of $40,000 per year, less applicable federal tax withholding.

(13) $5,000,000 Prize; Payment Options.

(a) A prizewinner of a $5,000,000 prize may choose one of two payment options for receiving his or her prize. Payment options are Cash Option or Annual Payment. At the time the $5,000,000 prize is claimed, the terminal will produce a player claim instructions ticket. The prizewinner has sixty (60) days from the date the player claim instructions ticket is produced to file a claim choosing the Cash Option. If a prizewinner does not choose the Cash Option within the sixty (60) day timeframe, the Annual Payment option will be applied. Once the prizewinner files a claim and exercises the winner’s chosen option, the election of that option shall be final. The Annual Payment method of payment will also be final when it is applied due to a $5,000,000 prize winner not making his or her payment election within sixty (60) days after the player claim instructions ticket is produced.

(b) Cash Option prizes will be paid in a single cash payment. A winner of a $5,000,000 prize who elects the Cash Option shall receive a single cash payment of $3,262,138.00, less applicable federal income tax withholding.

(c) Annual Payment prizes will be paid in twenty-five (25) equal annual installments. A prizewinner of a $5,000,000 prize who elects the Annual Payment option, or has it applied, shall receive annual installments of $200,000 per year, less applicable federal tax withholding.

(14) The estimated odds of winning, value and number of prizes in Game Number 1539 are as follows:

CROSSWORD GAME PLAY (GAMES 1 and 2)	GAME 3	WIN	ODDS OF 1 IN	NUMBER OF WINNERS IN 133.74 POOLS OF 120,000 TICKETS PER POOL
GAME #1: 3 WORDS		$20	15.00	1,069,650
GAME #2: 3 WORDS		$20	15.00	1,069,767
	$20	$20	30.01	534,825
GAME #1: 4 WORDS		$30	29.99	535,037
GAME #2: 4 WORDS		$30	30.00	534,978
GAME #1: 3 WORDS + GAME #2: 3 WORDS		$40	150.01	106,980
GAME #1: 3 WORDS	$20	$40	74.97	214,069
GAME #2: 3 WORDS	$20	$40	74.99	214,010
GAME #1: 3 WORDS + GAME #2: 4 WORDS		$50	74.97	214,069
GAME #1: 4 WORDS + GAME #2: 3 WORDS		$50	150.01	106,980
GAME #1: 5 WORDS		$50	149.99	106,994
GAME #2: 5 WORDS		$50	150.13	106,899
GAME #1: 5 WORDS + GAME #2: 5 WORDS		$100	266.93	60,121
GAME #2: 5 WORDS	$50	$100	266.49	60,221
GAME #1: 5 WORDS	$20 + $30	$100	266.95	60,116
GAME #1: 4 WORDS	($20 x 2) + $30	$100	300.32	53,437
GAME #2: 4 WORDS	$20 + $50	$100	299.92	53,509
GAME #1: 5 WORDS	$50	$100	299.56	53,573
	$20 x 5	$100	171.30	93,687
	$100	$100	171.36	93,651
GAME #1: 6 WORDS		$100	400.81	40,040
GAME #2: 6 WORDS		$100	400.68	40,053
GAME #1: 5 WORDS	$20 x 5	$150	1,144.83	14,018
GAME #2: 6 WORDS	$20 + $30	$150	2,007.04	7,996
GAME #1: 6 WORDS	$50	$150	1,995.06	8,044
GAME #2: 6 WORDS	$50	$150	1,999.04	8,028
GAME #1: 5 WORDS + GAME #2: 6 WORDS		$150	2,001.53	8,018
GAME #1: 6 WORDS + GAME #2: 5 WORDS		$150	2,011.31	7,979
GAME #1: 6 WORDS + GAME #2: 6 WORDS		$200	6,012.84	2,669
GAME #1: 6 WORDS	$100	$200	5,994.87	2,677
GAME #2: 6 WORDS	$50 x 2	$200	5,963.68	2,691
GAME #1: 5 WORDS + GAME #2: 6 WORDS	$50	$200	2,402.79	6,679
GAME #1: 6 WORDS + GAME #2: 5 WORDS	$50	$200	5,981.46	2,683
GAME #1: 5 WORDS + GAME #2: 5 WORDS	$100	$200	6,030.91	2,661
	$100 x 2	$200	1,998.04	8,032
	$200	$200	1,999.53	8,026
GAME #1: 7 WORDS		$200	12,250.58	1,310
GAME #2: 7 WORDS		$200	12,021.17	1,335
GAME #1: 7 WORDS	$50	$250	11,994.22	1,338
GAME #2: 7 WORDS	$50	$250	12,003.19	1,337
GAME #1: 5 WORDS	$100 x 2	$250	11,949.56	1,343
GAME #2: 6 WORDS	$50 + $100	$250	11,940.67	1,344
GAME #1: 5 WORDS + GAME #2: 6 WORDS	$50 x 2	$250	11,852.48	1,354
GAME #1: 5 WORDS + GAME #2: 7 WORDS		$250	12,012.17	1,336
GAME #1: 7 WORDS + GAME #2: 5 WORDS		$250	11,976.31	1,340
GAME #1: 6 WORDS + GAME #2: 6 WORDS	$50	$250	11,949.56	1,343
GAME #1: 6 WORDS + GAME #2: 7 WORDS	($50 x 2) + $100	$500	29,829.48	538
GAME #1: 7 WORDS + GAME #2: 6 WORDS	$100 x 2	$500	30,052.92	534
GAME #1: 7 WORDS + GAME #2: 7 WORDS	$100	$500	29,996.75	535
GAME #1: 6 WORDS	($50 x 4) + ($100 x 2)	$500	23,635.14	679
GAME #2: 6 WORDS	$200 x 2	$500	12,012.17	1,336
	$500	$500	29,231.80	549
GAME #1: 8 WORDS		$500	40,423.83	397
GAME #2: 8 WORDS		$500	39,821.99	403
GAME #1: 8 WORDS + GAME #2: 8 WORDS		$1,000	14,956.44	1,073
GAME #1: 8 WORDS	$500	$1,000	14,914.74	1,076
GAME #1: 8 WORDS + GAME #2: 6 WORDS	$200 x 2	$1,000	14,956.44	1,073
	($100 x 5) + $500	$1,000	19,886.32	807
	$1,000	$1,000	20,085.43	799
GAME #1: 9 WORDS		$1,000	20,135.83	797
GAME #2: 9 WORDS		$1,000	19,861.71	808
GAME #1: 10 WORDS		$100,000	2,674,710.00	6
GAME #2: 10 WORDS		$100,000	2,674,710.00	6
GAME #1: 11 WORDS		$1,000,000*	2,674,710.00	6
GAME #2: 11 WORDS		$1,000,000*	2,674,710.00	6
GAME #1: 12 WORDS		$5,000,000*	8,024,130.00	2
GAME #2: 12 WORDS		$5,000,000*	8,024,130.00	2

*Prize amount if the annual payment option is chosen or has it applied. If the single cash payment option is chosen, the amount paid is in accordance with subsections (12) and (13), above, respectively.

(15) The estimated overall odds of winning some prize in Game Number 1539 are 1 in 2.90. Prizes, including the top prizes, are subject to availability at the time of ticket purchase. Prizes may be unavailable due to prior sale or other causes occurring in the normal course of business including, but not limited to, ticket damage, defect, theft, or loss.

(16) For reorders of Game Number 1539, the estimated odds of winning, value, and number of prizes shall be proportionate to the number of tickets reordered.

(17) Payment of prizes for $5,000,000 CROSSWORD CASH 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.

Rulemaking Authority 24.105(9)(a), (b), (c), 24.109(1), 24.115(1) FS. Law Implemented 24.105(9)(a), (b), (c), 24.115(1) FS. History–New 8-7-23.

 

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

EFFECTIVE DATE: 8/7/2023