Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 961 CMR - STATE LOTTERY COMMISSION › Title 961 CMR 2.00 - Rules and Regulations › Section 2.39 - Ownership of Lottery Tickets

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Until such time as a name is imprinted or placed upon the
				portion of the Lottery ticket so designated for such purpose, a Lottery ticket
				shall be considered in bearer form and there by owned by the person in physical
				possession of said ticket, provided that said ticket was not previously
				submitted as a valid Mobile Claim. The Commission need not recognize or give
				credence to any claims that a winning Lottery ticket was stolen if in bearer
				form. The Commission need only recognize as the true owner of a winning Lottery
				ticket the person who first duly submits such winning Lottery ticket either at
				a Claims Center or through a valid Mobile Claim and whose signature appears
				upon the ticket in the area designated for said purpose or, for a Mobile Claim,
				whose digital signature is validly submitted in accordance with the Mobile
				Claim Process. The Commission requires that each winning ticket, with exception
				for Mobile Claims, have placed thereon in the area designated for such purpose
				the name, address, telephone number and signature of the owner. If the owner is
				a minor, or a person under a disability, then the minor's name or disabled
				person's name should appear on the ticket with the signature of the person
				claiming the prize in behalf of the minor or disabled person and his or her
				telephone number if the owner's number is not available or nonexistent. The
				Commission shall make payment in complete reliance on the information submitted
				to it through the Mobile Claim Process, or if and only if no valid Mobile Claim
				has been submitted, in complete reliance on the claim form and winning ticket.
				In the event there is an inconsistency in the information submitted in a Mobile
				Claim Process, on a claim form and/or as shown on the winning ticket, the
				Director shall make an investigation and withhold all winnings awarded to the
				ticket owner until such time as he or she is satisfied that the winnings are
				paid to the proper person. Regardless of any other provisions herein contained,
				the Commission may rely on the name of the owner, his or her address and other
				information contained in the Mobile Claim, or if no valid Mobile Claim is
				filed, on the claim form, although apparently inconsistent with the ticket, and
				pay all winnings to said ticket owner or his or her proper representative
				according to law and
				961 CMR
				2.00 without further responsibility and liability. The
				Commission for its purposes will recognize only one person as owner of a
				ticket. The Commission will make payment to only one person per prize won,
				regardless of the number of persons claiming ownership of the prize winning
				ticket. Payment of said prize to the person designated as agent for collection
				shall discharge the Director from all liability resulting therefrom.
No payment will be made on a winning ticket, unless all
				information required by the Mobile Claim Process is submitted and valid, all
				spaces provided on both the claim form and winning ticket are filled in with
				the requested information, or an acknowledgment is submitted attesting that
				said information is unknown or unavailable. There is no obligation or duty of
				the Commission, its personnel or representatives to look beyond the payment to
				the owner as his or her name appears on the Mobile Claim, or if no valid Mobile
				Claim has been submitted, on the claim form. If a trust is used as a payee of
				the winnings, or if a legal entity is the owner or payee, the Federal employee
				taxpayer's number must be placed on the claim form.