Play Thunderball Game Procedures

'Thunderball' Interactive Game Procedures

Fourth 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 Thunderball Game. The National Lottery Thunderball Game played interactively is governed by the Interactive Account Terms and Conditions and the Rules for Draw-Based Games Played Interactively (available by calling the Customer Care Team 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 Thunderball 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 Thunderball 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.
'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 Thunderball 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 (being five numbers in the Select Five Selection and one number in the Select One Selection) 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 five numbers randomly selected as part of a Draw from the numbers one to thirty-four inclusive.
'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.
'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.
'Prize'
means a prize won by a Player in the Game.
'Prize Category'
means the prize categories as defined in paragraph (E) below.
'Rules'
means the Rules for Draw-Based Games Played Interactively as published by the Company and in force from time to time.
'Select Five Selection'
means the five numbers chosen by an Interactive Player from between the numbers one to thirty-four inclusive.
'Select One Selection'
means the one number chosen by an Interactive Player from between the numbers one to fourteen inclusive only.
'Selection'
means the set of numbers chosen by an Interactive Player, being five numbers in the Select Five Selection and one number in the Select One Selection (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
'Thunderball Number'
means the one number randomly selected as part of a Draw from the numbers one to fourteen inclusive only.
'Winning Numbers'
means the Main Numbers and the Thunderball 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 Thunderball 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 Playing the Game

    • (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.
        • (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(s) on the Site he will be asked to confirm and accept the Selection(s) that is/are displayed on the "Confirm Play Slip" screen on 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 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 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 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 five 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 only be able to submit a Mobile Request for the next Draw.
        • (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 that Draw, whichever is the earlier.
      • (c) On cancellation of a Play in accordance with (C)(3)(b) the Interactive Player will be entitled to a refund equal to the price of the Play, which refund will be placed directly into an Interactive Player's Account.

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  • (D) Winning Selections in the Game

    Subject to the provisions of the Rules and these Procedures , a Player who, in respect of any Selection, EITHER has one or more numbers from or in the Select Five Selection which match the Main Numbers drawn in a Draw and who has a number as a Select One Selection which matches the Thunderball Number drawn in that Draw OR has three or more numbers from or in the Select Five Selection which match the Main Numbers drawn in a Draw will be entitled to a Prize in the highest Prize Category to which those numbers relate.

    'Match 5 and the Thunderball' category:
    means that the five numbers selected by a Player from or in the Select Five Selection ("the Select 5 numbers") match, in any order, all the Main Numbers drawn in a Draw and the number selected by a Player from or in the Select One Selection ("the Select 1 number") matches the Thunderball Number drawn in that Draw.
    'Match 5' category:
    means that the Select 5 numbers match, in any order, all the Main Numbers drawn.
    'Match 4 and the Thunderball' category:
    means that four of the Select 5 numbers match, in any order, the Main Numbers drawn in a Draw and the Select 1 number matches the Thunderball Number drawn in that Draw.
    'Match 4' category:
    means that four of the Select 5 numbers match, in any order, the Main Numbers drawn.
    'Match 3 and the Thunderball' category:
    means that three of the Select 5 numbers match, in any order, the Main Numbers drawn in a Draw and the Select 1 number matches the Thunderball Number drawn in that Draw.
    'Match 3' category:
    means that three of the Select 5 numbers match, in any order, the Main Numbers drawn.
    'Match 2 and the Thunderball' category:
    means that two of the Select 5 numbers match, in any order, the Main Numbers drawn in a Draw and the Select 1 number matches the Thunderball Number drawn in that Draw.
    'Match 1 and the Thunderball' category:
    means that one of the Select 5 numbers matches the Main Numbers drawn in a Draw and the Select 1 number matches the Thunderball Numbers drawn in that Draw.

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  • (E) The National Lottery Thunderball Game - Approximate Odds of Winning and Prize Structure

    • (1) The following table sets forth the probability of winning and, subject to paragraph (E)(2) below, the allocation of fixed Prizes.

      Prize Categories Approximate Odds of Winning per Play Prize (subject to paragraph (E)(2) below)
      Match 5 & the Thunderball 1:3,895,584 £250,000
      Match 5 1:299,660.3 £5,000
      Match 4 & the Thunderball 1:26,866.1 £250
      Match 4 1:2,066.6 £100
      Match 3 & the Thunderball 1:959.5 £20
      Match 3 1:73.8 £10
      Match 2 & the Thunderball 1:106.6 £10
      Match 1 & the Thunderball 1:32.8 £5
      Any Prize 1:18.2  
      • (2)(a) If the total value of fixed Prizes otherwise payable in respect of the Draw does not exceed in aggregate 300% of the aggregate face value of Plays in that Draw ("Draw Ticket Sales") then all fixed Prizes in that Draw shall be payable in full.
      • (b) If the total value of fixed Prizes otherwise payable in respect of a Draw exceeds 300% of the total value of Draw Ticket Sales the provisions of paragraph (E)(2)(c) below shall apply.
      • (c) Where the number of fixed Prizes in a Prize Category in a Draw would otherwise exceed the maximum, as specified in paragraph (E)(2)(d) below, the Prizes for that Prize Category will be determined as follows:
        • (i) A residual Prize pool will be determined, being three times the Draw Ticket Sales less the value of Prizes payable in those Prize Categories in which the number of Prizes does not exceed the relevant maximum as indicated in paragraph (E)(2)(b) above ("Residual Prize Pool").
        • (ii) Subject to paragraph (E)(2)(c)(iii) below, the Residual Prize Pool will be allocated to that Prize Category in which such maximum was exceeded and divided by the number of prize winners in that Prize Category; the resulting amount shall be the Prize for that Prize Category for that Draw.
        • (iii) If there is more than one Prize Category in which such maximum is exceeded in the Draw, the Residual Prize Pool will be allocated between those Prize Categories pro rata to the total value of Prizes which would have been won in each of those Prize Categories had the provisions of this paragraph (E)(2) not been applied, and the Prize for each such Prize Category will be the amount so allocated to it divided by the number of prize winners in that Prize Category.
      • (d) For the purposes of paragraph (E)(2)(c) above, the maximum number of fixed Prizes in a Prize Category shall be calculated as follows:
        Prize Category Maximum Number of Fixed Prizes
        Match 5 and the Thunderball The number produced by dividing Draw Ticket Sales by 3,895,584.0 and then dividing the resulting figure by 0.180367 (and, where the resulting number is not a whole number, rounding up to the next whole number).
        Match 5 The number produced by dividing Draw Ticket Sales by 299,660.3077 and then dividing the resulting figure by 0.180367 (and, where the resulting number is not a whole number, rounding up to the next whole number).
        Match 4 and the Thunderball The number produced by dividing Draw Ticket Sales by 26,866.0966 and then dividing the resulting figure by 0.180367 (and, where the resulting number is not a whole number, rounding up to the next whole number).
        Match 4 The number produced by dividing Draw Ticket Sales by 2066.6228 and then dividing the resulting figure by 0.180367 (and, where the resulting number is not a whole number, rounding up to the next whole number).
        Match 3 and the Thunderball The number produced by dividing Draw Ticket Sales by 959.5034 and then dividing the resulting figure by 0.180367 (and, where the resulting number is not a whole number, rounding up to the next whole number).
        Match 3 The number produced by dividing Draw Ticket Sales by 73.8080 and then dividing the resulting figure by 0.180367 (and, where the resulting number is not a whole number, rounding up to the next whole number).
        Match 2 and the Thunderball The number produced by dividing Draw Ticket Sales by 106.6115 and then dividing the resulting figure by 0.180367 (and, where the resulting number is not a whole number, rounding up to the next whole number).
        Match 1 and the Thunderball The number produced by dividing Draw Ticket Sales by 32.8035 and then dividing the resulting figure by 0.180367 (and, where the resulting number is not a whole number, rounding up to the next whole number).

        (In each paragraph of the above "Maximum Number of Fixed Prizes" column, the first figure represents the odds of winning in the relevant Prize Category and the second figure (0.180367) represents the Prize payment percentage of 54.11% of Draw Ticket Sales which it is expected will over time be the average Prize payment percentage from such Draw Ticket Sales per draw divided by 3 to take account of the percentage set out in paragraph (E)(2) above).

      • (e) Each prize which is not a whole number of pounds sterling will be rounded down to the nearest £1.
    • (3) "Match 5 & the Thunderball" is the highest Prize Category and "Match 1 & the Thunderball" is the lowest Prize Category. The Company reserves the right at its absolute discretion to increase the Prize for any Prize Category or Categories for any Draw subject to the prior agreement of the Commission.
    • (4) The holder of a Winning Selection 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).

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  • (F) 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 either 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 (F)(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 (F).
    • (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.

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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

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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