Play Lotto Game Procedures

'Lotto' Interactive Game Procedures

Fifth Edition effective 27th September 2009

The National Lottery, Tolpits Lane, Watford WD18 9RN.

© National Lottery Commission 2009

(Please address all enquiries to Camelot Group plc)

The National Lottery Commission, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Sections 5 and 6 of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 as amended, has granted to Camelot Group plc licences to run the National Lottery and to promote The National Lottery Lotto Game. The National Lottery Lotto Game played interactively is governed by the Interactive Account Terms and Conditions, the Rules for Draw-Based Games Played Interactively (available by telephoning the Interactive Contact Centre on 0845 278 8000 or by writing to the National Lottery, PO Box 1010, Liverpool L70 1NL or by accessing the National Lottery website with the following URL: www.national-lottery.co.uk) and these Procedures. In the event of any ambiguity or inconsistency between the Rules for Draw-Based Games Played Interactively and these Procedures, these Procedures shall prevail.

The National Lottery Lotto Game played otherwise than on the Interactive System is governed by the National Lottery Rules for Draw-Based Games Played at Retailers or by Offline Direct Debit and by the National Lottery "Lotto" Game Procedures.

Words and expressions defined in the Rules for Draw-Based Games Played Interactively that are not defined in these Procedures shall bear the same meaning herein unless the context otherwise requires.

Meaning of Words

The following words and terms, when used in these Procedures, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

'Act'
means the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 as amended.
'Board'
means the area on an Interactive Play Slip in which an Interactive Player may enter his Selection to enter the Game.
'Bonus Number'
means the number randomly selected from the remaining forty-three numbers at a Draw immediately after the Main Numbers have been selected.
'Cancelled Draw'
means any Draw which does not take place by reason only of the expiry, suspension or revocation of either the Company's licence from the Commission under Section 5 of the Act to run the National Lottery or the Company's licence from the Commission under Section 6 of the Act to promote the Game.
'Central Computer System'
means the computer systems operated by, or on behalf of, the Company from time to time which facilitate the playing of, and contain a record of all selections made in relation to, the Game including, without limit, any Selections.
'Commission'
means the National Lottery Commission, being the body established to regulate the National Lottery or such other body as may carry out such functions from time to time.
'Company'
means Camelot Group plc, a company registered in England and Wales, whose registered office is at Tolpits Lane, Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 9RN.
'Draw'
means the process which culminates in the selection by the Company of a set of Winning Numbers for the Game on a random basis.
'Game'
means The National Lottery Lotto Game.
'Interactive Play Slip'
means the graphical representation of a play slip available on the Site on which an Interactive Player may enter his Selection.
'Interactive Player'
means a person who has opened a notional account on the Interactive System to enable that person to purchase Plays and who is eligible (according to the criteria set out in the Interactive Account Terms and Conditions) to purchase Plays and whose account has not been terminated, cancelled, suspended or closed.
'Interactive System'
means the system (accessible via the Site) established and operated by the Company for the purpose of registering prospective players, administering accounts, enabling Plays (including via a Mobile) and paying Prizes.
'Lucky Dip®'
means a Play consisting of one set of six numbers which, instead of being selected by an Interactive Player, are selected on a random basis by the Company's Central Computer System on behalf of that Player.
'Main Numbers'
means the first six numbers randomly selected at a Draw.
'Mobile'
means a mobile phone that is capable of sending and receiving Short Messages, which is registered on one of the Mobile Networks and which has been registered on the Interactive System either via the Site or the Interactive Contact Centre.
'Mobile Network'
means any UK mobile phone network that is capable of delivering Short Messages.
'Mobile Request'
means a Player's request for a Selection to be entered into a Draw contained in a Short Message.
'Multi-draw'
means a facility to play the Game for a number of Draws using the same Selection(s), the number and frequency of such Draws being available for selection by Interactive Players in advance.
'Play'
means an entry into the Game in accordance with the Play Style for the Game.
'Play Style'
means the method of participation in the Game by an Interactive Player via the Interactive System as specified in these Procedures.
'Play Validation Requirements'
means the Company's Play validation requirements set out or referred to in the Rules as such validation requirements may be amended by the Company from time to time.
'Player'
means a member of the Playing Public who purchases or otherwise acquires an entry in the Game, including an Interactive Player who purchases or otherwise acquires a Play.
'Playing Public'
means members of the public who are eligible to purchase an entry in the Game.
'Pools Fund'
means the balance remaining in the Prize Fund (as defined in paragraph (E)(1) below) after deduction of all Match Three category Prizes as described in paragraph (E)(2) below.
'Prize'
means a prize won by a Player in the Game.
'Prize Category'
means the prize categories set out in column (a) of the table forming part of paragraph (F)(1) below.
'Rules'
means the Rules for Draw-Based Games Played Interactively as published by the Company and in force from time to time.
'Selection'
means the set of numbers chosen by an Interactive Player by entering numbers into a Board or setting out numbers in a Short Message from the Player to the Company (as appropriate) (or, in the case of a Lucky Dip, chosen by the Company's Central Computer System at the request of the Interactive Player).
'Short Message'
means a message containing numerical or text characters or both, either sent or received using a Mobile.
'Site'
means the website with the URL www.national-lottery.co.uk
'Winning Numbers'
means the Main Numbers and the Bonus Number, used to determine the winning entries in the Game.
'Winning Selection'
means a selection which entitles a Player to a Prize in the Prize Category applicable to the correct numbers selected.

Where the context so requires in these Procedures, the neuter gender shall include the feminine or masculine gender and vice-versa, the feminine gender shall include the masculine gender and vice-versa and the singular shall include the plural and vice-versa.

  • (A) The Game

    The game is called The National Lottery Lotto Game.

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  • (B) Draw

    The Draw for the Game will take place twice per week on Wednesday and Saturday except that no Draw will take place on Christmas Day unless with the consent of the Commission, or such other days as may be specified by the Company.

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  • (C) Method of Play

    • (1) Cost of play
      • (a) Each Play has a cost of £1.
      • (b) The cost of a Play for a Multi-draw will be the total cost of the Selections selected multiplied by the number of Draws the Interactive Player has chosen.
    • (2) Making a Selection

      If a Selection is not shown on the "My Account" section of the Site then that Selection will not have been entered into any Draw.

      • (i) Making a Selection via the Site
        • (a) On any one Interactive Play Slip an Interactive Player may complete a minimum of one Board and a maximum of the number of Boards included on the Interactive Play Slip. Each Board contains the numbers one to forty-nine inclusive.
        • (b) Each Interactive Play Slip shall be completed in accordance with the instructions set out on the Site.
        • (c) Once an Interactive Player has entered his Selection on the Site he will be asked to confirm and accept the Selection(s) that is/are displayed on the "Confirm Play Slip" screen of the Site. Once the Interactive Player has done so, the Selection(s) will be entered into the relevant Draw and the Interactive Player will not be able to cancel the relevant Play.
        • (d) By selecting the appropriate day(s) under the words "Choose draws" on an Interactive Play Slip the Interactive Player will be able to determine the frequency of the Draws for which his/her Selection(s) are to be entered.
        • (e) By selecting the appropriate number under the words "Choose number of weeks" on an Interactive Play Slip, the Interactive Player will be able to determine the number of weeks for which his/her Selection(s) will be entered into a Draw.
        • (f) For the purposes of the number of weeks boxes on the Interactive Play Slip, the first week shall be a period commencing with the first available Saturday or Wednesday Draw as selected by the Interactive Player and ending immediately prior to and excluding the Draw on the same day of the following calendar week, the next week shall commence on the day of and from and including the Draw immediately prior to which the first week ended and shall end immediately prior to and excluding the Draw on the same day of the next calendar week, and subsequent weeks shall be similarly determined.
      • (ii) Making a Selection via a Mobile
        • (a) In any one Mobile Request an Interactive Player may submit a minimum of one Selection and a maximum of seven Selections.
        • (b) Each Mobile Request shall be submitted in accordance with the instructions set out on the "How to play" page of the "Play by text" section of the Site.
        • (c) Once an Interactive Player has submitted his Mobile Request and such request has been received by the Company, he will be sent a Short Message from the Company.
        • (d) An Interactive Player will not be able to submit a Mobile Request for more than the next two Draws.
        • (e) For the avoidance of doubt, an additional charge, payable to the Player's Mobile Network operator, will be incurred when a Player purchases Plays via his Mobile.
    • (3) Cancellation of a Play
      • (a) Once an Interactive Player who is making the Selection(s) via the Site has confirmed and accepted the Selection(s) that is/are displayed on the "Confirm Play Slip" screen of the Site unless that Play contains two or more Lucky Dip selections each comprising the same six numbers (in which case paragraph (C)(3)(b) will apply), the Interactive Player will not be able to cancel the relevant Play.
      • (b) An Interactive Player may cancel a Play which contains two or more Lucky Dip selections each comprising the same six numbers if he telephones the Interactive Contact Centre within 120 minutes of the time he purchased the relevant Play or (where the Play is purchased on the day of a Draw and is eligible for that Draw) prior to the close of sales for the relevant Draw, whichever is the earlier.

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  • (D) Winning Selections in the National Lottery Lotto Game

    Subject to the provisions of the Rules and these Procedures, a Player who, in respect of any Selection, has three or more numbers which match the Main Numbers will be entitled to a Prize in the highest Prize Category to which those numbers relate.

    Match 3 category
    means that the Player has correctly matched three numbers in any one Selection from the six Main Numbers drawn. The appropriate Prize Category is called MATCH 3 OF 6 MAIN NUMBERS ("MATCH THREE").
    Match 4 category
    means that the Player has correctly matched four numbers in any one Selection from the six Main Numbers drawn. The appropriate Prize Category is called MATCH 4 OF 6 MAIN NUMBERS ("MATCH FOUR").
    Match 5 category
    means that the Player has correctly matched five numbers in any one Selection from the six Main Numbers drawn. The appropriate Prize Category is called MATCH 5 OF 6 MAIN NUMBERS ("MATCH FIVE").
    Match 5 plus Bonus Number category
    means that the Player has correctly matched in any one Selection five numbers from the six Main Numbers drawn, and matched the Bonus Number drawn with the remaining number from his selection. The appropriate Prize Category is called MATCH 5 OF 6 MAIN NUMBERS PLUS BONUS NUMBER ("MATCH 5 + BONUS").
    Match 6 category
    means that the Player has correctly matched six numbers in any one Selection from the six Main Numbers drawn. The appropriate Prize Category is called MATCH 6 OF 6 MAIN NUMBERS ("MATCH SIX").

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  • (E) Prize Pools for the National Lottery Lotto Game

    • (1) Subject to rounding down, the amount allocated by the Company to the prize fund for payment of Prize(s) for a particular lottery forming part of the Game ("Prize Fund") shall be 45% of the sales in respect of that lottery or such larger amount as shall be calculated by reference to any scheme that has the Commission's prior approval.
    • (2) Except in the circumstances described in paragraph (E)(4) below, all Match Three Prize Category Prizes will be £10 and will be paid from the Prize Fund.
    • (3) The allocation of the Pools Fund to each of the remaining Prize Categories shall be in accordance with the following provisions:
      • (a) Prize money allocated to each of the other Prize Categories will be divided equally by the number of Winning Selections in that category.
      • (b) If in any Draw, there are no Winning Selections in the Match Six Prize Category the Prize monies for this Prize Category will be added to the Match Six Prize pool for the next Draw.
      • (c) If in any Draw, there are no Winning Selections in the Match Five Plus Bonus Number Prize Category, the Prize monies for this Prize Category will be added to the Match Six Prize pool for that Draw.
      • (d) On the fourth consecutive Draw in which there are no Winning Selections in the Match Six Prize Category, then the entire Prize pool for the Match Six Prize Category will be added to the Match Five Plus Bonus Number Prize pool for that fourth Draw.
      • (e) Should there be no Winning Selections for the Match Six Prize Category under paragraph (E)(3)(d) above and no Winning Selections for the Match Five Plus Bonus Number Prize Category, the Prize money for the Match Six Prize Category and the Prize money for the Match Five Plus Bonus Number Prize Category will be added to the Prize pool for the Match Five Prize Category for that Draw.
      • (f) If in any Draw, there are no Winning Selections in the Match Five Prize Category, the Prize money for this Prize Category will be added to the Prize pool for the Match Four Prize Category for that Draw.
      • (g) If in any Draw, there are no Winning Selections in the Match Four Prize Category, the Prize money for this Prize Category will be divided equally by the number of Winning Selections for the Match Three Prize Category and added to the £10 Prize for that Prize Category.
    • (4) If the total number of Prizes in all Prize Categories, when multiplied by £10, would exceed the Prize Fund (i) the entirety of the Prize Fund shall be divided equally between the total number of Winning Selections in all Prize Categories (ii) the provisions of paragraph (E)(3) above shall not apply and (iii) Prize pools for any Prize Category which have been carried forward from a previous Draw or guaranteed or otherwise added to any Prize pool for this Draw shall be divided equally between Prize winners within that Prize Category.
    • (5) In the event of a Cancelled Draw and provided that, before the immediately preceding Draw that event is known to the Company then if in that preceding Draw:
      • (a) there are no Winning Selections in the Match Six Prize Category, the entire Prize pool for the Match Six Prize Category will be added to the Match Five Plus Bonus Number Prize pool for that Draw;
      • (b) there are no Winning Selections in the Match Six and Match Five Plus Bonus Number Prize Categories, the Prize monies for both these Prize Categories will be added to the Prize pool for the Match Five Prize Category for that Draw;
      • (c) there are no Winning Selections in the Match Five Prize Category, the Prize money for that Prize Category will be added to the Prize pool for the Match Four Prize Category for that Draw;
      • (d) there are no Winning Selections in the Match Four Prize Category, the Prize money for that Prize Category will be divided equally by the number of Winning Selections for the Match Three Prize Category and added to the £10 Prize for the Match Three Prize Category in that Draw.
  • (F) The National Lottery Lotto Game - Approximate Odds of Winning and Prize Structure

    • (1) The following table sets out the probability of winning and the allocation of the Pools Fund.

      (a) Number of Winning Numbers selected by a Player ("Prize Categories") (b) Approximate Odds of Winning per £1 entry (c) Pools Fund
      Match 6 of 6 Main Numbers 1: 13,983,816 52% of the Pools Fund plus the amount not won in the previous Draw in the Match Six and Match Five plus Bonus Number Prize Categories
      Match 5 of 6 Numbers plus the Bonus Number 1: 2,330,636 16% of the Pools Fund
      Match 5 of 6 Main Numbers 1: 55,492 10% of the Pools Fund
      Match 4 of 6 Main Numbers 1: 1,033 22% of the Pools Fund plus the amount not won in the Match Five Prize Category for that Draw
      Match 3 of 6 Main Numbers 1: 57 £10 Prize payable from The Prize Fund, plus any amount not won in the Match Four Prize Category for that Draw
      Any Prize 1: 54

      Note: "Match 6 of 6 Main Numbers" is the highest Prize Category and "Match 3 of 6 Main Numbers" is the lowest Prize Category.

    • (2) The holder of a winning entry may win in only one Prize Category per Play in connection with the Winning Numbers drawn in each Draw and shall be entitled only to the Prize for the highest Prize Category won by those numbers in each Draw (regardless of the actual Prize value).

    All Prizes will be rounded down to the nearest £1.

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  • (G) Refunds in Certain Circumstances

    • (1) Notwithstanding Rule 5(D)(5) of the Rules, in the event of a Cancelled Draw the Company shall refund to an Interactive Player who has purchased a Play for the Cancelled Draw only or a Play for a Multi-draw for the Cancelled Draw and other Draws, an amount equal to that part of the purchase price as was paid in respect of and is attributable to the Cancelled Draw.
    • (2) Any refund and payment under paragraph (G)(1) above will be placed directly into an Interactive Player's Account.
    • (3) The Company shall in no circumstances be liable to pay interest in respect of refunds or payments made under this paragraph (G).
    • (4) For the avoidance of doubt, this paragraph shall not apply in respect of any Draw which is delayed or postponed nor in respect of any Draw which is cancelled but which is not a Cancelled Draw as defined in these Procedures.

CONTACT NUMBERS & ADDRESSES

TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES

Interactive Contact Centre Tel: 0845 278 8000

Complaints or comments should also be directed to the above number. Evening and weekend calls cost 6p plus up to 2p per minute from a BT Calling Plan. Mobile and other providers' charges may vary. This information is correct at September 2008.

POSTAL ENQUIRIES

The National Lottery PO Box 1010 Liverpool L70 1NL

E-MAIL

help@national-lottery.co.uk

POSTAL CLAIMS

The National Lottery P0 Box 287 Watford WD18 9TT

WEBSITE

www.national-lottery.co.uk

NATIONAL LOTTERY REGIONAL CENTRE ADDRESSES

LIVERPOOL

The National Lottery 3b Olympic Way Sefton Business Park Aintree Liverpool L30 1RD Tel: 0151 236 1796

WATFORD

The National Lottery Tolpits Lane Watford WD18 9RN Tel: 01923 425000

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