3770:1-9-773. Game rule number seven hundred seventy-three

(A) Title and term. Ohio lottery commission game rule number seven hundred seventy-three "Snowflake Cashword" 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, including reprints, beginning on the date when ticket sales are commenced and continuing through the date established by the director as the date on which sales with respect to tickets allocated to sales agents during the period in game rule number seven hundred seventy-three will cease.

(B) General design.

(1) Game rule number seven hundred seventy-three is a "Letter Match" word game with a doubler feature and a "Bonus Word" feature, and is generally known as an "instant lottery."

(2) The holder of a valid ticket will remove the covering over the "Call Letters"play area to reveal twenty letters. The player will then scratch off each letter in the "Cashword" puzzle play area that matches the "Call Letters." The player will then scratch each "Snowflake" symbol that appears in the "Cashword" puzzle. To win a prize award, the player must uncover three or more horizontal or vertical words in the "Cashword" puzzle play area such that the three or more words are completely formed by using at least three "Call Letters" or two "Call Letters" and a "Snowflake" symbol. The prize amount won is determined by comparing the number of uncovered words to the "Prize Legend." If a player matches a word with a "Snowflake" symbol, the prize amount is doubled. The player will then scratch off all six letters in the "Bonus Word." If a player matches all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six letters of the "Call Letters," the player will win the prize shown in the prize box. A "Word" cannot be formed by connecting the letters diagonally, by reading the letters from right to left or from bottom to top, or by using only a portion of the letters in a complete "Word." Words within words are not eligible for a prize. A player may win only once per ticket.

(3) The only "prize values" which shall appear on a ticket in game rule number seven hundred seventy-three are: five dollars, ten dollars, twenty dollars, twenty-five dollars, forty dollars, fifty dollars, one hundred dollars, five hundred dollars, five thousand dollars, the "TPD" symbol corresponding to a prize value of five thousand five hundred dollars, fifty thousand dollars. Letters, word symbols and play symbols appearing on any ticket in game rule number seven hundred seventy-three shall be concealed by an opaque covering which may be scratched off by the holder of the ticket to reveal the underlying letters, word symbols and play symbols.

(C) Price of tickets. The price of a ticket issued by the commission in game rule number seven hundred seventy-three shall be five dollars.

(D) Structure, nature and value of prize awards.

(1) As used in this rule, "prize award" shall mean one of the following monetary figures which is the total of all winning prize values appearing on the ticket: five dollars, ten dollars, twenty dollars, twenty-five dollars, forty dollars, fifty dollars, one hundred dollars, two hundred dollars, five hundred dollars, one thousand dollars, five thousand dollars, fifty thousand dollars, one hundred thousand dollars, and the "TPD" symbol corresponding to a prize value of five thousand five hundred dollars and upon the filing of a valid claim at an Ohio lottery commission office, automatic entry into the Top Prize Drawing ("TPD") for a chance to win one hundred thousand dollars.

(2) There shall be two types of prizes in game rule seven hundred seventy-three, a "regular prize award" and a "TPD" prize.

(a) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal three "Words" in the "Cashword" puzzle play area for five dollars once shall win a regular prize award of five dollars;

(b) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for five dollars once shall win a regular prize award of five dollars;

(c) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal four "Words" in the "Cashword" puzzle play area for ten dollars once shall win a regular prize award of ten dollars;

(d) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal three "Words" including a "Snowflake" symbol in one or more of the three "Words" for five dollars doubled shall win a regular prize award of ten dollars;

(e) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for ten dollars once shall win a regular prize award of ten dollars;

(f) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal four "Words" including a "Snowflake" symbol in one or more of the four "Words" for ten dollars doubled shall win a regular prize award of twenty dollars;

(g) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for twenty dollars once shall win a regular prize award of twenty dollars;

(h) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal five "Words" in the "Cashword" puzzle play area for twenty-five dollars once shall win a regular prize award of twenty-five dollars;

(i) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal three "Words" in the "Cashword" puzzle play area for five dollars once and matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for twenty dollars once shall win a regular prize award of twenty-five dollars;

(j) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for twenty-five dollars once shall win a regular prize award of twenty-five dollars;

(k) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal four "Words" including a "Snowflake" symbol in one or more of the four "Words" for ten dollars doubled, and matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for twenty dollars once shall win a regular prize award of forty dollars;

(l) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for forty dollars once shall win a regular prize award of forty dollars;

(m) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal five "Words" including a "Snowflake" symbol in one or more of the five "Words" for twenty-five dollars doubled shall win a regular prize award of fifty dollars;

(n) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for fifty dollars once shall win a regular prize award of fifty dollars;

(o) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal six "Words" for fifty dollars once shall win a regular prize award of fifty dollars;

(p) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal six "Words" including a "Snowflake" symbol in one or more of the six "Words" for fifty dollars doubled shall win a regular prize award of one hundred dollars;

(q) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for one hundred dollars once shall win a regular prize award of one hundred dollars;

(r) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal seven "Words" for one hundred dollars once shall win a regular prize award of one hundred dollars;

(s) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal seven "Words" including a "Snowflake" symbol in one or more of the seven "Words" for one hundred dollars doubled shall win a regular prize award of two hundred dollars;

(t) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal seven "Words" for one hundred dollars once and matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for one hundred dollars once shall win a regular prize award of two hundred dollars;

(u) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal eight "Words" for five hundred dollars once shall win a regular prize award of five hundred dollars;

(v) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six letters of the "Call Letters" for five hundred dollars once shall win a regular prize award of five hundred dollars;

(w) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal eight "Words" including a "Snowflake" symbol in one or more of the eight "Words" for five hundred dollars doubled shall win a regular prize award of one thousand dollars;

(x) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal eight "Words" for five hundred dollars once and matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six letters of the "Call Letters" for five hundred dollars once shall win a regular prize award of one thousand dollars;

(y) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal nine "Words" for five thousand dollars once shall win a regular prize award of five thousand dollars;

(z) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six letters of the "Call Letters" for five thousand dollars once shall win a regular prize award of five thousand dollars;

(aa) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six letters of the "Call Letters" and a "TPD" prize symbol is revealed for five thousand five hundred dollars shall win a regular prize award of five thousand five hundred dollars, and, upon the filing of a valid claim at an Ohio lottery commission office, automatic entry into the Top Prize Drawing for a chance to win one hundred thousand dollars;

(bb) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal ten "Words" for fifty thousand dollars once shall win a regular prize award of fifty thousand dollars; and

(cc) Holder of a valid winning ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal ten "Words" including a "Snowflake" symbol in one or more of the ten "Words" for fifty thousand dollars doubled shall win a regular prize award of one hundred thousand dollars.

(E) Number of prize awards. The number of prize awards in any sales cycle of game rule number seven hundred seventy-three will depend upon the number of tickets sold during that cycle. Tickets shall be printed in accordance with this rule using random techniques in order that the following occur:

(1) Combinations winning each prize award are randomly distributed throughout the prize pool; and

(2) Mathematical reasoning indicates that the number of winning tickets per four million tickets sold in the following prize categories should be as follows:

(a) Three tickets matching "Call Letters" to reveal ten "Words" including a "Snowflake" symbol for fifty thousand dollars doubled to win one hundred thousand dollars;

(b) Eight tickets matching "Call Letters" to reveal ten "Words" for fifty thousand dollars once to win fifty thousand dollars; and

(c) Twenty tickets matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six letters of the "Call Letters" and a "TPD" prize symbol is revealed to win five thousand five hundred dollars, and, upon the filing of a valid claim at an Ohio lottery commission office, automatic entry into the Top Prize Drawing for a chance to win one hundred thousand dollars.

(3) Mathematical reasoning indicates that the number of winning tickets per five hundred thousand tickets sold in the following prize categories should be as follows:

(a) One ticket matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for five thousand dollars once to win five thousand dollars;

(b) One ticket matching "Call Letters" to reveal nine "Words" for five thousand dollars once to win five thousand dollars;

(c) Three tickets matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for five hundred dollars once and matching "Call Letters" to reveal eight "Words" for five hundred dollars once to win one thousand dollars;

(d) Three tickets matching "Call Letters" to reveal eight "Words" including a "Snowflake" symbol for five hundred dollars doubled to win one thousand dollars;

(e) One hundred tickets matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for five hundred dollars once to win five hundred dollars;

(f) One hundred tickets matching "Call Letters" to reveal eight "Words" for five hundred dollars once to win five hundred dollars;

(g) One hundred fifty tickets matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word"with six of the "Call Letters" for one hundred dollars and matching "Call Letters" to reveal seven "Words" for one hundred dollars once to win two hundred dollars;

(h) One hundred fifty tickets matching "Call Letters" to reveal seven "Words" including a "Snowflake" symbol for one hundred dollars doubled to win two hundred dollars;

(i) Two hundred seventy-seven tickets matching "Call Letters" to reveal seven "Words" for one hundred dollars once to win one hundred dollars;

(j) Two hundred seventy-seven tickets matching all six letters in the "Bonus Box" with six of the "Call Letters" for one hundred once to win one hundred dollars;

(k) Three hundred tickets matching "Call Letters" to reveal six "Words" including a "Snowflake" symbol for fifty dollars doubled to win one hundred dollars.

(l) Eight hundred tickets matching "Call Letters" to reveal six "Words" for fifty dollars once to win fifty dollars;

(m) Eight hundred tickets matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for fifty dollars once to win fifty dollars;

(n) Eight hundred tickets matching "Call Letters" to reveal five "Words" including a "Snowflake" symbol for twenty-five dollars doubled to win fifty dollars;

(o) One thousand tickets matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for forty dollars once to win forty dollars;

(p) One thousand tickets matching "Call Letters" to reveal four "Words"including a "Snowflake" symbol for ten dollars doubled, and matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for twenty dollars once to win forty dollars;

(q) Two thousand nine hundred tickets matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for twenty-five dollars once to win twenty-five dollars;

(r) Two thousand nine hundred tickets matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for twenty dollars once and matching "Call Letters" to reveal three "Words" for five dollars once to win twenty- five dollars;

(s) Two thousand seven hundred tickets matching "Call Letters" to reveal five "Words" for twenty-five dollars once to win twenty-five dollars;

(t) Seven thousand five hundred tickets matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for twenty dollars once to win twenty dollars;

(u) Seven thousand five hundred tickets matching "Call Letters" to reveal four "Words" including a "Snowflake" symbol for ten dollars doubled to win twenty dollars;

(v) Twelve thousand five hundred tickets matching all six letters in the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for ten dollars once to win ten dollars;

(w) Ten thousand tickets matching "Call Letters" to reveal three "Words" including a "Snowflake" symbol for five dollars doubled to win ten dollars;

(x) Twelve thousand five hundred tickets matching "Call Letters" to reveal four "Words" for ten dollars once to win ten dollars;

(y) Thirty thousand tickets matching all six letters of the "Bonus Word" with six of the "Call Letters" for five dollars once to win five dollars; and

(z) Thirty thousand tickets matching "Call Letters" to reveal three "Words" for five dollars once to win five dollars.

(F) Tickets sold. Chances of winning and the number of winning tickets are established at the start of the game number seven hundred seventy-three and at the time a ticket is purchased.

(G) Frequency of prize drawings.

(1) Random imprinting of prize awards on all tickets issued in game rule number seven hundred seventy-three shall be accomplished in a manner which complies with the commission's rules and procedures.

(2) When a ticket issued in game rule number seven hundred seventy-three is sold or deemed sold in accordance with this rule and the covering material over any of the numbers, prize values and play symbols has been removed, the holder shall be deemed to have drawn the numbers, prize values and play symbols on that ticket which determine whether the holder is entitled to a regular prize award. All regular prize awards shall be deemed announced no later than the last day of the sales cycle of game rule number seven hundred seventy-three in which the ticket was sold.

(3) The Top Prize Drawing to award one grand prize of one hundred thousand dollars shall take place in accordance with rules and procedures established and approved by the director, and specifically, rule 3770:1-6-05 of the Administrative Code governing "Prize drawings" and rule 3770:1-6-06 of the Administrative Code governing "Special lottery drawings." Such drawings shall be held on dates determined and announced by the director, however, the earliest Top Prize Drawing date shall be one hundred eighty days from the game close date or when all tickets winning a prize value corresponding with a "TPD" symbol have been claimed, whichever is earlier.

(H) Special claim, entry, receipt and validation procedures. The director shall establish special claim, entry, receipt and validation procedures, including procedures for validation by sales agents of tickets winning prize awards which are to be paid by sales agents in accordance with commission rules. Prize awards shall be claimed within the time limits set forth by commission rules.

(I) Validity of tickets.

(1) A mechanical error in printing prize awards, symbols, words or other numbers on a ticket shall not automatically invalidate that ticket. To the extent feasible, the director shall establish procedures by which the holder of any ticket on which information is incorrectly printed due to mechanical malfunction may be advised of correct information for the ticket. If it is not technically feasible to recover the information from a mechanically misprinted ticket, the director may declare the ticket void and the holder shall be entitled to a return of the ticket price or a replacement ticket of comparable price.

(2) 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 rule number seven hundred seventy-three void if it is stolen, unissued, deactivated, not sold or deemed not sold in accordance with commission rules; if it is illegible, mutilated, altered, counterfeit, misregistered, reconstituted, miscut, defective, printed or produced in error or incomplete; or if the ticket fails any of the validation tests or procedures established by the director. The commission's liability and responsibility for a ticket declared void, if any, is limited to refund of the retail sales price of the ticket or issuance of a replacement ticket of comparable price.

(J) Director's conduct of game rule number seven hundred seventy-three.

(1) The director shall conduct game rule number seven hundred seventy-three and any promotions or drawings associated therewith in a manner consistent with the Lottery Act and 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. The director shall inform the public of the provisions of this rule and the procedures established pursuant hereto which affect the play of game rule number seven hundred seventy-three. The director reserves the right to declare any instant game as unavailable for sale at any time to maintain game integrity and accountability.

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

Effective: 09/30/2010
Promulgated Under: 5703.14
Statutory Authority: 3770.03
Rule Amplifies: 3770.01, 3770.02, 3770.03 , 3770.04, 3770.05, 3770.06, 3770.07, 3770.08