MEGA MILLIONS®

 

DEPARTMENT OF THE LOTTERY

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

53ER17-70MEGA MILLIONS®

SUMMARY: This emergency rule replaces Emergency Rule 53ER16-54 and sets forth the provisions for the conduct of MEGA MILLIONS®.

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:

 

53ER17-70 MEGA MILLIONS®.

(1) Definitions.

The following words and terms, when used in this rule, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) Advertised Jackpot Prize- The estimated annuitized Jackpot Prize amount as determined by the Mega Millions Finance Committee prior to the Jackpot Prize drawing. The “Advertised Jackpot Prize” is not a guaranteed prize amount and the actual Jackpot Prize amount may vary from the advertised amount, except in circumstances where there is a guaranteed Jackpot Prize amount as described in paragraph (8)(e).

(b) Drawing- refers collectively to the formal draw event for randomly selecting the winning indicia that determine the number of winners for each prize level of the MEGA MILLIONS® game. Winning indicia include the Winning Numbers for the MEGA MILLIONS game.

(c) Jackpot Prize- The top prize in the MEGA MILLIONS game.

(d) Just the Jackpot™ Plays (“JJ Plays”) shall refer to a purchased Play which includes two JJ Plays as part of the Just the Jackpot Promotion. Although the Florida Lottery is not offering the Just the Jackpot Promotion, the term Just the Jackpot Plays is used in this rule as it relates to the Jackpot Prize payout.

(e) Mega Millions Finance Committee- A committee of the Mega Millions Lotteries that determines the Jackpot Prize amount (Cash Option and Annuity).

(f) MEGA MILLIONS Just the Jackpot Promotion.  The MEGA MILLIONS Just the Jackpot Promotion is a limited extension of the MEGA MILLIONS game and is conducted in accordance with the MUSL MEGA MILLIONS Product Group rules. The Florida Lottery has elected not to offer the Just the Jackpot Promotion at this time.  Just the Jackpot will impact the amount of the Jackpot Prize in the MEGA MILLIONS game, and participants in Just the Jackpot in other lottery jurisdictions may win the MEGA MILLIONS Jackpot prize.

(g) Mega Millions Lottery or Lotteries- Lotteries that have joined under the Mega Millions Lottery Agreement; the group of lotteries that has reached a Cross-Selling Agreement with the MUSL Product Group for the selling of the MEGA MILLIONS Game.

(h) MEGA MILLIONS Plays (“MM Plays”) shall refer to Plays purchased as part of the MEGA MILLIONS game, but shall not include JJ Plays or Megaplier Plays.

(i) Megaplier Plays shall refer to Plays purchased as part of the Megaplier play feature, as further described in paragraph (9)(b).

(j) MUSL- The Multi-State Lottery Association.

(k) MUSL Board- The governing body of the MUSL.

(l) Play- The six numbers, the first five chosen from a field of seventy numbers and the last one chosen from a field of twenty-five numbers, that appear on a ticket as a single lettered selection to be played by a player in the MEGA MILLIONS game. Each Play is played separately in determining matches to winning numbers and prize amounts. As used in these rules, unless otherwise specifically indicated, “Play” includes both MM Plays and JJ Plays.

(m) Product Group- The group of lotteries that has joined together to offer the MEGA MILLIONS lottery game under the terms of its Cross-Selling Agreement with the Mega Millions Lotteries, the MUSL Agreement and the MUSL Mega Millions Product Group rules.

(n) Selling or Participating Lotteries- A state lottery that is participating in selling the MEGA MILLIONS game and that may be a member of either MUSL or the Mega Millions Lotteries.

(o) Set Prize- All prizes except the Jackpot Prize and, except as set forth in paragraph (9)(h) and (i), will be equal to the prize amount established by the Product Group for the prize level.

(p) Winning Numbers- The indicia randomly selected during a drawing event which shall be used to determine winning Plays for the MEGA MILLIONS game contained on a ticket.

(2) How to Play MEGA MILLIONS.

(a) MEGA MILLIONS is a multi-state lottery Draw game (also known as an online lottery game) which is offered to players in Florida by the Florida Lottery via authorized Florida Lottery retailers. In MEGA MILLIONS, players select five numbers from a field of one through seventy and one number (the “Mega Ball”) from a separate field of one through twenty-five.

(b) Players may make their ticket selections by marking a play slip or by telling the retailer their desired selections. There are five panels on a play slip, each containing an upper play area and a lower play area. Each panel played will cost $2.00 per drawing. Players may mark their desired numbers on the play slip by selecting five numbers in the upper play area and one number in the lower play area from each panel played. Players may also mark the “QP” (Quick Pick) box located at the bottom of each play area for the terminal to randomly select one or more numbers from the applicable play area. A “Void” box is also located at the bottom of each panel and should be marked by the player if an error was made in his or her selections in a panel. For each panel played, the first five of the six numbers appearing in a single horizontal row on a ticket shall be the numbers selected from the upper play area of the play slip, and the last number shall be the number selected from the lower play area of the play slip.

(c) 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 play slips is prohibited. Play slips may be processed through a Florida Lottery full service vending machine or processed by a retailer in order to obtain a ticket. Retailers also are authorized to manually enter numbers selected by a player.

(d) Advance Play. Players may play up to twenty-six consecutive drawings by using the “advance play” feature. To use the advance play feature, players may either mark the number of available drawings desired in the “Advance Play” section of a play slip or tell the retailer their desired number of consecutive advance drawings. The number of consecutive drawings marked will include the next available drawing and will apply to each panel (A-E) played. Advance play is not available with Jackpot Combo.  In the event that a planned change in the MEGA MILLIONS game requires that the number of advance plays available for purchase be reduced to zero before implementation of the change, an advance play countdown schedule will be posted on the Lottery’s website.

(e) Jackpot Combo. Players may elect to play “Jackpot Combo” by marking the “Jackpot Combo $6” box on the play slip or by telling the retailer.  Players will receive three Quick Pick tickets for the next available drawing consisting of one $2.00 FLORIDA LOTTO® with XTRA ticket, one $2.00 POWERBALL® ticket and one $2.00 MEGA MILLIONS® ticket.  Tickets in Jackpot Combo play cannot be player selected and cannot be canceled.

(f) For an additional $1.00 per play, players may mark the Megaplier® box to multiply the second through ninth prizes. Megaplier will apply to all panels and advance play marked.

(3) Drawings.

(a) MEGA MILLIONS drawings shall be conducted by the Mega Millions Lotteries two times per week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at approximately 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).

(b) The Florida Lottery shall not be responsible for incorrect circulation, publication or broadcast of official winning numbers.

(4) Determination of Prize Winners.

In order for a ticket to be a winning ticket, numbers appearing in a single horizontal row on the ticket must match the official MEGA MILLIONS Winning Numbers in any order for the drawing date for which the ticket was purchased, in one of the following combinations:

(a) Jackpot Prize: Five numbers selected from the first set of balls plus the number selected from the second set of balls.

(b) Second Prize: Five numbers selected from the first set of balls and not the number selected from the second set of balls.

(c) Third Prize: Four numbers selected from the first set of balls plus the number selected from the second set of balls.

(d) Fourth Prize: Four numbers selected from the first set of balls and not the number selected from the second set of balls.

(e) Fifth Prize: Three numbers selected from the first set of balls plus the number selected from the second set of balls.

(f) Sixth Prize: Three numbers selected from the first set of balls and not the number selected from the second set of balls.

(g) Seventh Prize: Two numbers selected from the first set of balls plus the number selected from the second set of balls.

(h) Eighth Prize: One number selected from the first set of balls plus the number selected from the second set of balls.

(i) Ninth Prize: No numbers selected from the first set of balls and the number selected from the second set of balls.

(5) Limited to Highest Prize Won. The holder of a winning ticket may win only one prize per play in connection with the winning numbers drawn, and shall be entitled only to the prize won by those numbers in the highest matching prize category. All liabilities for a MEGA MILLIONS prize are discharged upon payment of a prize claim.

(6) Odds of Winning.

(a) The odds of winning the prizes described in subsection (4) are as follows:

1. Jackpot Prize- 1:302,575,350

2. Second Prize- 1:12,607,306

3. Third Prize- 1:931,001

4. Fourth Prize- 1:38,792

5. Fifth Prize- 1:14,547

6. Sixth Prize- 1:606

7. Seventh Prize- 1:693

8. Eighth Prize- 1:89

9. Ninth Prize- 1:37

(b) The overall odds of winning a prize in a MEGA MILLIONS drawing are 1:24.

(7) MEGA MILLIONS Prize Pool.

(a) The MEGA MILLIONS Prize Pool for all prize categories shall consist of up to fifty-five percent of each drawing period’s sales. The MEGA MILLIONS Prize Pool shall be funded in accordance with criteria set by the Product Group.

(b) Expected Prize Payout Percentages. The Jackpot Prize shall be determined on a pari-mutuel basis. Except as provided in these rules, all other prizes awarded shall be paid as set prizes with the following expected prize payout percentages, although the actual prize payout percentage per drawing will vary by drawing.

			Estimated Percentage of
			Prize Pool
Match Per MM Play	Prize Category	Prize Payment	Allocated to Prize Category
Five first set numbers and the one number of the second set	Jackpot Prize	Jackpot Prize	75.3018%*
Five first set numbers and none of the second set	Second Prize	$1,000,000	7.9319%
Four first set numbers and the one number of the second set	Third Prize	$10,000	1.0742%
Four first set numbers and none of the second set	Fourth Prize	$500	1.2889%
Three first set numbers and the one number of the second set	Fifth Prize	$200	1.3749%
Three first set numbers and none of the second set	Sixth Prize	$10	1.6498%
Two first set numbers and the one number of the second set	Seventh Prize	$10	1.4436%
One first set number and the one number of the second set	Eighth Prize	$4	4.4752%
None of the first set numbers and the one number of the second set	Ninth Prize	$2	5.4597%
*The Jackpot Prize shall include the estimated MM Prize Pool percentage allocated to the Jackpot Prize combined with estimated JJ Prize Pool percentage allocated to the Jackpot Prize.

(c) Prize money allocated to the Jackpot Prize category will be divided equally by the number of MM Plays and JJ Plays determined to be winners of the Jackpot Prize.

(d) The number of Plays determined to be winners of the Second through Ninth Prize levels will be paid as Set Prizes, except as provided in paragraph (9)(h) below. If all or any portion of the set prize pool is not awarded in the current MEGA MILLIONS drawing, that portion of the set prize pool shall be carried forward to subsequent MEGA MILLIONS drawings.

(e) Any interest or earnings accrued on a MEGA MILLIONS Set Prize prior to prize payment shall accrue to MUSL and not to the winner.

(8) MEGA MILLIONS Jackpot Prize.

(a) The prize money available in the Jackpot Prize pool will be divided equally among all Jackpot prize winning MM Plays and JJ Plays in all Participating Lotteries. Neither MUSL, Mega Millions Lotteries nor the Florida Lottery shall be responsible or liable for the difference between the Advertised or estimated Jackpot Prize amount and the actual Jackpot Prize amount after the prize payment method is known to MUSL and Mega Millions Lotteries.

(b) Players can choose one of two payment options for receiving their portion of the MEGA MILLIONS Jackpot Prize. Payment options are “Cash Option” and “Annual Payment.” Jackpot Prize winners have sixty days after the winning draw date to choose between the two payment options. Once the Jackpot Prize winner signs the Winner Claim Form, files a claim and exercises the winner's chosen option, the election of that option shall be final and cannot be revoked, withdrawn or otherwise changed except as provided in subparagraph (8)(d) 4.below.

(c) Cash Option Payment.

The Cash Option amount offered shall be the Jackpot Prize annuity amount as determined by the Mega Millions Lotteries, divided by a rate established by the Mega Millions Finance Committee prior to each drawing, divided by the number of total Jackpot Prize winning MM Plays and JJ Plays. In order to select the Cash Option, the Jackpot Prize winner must submit his or her ticket for payment within sixty days after the winning draw date. If the Jackpot Prize winner does not elect the Cash Option within sixty days after the winning draw date, the Annual Payment option will be applied, except as provided in subparagraph (8)(d)2. below. A Jackpot Prize winner who chooses the Cash Option payment will be paid in a single cash payment, less applicable federal income tax withholding.

(d) Annual Payment Option.

1. The prize amount of a Jackpot Prize winner electing the Annual Payment option shall be the Annuitized Jackpot Prize amount, as determined by the Mega Millions Lotteries, divided by the number of total Jackpot Prize winning MM Plays and JJ Plays in all Participating Lotteries. If a Jackpot Prize winner elects the Annual Payment option, his or her share of the Jackpot Prize will be paid in thirty graduated annual installments, each less applicable withholding taxes. The Florida Lottery will make the initial and any subsequent payments of a prize upon receipt of funds for such prize from MUSL. The initial payment shall be paid upon completion of internal validation procedures. The subsequent twenty-nine payments shall be paid annually to coincide with the month of the Federal auction date at which the bonds were purchased to fund the annuity. Payments shall escalate by a factor of five percent annually, and annual payments shall be rounded down to the nearest even one thousand dollar increment.  All such payments shall be made within seven days of the anniversary of the annual auction date.

2. If individual winners’ shares of the cash held to fund Annual Payments are less than $250,000.00, the Product Group is authorized to pay the winners their share of the cash held in the Jackpot Prize pool.

3. Annuitized payment of the Jackpot Prize or a share of the Jackpot Prize will be rounded to facilitate the purchase of an appropriate funding mechanism. Rounding differences on an annuitized Jackpot Prize win shall be added to the first cash payment to the winner or winners. Prizes other than the Jackpot Prize, which under this rule may become single-payment, pari-mutuel prizes, will be rounded down so that prizes can be paid in multiples of whole dollars. Rounding differences resulting from rounding these prizes shall be carried forward to the MEGA MILLIONS Prize Pool for the next drawing.

4. In the event of the death during the annuity payment period of a MEGA MILLIONS winner who elected the Annual Payment option, the estate of the deceased winner (the “Estate”) may file a petition with the Florida Lottery to accelerate payment of all the remaining prize proceeds to the Estate. Such petition will be forwarded by the Florida Lottery to MUSL for processing. MUSL will decide, in its sole discretion, whether or not to grant the payment, and if so, the form of such payment, whether in securities or cash.

(e) Guaranteed Minimum Jackpot Prize. The minimum guaranteed annuity MEGA MILLIONS Jackpot Prize amount is $40 million and each successive Jackpot Prize in the same roll cycle will be at least $5 million more than the previously established Jackpot.

(f) Jackpot prizes won, including guaranteed Jackpot prizes, shall be funded by the Selling Lotteries in accordance with the formula set by the Mega Millions Lotteries.

(g) If the Jackpot Prize is not won in a drawing, the prize money allocated for the Jackpot Prize shall roll over and be added to the Jackpot Prize pool for the next consecutive MEGA MILLIONS drawing.

(h) Federal income taxes shall be applied and withheld from the prize amount at the time payment is made, pursuant to applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and Code of Federal Regulations.

(i) Any interest or earnings accrued on a MEGA MILLIONS Jackpot Prize prior to prize payment shall accrue to MUSL and not to the winner.

(9) MEGA MILLIONS Megaplier®.

(a) The Megaplier Prize Pool. The Megaplier® Prize Pool for Megaplier prize categories shall consist of up to fifty-five percent of each drawing period’s sales. The Megaplier Prize Pool shall be funded in accordance with criteria set by the Product Group. The actual prize payout percentage per drawing will vary by drawing. The Megaplier Prize Pool shall be carried forward to subsequent drawings if all or a portion of it is not needed to pay the Megaplier prizes awarded in the current drawing.

(b) The Megaplier option shall be available in association with the MEGA MILLIONS game. At the time of purchasing a ticket, a player may choose the Megaplier feature for an additional $1.00 per MM Play for each MM Play on the MEGA MILLIONS ticket (“Megaplier Play”) to increase the guaranteed prize amount for the second through ninth tier prizes. The MEGA MILLIONS Jackpot Prize is not eligible for increase under the Megaplier option or by means of the Just the Jackpot Promotion

(c) Megaplier Drawing. A separate random Megaplier drawing will occur before every MEGA MILLIONS drawing to determine one multiplier number for that drawing, which will be a 2, 3, 4, or 5. The multiplier number drawn will be used to multiply the value of the prizes for the second through ninth tiers. In the event the multiplier drawing does not occur prior to the MEGA MILLIONS drawing, the multiplier number will be a 5. The multiplier number may also be referred to as the Megaplier number.

(d) The following table sets forth the probability of the various multiplier numbers being drawn during a single Megaplier drawing.

Multiplier	Probability of Prize Increase
5X	1 in 15
4X	3 in 15
3X	6 in 15
2X	5 in 15
Multiplier numbers do not apply to the MEGA MILLIONS Jackpot Prize

(e) Application of multiplier number.

1. Second through Ninth Prizes. The multiplier number selected is the number that is used to increase the prize amount for the Second through Ninth Prizes. A Second through Ninth Prize winner who purchases the Megaplier feature with his or her MEGA MILLIONS ticket shall be paid a prize in the amount of the set prize amount multiplied by the multiplier number for that drawing.

2. Jackpot Prize. The Megaplier feature does not apply to the Jackpot Prize.

(f) The Product Group is authorized to conduct sales promotions in which the multiplier features are changed.

(g) MEGA MILLIONS tickets that win the Second through Ninth Prizes with the Megaplier option will pay the amounts shown below:

Match	Prize	Without Megaplier	With Megaplier 2X	With Megaplier 3X	With Megaplier 4X	With Megaplier 5X
Match 5+0	Second	$1,000,000	$2,000,000	$3,000,000	$4,000,000	$5,000,000
Match 4+1	Third	$10,000	$20,000	$30,000	$40,000	$50,000
Match 4+0	Fourth	$500	$1,000	$1,500	$2,000	$2,500
Match 3+1	Fifth	$200	$400	$600	$800	$1,000
Match 3+0	Sixth	$10	$20	$30	$40	$50
Match 2+1	Seventh	$10	$20	$30	$40	$50
Match 1+1	Eighth	$4	$8	$12	$16	$20
Match 0+1	Ninth	$2	$4	$6	$8	$10

(h If, with respect to a single MEGA MILLIONS drawing, the total of the MEGA MILLIONS Set Prizes and the Megaplier prizes awarded in a drawing exceeds the percentage of the prize pools allocated to the Set Prizes, and there are insufficient funds from all sources to pay the Set Prizes for a particular MEGA MILLIONS drawing (including Megaplier prize amounts), then the highest Set Prize (including the Megaplier prize amount) shall become a pari-mutuel prize. If the amount of the highest Set Prize, when paid on a pari-mutuel basis, drops to or below the next highest Set Prize and there are still not sufficient funds to pay the remaining Set Prizes, the next highest Set Prize, including the Megaplier prize amount, shall become a pari-mutuel prize. This procedure shall continue down through all Set Prize levels, if necessary, until all Set Prize levels become pari-mutuel. MEGA MILLIONS and Megaplier prizes will be reduced by the same percentage.

(i) MEGA MILLIONS set prizes that become pari-mutuel will be rounded down so that they can be paid in multiples of whole dollars. Funds remaining after rounding shall be carried forward to the prize pool for the next MEGA MILLIONS drawing.

(j) MEGA MILLIONS with Megaplier prizes shall be paid in single, lump-sum payment, less any applicable federal income tax withholding.

(10) MEGA MILLIONS Rules and Prohibitions.

(a) By purchasing a MEGA MILLIONS ticket, a player agrees to comply with and abide by all rules of the Florida Lottery.

(b) Florida MEGA MILLIONS prizes shall be claimed only through a Florida Lottery retailer (for prizes less than $600) or Lottery office beginning on the first business day following the drawing. The Florida Lottery is not authorized to accept claims or pay prizes for MEGA MILLIONS tickets purchased in other jurisdictions. MEGA MILLIONS prize payments 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing referenced rule of the Florida Lottery governing payment of prizes, under no circumstances will a claim be paid for either the Jackpot Prize or the Second Prize without an official MEGA MILLIONS ticket matching all game Play, transaction serial number and other validation data residing in the Florida Lottery’s computer gaming system and such ticket shall be the only valid proof of the Play purchased and the only valid receipt for claiming or redeeming such prize.

(c) Subject to a retailer’s hours of operation and on-line system availability, MEGA MILLIONS lottery tickets are available for purchase daily between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 midnight, ET. Ticket sales for a specific MEGA MILLIONS drawing will close at 10:00 p.m., ET, on the night of the drawing. Any ticket sold after the close of game will be printed with the next MEGA MILLIONS drawing date.

(d) MEGA MILLIONS tickets cannot be canceled.

(11) The effective date of this emergency rule is October 28, 2017.

Rulemaking Authority 24.105(9)(a), (b), (c), (e), (f), (h), 24.109(1), 24.115(1) FS. Law Implemented, 24.105(9)(a), (b), (c) (e), (f), (h), 24.115(1), 24.124(1) FS. History—New 10-28-17, Replaces 53ER16-54.

 

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: 10-28-17.