S.C. Code Regs. § § 44-40.10

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 11, November 22, 2024

Section 44-40.10 - Instant Games

A. The Commission authorizes the Executive Director to select, operate, and contract to and for the operation of instant games which meet the criteria generally set forth in this section.

(1) Instant game criteria.

(a) The price of an instant game ticket shall not be more than ten dollars ($10.00) unless otherwise approved by the Commission.

(b) Winners of an instant game are determined by the matching or specified alignment of the play numbers, digits and symbols on the tickets. The ticket bearer shall notify SCEL of the win and submit the winning ticket as specified by the Executive Director. The winning ticket shall be validated by SCEL through the use of the validation number and any other means as specified by the Commission.

(c) The instant game shall be designed to pay out prizes in amounts on a numerical frequency to be determined by SCEL.

(d) The duration of ticket sales for an instant game shall be determined by SCEL. The start date and closing date of the instant game shall be publicly announced.

(e) The frequency and determination of a winner in any instant game shall be determined by SCEL in specific game rules.

(f) At SCEL's discretion, an instant game may include a special prize drawing or drawings that make use of the nonwinning instant tickets, so as to encourage nonwinners to accumulate their tickets instead of disposing of them. SCEL shall establish procedures for the additional games.

B. Procedures for claiming instant prizes:

(1) A claimant may present the winning ticket for a prize not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) to any lottery retailer or mail the signed ticket to SCEL for payment. If the lottery retailer validates the claim as a valid winner, the lottery retailer must make payment of the amount due the claimant. Prizes shall be paid during the normal business hours of lottery retailer. If the lottery retailer cannot validate the claim, the claimant shall fill out a SCEL claim form and present or mail the completed form, together with the disputed ticket to SCEL. A check shall be forwarded to the claimant in payment of the amount due if the claim is validated. In the event that the claim is not validated, the claimant shall be promptly notified that the claim is denied.

(2) Subject to the limitations herein, the claimant of a prize of more than five hundred dollars ($500) shall complete a claim form as provided by the Executive Director, and submit it with the winning ticket to SCEL or its agent. The Commission may authorize the Executive Director to designate a limited number of lottery retailers to act as agents to validate claims and pay a winning prize in excess of $500 but not more than $4,999 or the amount authorized by statute. Upon validation, SCEL or its agent shall pay the claimant by check or other manner approved by SCEL, the amount due, less any applicable federal and state income tax withholdings and any withholding required by Section 59-150-330. In the event that the claim is not validated, the claim shall be denied and the claimant shall be promptly notified that the claim is denied. Nonwinning tickets shall not be returned to the claimant.

(3) Any ticket not passing all the validation checks is invalid and ineligible for payment as a prize. The Executive Director may, solely at his or her option, replace an invalid ticket with an unplayed ticket or tickets of equivalent sales price from any other current game or issue a refund of the sales price. If a defective ticket is purchased, the only responsibility or liability of SCEL is the replacement of the defective ticket with another unplayed ticket or tickets of equivalent sale price from any other current game.

(4) A lottery retailer may pay prizes in cash or by business check, certified check, money order or a combination thereof. A lottery retailer that pays a prize with a check which is dishonored, in addition to full payment of the amount of the check and all nonsufficient funds charges and any other legitimate banking charge, may be subject to suspension or revocation of its license. SCEL may not impose a monetary fine against a retailer who issues a check or other negotiable instrument that is dishonored for the payment of a prize.

C. Official end of game.

(1) SCEL shall announce the official end of each instant game. A ticket may be validated for prize payment up to ninety (90) days after the official end of game. In order to participate in a special prize drawing, a player shall redeem a ticket which qualifies for entry into that special prize drawing within the time limits governing the conduct of that specific game.

(2) A lottery retailer may continue to sell tickets for each instant game up to ninety (90) days after the official end of that game.

(3) A lottery retailer may return to SCEL full or partial packs of unsold lottery tickets for each game within thirty (30) days of the official end of that game in order to receive credit from SCEL as provided for in the retailers' contract. Partial pack returns shall be allowed when a retailer closes a business, changes ownership, or other criteria approved by the Executive Director. The Lottery has no obligation to grant credit for tickets returned more than thirty (30) days after the last day that a ticket may be sold.

S.C. Code Regs. § 44-40.10

Added by State Register Volume 26, Issue No. 6, Part 2, eff June 28, 2002. Amended by State Register Volume 30, Issue No. 5, eff May, 26, 2006.