10 Del. Admin. Code § 202-18.0
Current through Reigster Vol. 28, No. 6, December 1, 2024
Section 202-18.0 - Procedure for Claiming Prizes18.1 The following are the procedures by which prizes may be claimed and paid: 18.1.1 All cash prizes under an amount defined by the Director may be claimed through a duly-authorized claim center, which may be, but is not limited to, an Agent's licensed location or at the offices of the Division of Revenue. All cash prizes greater than $5,000.00 must be claimed at the Lottery Office's main office location.18.1.2 Each prize ticket winner may be required to complete a claim form and to sign the winning ticket (or both) at the discretion of the Director. If the prize ticket owner is a minor or a person unable to complete the required form(s), then said minor or person shall have his guardian, conservator, adult member of his household, or other proper representative complete the claim form in his stead. If the Director determines that the person who completed the claim form on behalf of the owner is not the proper person to claim the prize on behalf of the owner, the Director may require a new claim form be completed by a person to claim the true owner's prize. The claim form must be in such form as the Director may, deem necessary and proper, from time to time, to protect the Lottery Office and the public interest.18.1.3 Each prize ticket winner must present a physical paper ticket to claim a prize. In addition, a winner may be required to provide (i) a photo identification card that has the winner's name and current residential address and (ii) a Social Security card.18.1.4 Agents shall review each winning ticket and must be assured that each ticket contains winning lottery numbers and is signed by the claimant. Agents shall validate winning tickets and pay to the winners the amount of winnings up to the limit set by the Director. If an Agent has any questions about the validity of a winning ticket, the ticket must be turned in to the Lottery Office for payment.18.1.5 In addition to all other requirements in these Regulations, all winning tickets must be validated through the lottery terminal. A winning ticket must not be counterfeit in whole or in part and must be presented by a person authorized to play the Lottery. If an Agent pays any claim that was not for a winning ticket and the holder of the ticket fails to reimburse the Lottery Office or cannot be located, the Agent will be held responsible for the improper or erroneous payment. If a ticket is determined to be invalid, the Director will notify the claimant that said ticket is invalid, and no prize will be paid. All tickets will be considered void if altered, torn, misprinted, illegible or damaged unless the Director is satisfied that the ticket is genuine. If it is determined that a ticket contains a manufacturing defect or resulted from any system or terminal malfunction or from human error which makes said ticket appear to be a winner when in fact it is not, the bearer may receive reimbursement for the full purchase price of said ticket, but shall not be awarded any prize.18.1.6 If a claimant is aggrieved by the Director's denial of his claim or a prize, he may request an informal hearing with the Director to discuss his grievance and a reconsideration of his claim by the Director. If the Director concludes that there is meritorious basis for the claimant's complaint, he may revise his prior decision. If the Director concludes there is no meritorious basis for the claimant's complaint, the Director may finalized his decision in writing and deny the claim. The decision of the Director shall be final.18.1.7 A winning ticket may be redeemed for a period of twelve (12) calendar months from the date of the drawing or event in which the prize was won. A winning instant scratch game ticket may be redeemed for a period of twelve (12) calendar months from the announced end of that game's sales. If no person claims a prize for a winning ticket within such calendar year, the prize money will revert to the State Lottery Fund as mandated by the Delaware Code.18.2 The Director reserves the right to offer special prizes above and beyond the normal prize structure. These prizes may be redeemable only for a specific time period after which no prize will be awarded. These special situations will be clearly detailed in announcements to the public so that there will be ample time for claims.18.3 The Director may establish and modify procedures by which prizes may be claimed and paid by Agents.10 Del. Admin. Code § 202-18.0
4 DE Reg. 498 (09/01/00)
22 DE Reg. 494 (12/1/2018) (Final)