3770:1-7-25. Ohio lottery commission game number twenty-five

(A) Title and term. Ohio lottery commission game number twenty-five, "Pick 4," shall be conducted at such times and for such periods as the commission may determine. For the purpose of this rule, "sales cycle" shall mean any such period beginning on the date when ticket sales are commenced, and continuing through the date on which sales are terminated by the commission.

(B) General design.

(1) Game number twenty-five will be a number-match lottery game.

(2) Each ticket in game number twenty-five shall be imprinted with a four-digit number which shall be determined by the choice of the ticket purchaser or the auto pick feature of the computer system, and recorded on the ticket at the time of purchase.

(3) At such times as determined by the director, drawings will be conducted at which four one-digit numbers shall be selected at random from the four sets of all one-digit numbers. Holders of valid winning tickets for a given drawing bearing the numbers drawn in that drawing in specified combinations of positions, as determined by the purchaser or the auto pick feature, and recorded on the ticket at the time of purchase, shall be entitled to a prize award in accordance with this rule.

(4) Purchasers of tickets in game number twenty-five may purchase, at their option, tickets offering the following winning possibilities for any drawing:

(a) A four-digit number specified by the purchaser to match, in exact order, the four one-digit numbers selected in the applicable drawing, hereinafter referred to as "straight bet."

(b) A four-digit number with three digits the same, specified by the purchaser, to match in any order the four one-digit numbers selected in the applicable drawing, hereinafter referred to as "four-way box bet."

(c) A four-digit number with two sets of matching digits, specified by the purchaser, to match in any order the four one-digit numbers selected in the applicable drawing, hereinafter referred to as "six-way box bet."

(d) A four-digit number with two digits the same, specified by the purchaser, to match in any order the four one-digit numbers selected in the applicable drawing, hereinafter referred to as "twelve-way box bet."

(e) A four-digit number, with no digits repeated, specified by the purchaser, to match in any order the four one-digit numbers selected in the applicable drawing, hereinafter referred to as "twenty-four-way box bet."

(f) A four-digit number specified by the purchaser in accordance with paragraphs (B)(4)(a) and (B)(4)(b); paragraphs (B)(4)(a) and (B)(4)(c); paragraphs (B)(4)(a) and (B)(4)(d); or paragraphs (B)(4)(a) and (B)(4)(e) of this rule, hereinafter referred to as "backup bet."

(5) A drawing of numbers in another commission game may serve as the drawing in this game.

(C) Price of tickets. The price paid in game number twenty-five for each winning possibility for any given drawing by the purchaser shall be fifty cents, or multiple thereof to a maximum of one dollar at the choice of the purchaser. This amount shall constitute the wager. The price paid for a back up bet shall be equal to the wager amount. The total of all wagers, including back up bet amounts, with respect to each ticket sold shall constitute that ticket's purchase price; said price to be imprinted on the ticket at the time of purchase. The player may purchase up to the number of wagers per ticket, or multiples thereof, as designated by the director if a multi-wager is requested at the player's discretion in accordance with the number of game panels and inclusive drawings.

(D) Structure, nature and value of prize awards, based upon the numbers drawn in each drawing. Prizes shall be awarded to the holders of valid one dollar tickets for that drawing as follows:

(1) A prize of five thousand dollars if the ticket includes a straight bet matching the four one-digit numbers exactly as selected in the applicable drawing.

(2) A prize of one thousand one hundred ninety-eight dollars if the ticket includes a four-way box bet matching in any order the four one-digit numbers selected in the applicable drawing.

(3) A prize of eight hundred dollars if the ticket includes a six-way box bet matching in any order the four one-digit numbers selected in the applicable drawing.

(4) A prize of four hundred dollars if the ticket includes a twelve-way box bet matching in any order the four one-digit numbers selected in the applicable drawing.

(5) A prize of two hundred dollars if the ticket includes a twenty-four way box bet matching in any order the four one-digit numbers.

(6) Winning tickets made in fifty-cent increments shall be awarded prizes at one-half the levels stated in paragraphs (D)(1) to (D)(5) of this rule.

(7) Prizes in accordance with paragraphs (D)(1) to (D)(6) of this rule, as applicable, if the ticket includes a winning backup bet.

(8) As determined by the director, on selected days the prize payouts may increase for promotional purposes.

(E) Limitations of prize liability. If the total prize liabilities for any number in combination of all types of bets, exceeds a limit as determined by the commission, then no further wagers on that number shall be accepted for that drawing.

(F) Frequency of prize drawings. Drawings shall be held at times determined by the director.

(G) Manner of prize drawings.

(1) Prize drawings shall be open to the public and may be held at such places in the state that the director shall determine. The director shall inform the public as to the time and place of each prize drawing.

(2) All holders of valid tickets for a given drawing are eligible to win in that drawing. If the holder of a winning ticket does not have the ticket validated within the requisite validation period from the date of the drawing, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these rules, such unclaimed prize shall be paid into the state lottery fund and distributed in accordance with section 3770.06 of the Revised Code.

(3) All drawings in game number twenty-five will be conducted in accordance with random procedures approved by the director. For every drawing in game number twenty-five, the director will approve procedures and mechanisms for the selection of winners and the awarding of prizes in order that random selection will be achieved.

(H) Validity of tickets.

(1) Each purchaser of tickets in game number twenty-five shall be responsible for verifying that the numbers imprinted on such ticket are those requested, that the purchase price paid is the price recorded on such ticket, and that such ticket has recorded thereon the type of bet or bets, and the drawing date or dates therefore, that the purchaser desired to make.

(2) Each ticket issued in game number twenty-five shall have imprinted thereon at the time of purchase, a control number or bar code data supplied by the commission. No prize shall be paid by the commission with respect to any tickets without such control number or bar code data.

(3) All tickets in game number twenty-five are subject to validation under procedures to be established by the director before the payment of any prize thereon.

(4) In addition to, but not in limitation of, all other power and authority conferred on the director by the commission's rules, the director may declare a ticket in game number twenty-five to be void if it is stolen, not sold or deemed not sold in accordance with commission rules; if it is illegible, altered, or counterfeit; or if the ticket fails any of the validation tests or procedures established by the director pursuant hereto. The commission's liability and responsibility for a ticket declared void, if any, is limited to the refund of the retail sales price of the ticket.

(I) Director's conduct of game number twenty-five.

(1) The director shall conduct game number twenty-five in a manner consistent with the Lottery Act, the rules of the commission, including without limitation this rule, and the regulations of the director. As deemed necessary, or advisable, the director shall adopt management regulations, orders or directives to implement and operate this lottery game.

(2) Names and definitions of elements of game number twenty-five used in this rule are to be considered generic terms used solely for the purpose of this rule. In actual operation, game number twenty-five and these elements may be given names or titles chosen by the commission.

Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 5/21/2018 and 05/20/2023
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3770.03
Rule Amplifies: 3770.01, 3770.02, 3770.03 , 3770.04, 3770.05, 3770.06, 3770.07, 3770.08
Prior Effective Dates: 01/14/1981, 01/10/1986 (Emer.), 01/01/1990, 04/08/1993 (Emer.), 05/27/1993, 09/01/1995, 09/30/2004, 11/14/2008, 06/20/2009

Prior History: (R.C. 119.032 review dates: 01/08/2014 and 11/14/2018
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3770.03
Rule Amplifies: 3770.01, 3770.02, 3770.03, 3770.04, 3770.05, 3770.06, 3770.07, 3770.08
Prior Effective Dates: 1/14/81, 1/10/86 (Emer), 1/1/90, 5/27/93, 4/8/93 (Emer), 9/1/95, 9/30/04, 11/14/08)