Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 961 CMR - STATE LOTTERY COMMISSION › Title 961 CMR 2.00 - Rules and Regulations › Section 2.38 - Procedure for Claiming Prizes

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(1)
Place of Claims
. All cash prizes must be claimed
			 through a Sales Agent, a duly authorized Claims Center or Office, or at the
			 sole discretion of the Director, through the Mobile Claim Process.
(2) To be eligible for a prize, the prize
			 winner must submit an original winning ticket prior to the expiration of the
			 claim period. At the sole discretion of the Director, a prize winner may be
			 allowed to become eligible for a prize by submitting winning ticket
			 information, in
lieu
of an original winning ticket, using the
			 Mobile Claim Process prior to the expiration of the claim period. On-line
			 tickets must be claimed within one year of the drawing date. Instant tickets
			 must be claimed within one year of the end of the particular game. For prizes
			 less than $600.00, a claim is valid only when the original winning ticket has
			 been presented for payment and validated by the Lottery's computer gaming
			 system at a sales agent, claim center, or Lottery office. For prizes of $600.00
			 or greater, but less than $103,000.01, a claim is valid only when the original
			 winning ticket has been presented for payment, a claim form has been properly
			 completed, and the ticket has been validated by the Lottery's computer gaming
			 system and verified by Lottery internal validation requirements at a Lottery
			 office or duly authorized claim center. For prizes of $103,000.01 or greater, a
			 claim is valid only when the original winning ticket has been presented for
			 payment, a claim form has been properly completed, and the ticket has been
			 validated by the Lottery's computer gaming system and verified by Lottery
			 internal validation requirements at the office of the Director. Notwithstanding
			 any other provision in
			 961 CMR
			 2.00, the Lottery may allow some Lottery Online and/or
			 Digital Property users to file Mobile Claims of eligible Lottery tickets, and
			 transfer awarded prize winnings to a bank account pursuant to the Mobile Claim
			 Process and such other terms and conditions as the Director may set or find
			 desirable in his or her discretion. The Lottery may require certain claims for
			 prizes of any amount be claimed at the office of the Director. Tickets or
			 Mobile Claims submitted for payment subsequent to the claim period defined
			 above are void. The Lottery may require certain claims for prizes of any amount
			 be claimed at the office of the Director. Tickets or Mobile Claims submitted
			 for payment subsequent to the claim period defined above are void.
(3)
Claim Forms.
Each prize ticket owner, other than those paid in cash, or his or her
			 representative is required to complete the claim form which is available free
			 of charge at each Sales Agent or Lottery office and sign the winning ticket. If
			 the prize ticket owner is a minor or other person(s) unable to complete the
			 claim form, then said minor or person shall have his or her guardian,
			 conservator, parent, adult member of his or her household, or his or her next
			 friend or other proper representative complete the claim form in his or her
			 stead. If the Director determines that the person who completed the claim form
			 in behalf of an owner is not the proper person to claim the prize in behalf of
			 the owner, the Director may demand a new claim form completed by a person who
			 is acceptable to the Director as the proper person so to claim the true owner's
			 prize. The claim form incorporates by reference the following provisions:
(a) Verification that the prize ticket owner
			 is not a person disqualified by law or by
			 961 CMR
			 2.00 to claim or otherwise accept a prize from the
			 Lottery;
(b) The prize ticket owner
			 grants to the Commission the right to use his or her name, address, and
			 photograph to publicize his or her winnings. This same right is granted to the
			 Commission by one signing in behalf of a minor or other ticket owner under a
			 disability which prevents him or her from signing in his or her own
			 behalf;
(c) Indemnification of the
			 Commission for any loss occasioned by an untruth or misrepresentation by the
			 ticket owner or the person claiming the prize in his or her behalf;
(d) All information requested by the
			 Commission which may include, but not be limited to, the prize ticket owner's
			 (and any person signing in his or her behalf) name, address, and social
			 security number or taxpayer's identification number.
The claim form may contain any other provision which the
				Director may, from time to time, deem necessary and proper to protect the
				Commission and the public welfare. Each claim form must have attached thereto
				the original Lottery ticket.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Lottery may allow
				some users to submit a Mobile Claim using the Mobile Claim Process in
lieu
of submitting a claim form. Each Mobile Claim
				incorporates by reference the following provisions:
(e) Verification that the prize ticket owner
			 is not a person disqualified by law or by
			 961 CMR
			 2.00 to claim or otherwise accept a prize from the
			 Lottery;
(f) The prize ticket owner
			 grants to the Commission the right to use his or her name, address, and
			 photograph to publicize his or her winnings.
(g) Indemnification of the Commission for any
			 loss occasioned by an untruth or misrepresentation by the ticket owner or the
			 person claiming the prize in his or her behalf;
(h) All information requested by the
			 Commission which may include, but not be limited to, the prize ticket owner's
			 name, address, and social security number or taxpayer's identification number.
The Mobile Claim Process may incorporate any other provision
				which the Director, may from time to time, deem necessary and proper to protect
				the Commission and the public welfare.