Play Thunderball Game Procedures

Thunderball Interactive Game Procedures

Seventh Edition effective 7th May 2011

© National Lottery Commission 2011

Camelot UK Lotteries Limited is licensed by the National Lottery Commission (the “Commission”) to run The National Lottery and to promote The National Lottery Thunderball Game (the “Game”).

Where the Game is played through Interactive Channels, it should be played in accordance with the Interactive Account Terms and Conditions (the “Terms and Conditions”), the Rules for Draw-Based Games Played Interactively (the “Rules”) and these Procedures. If there is any conflict between these documents, these Procedures will take priority followed by the Rules and then the Terms and Conditions.

Where the Game is played at Retailers or by Offline Direct Debit, it should be played in accordance with the National Lottery Rules for Draw-Based Games Played at Retailers or by Offline Direct Debit, and with the National Lottery Thunderball Game Procedures which are set out in the Players’ Guide (version 18).

All National Lottery Rules and Procedures for games played through Interactive Channels are available for inspection on the National Lottery website (www.national-lottery.co.uk), by telephoning the Interactive Contact Centre on 0845 278 8000, or by writing to the National Lottery, PO Box 251, Watford WD18 9BR.

  • (A) General

    • (1) The Game costs £1 to play.
    • (2) Thunderball Draws take place three times a week on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
    • (3) If your Selection is not shown in your “My Account” section of the Website then your Selection will not have been entered into any Thunderball Draw.

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  • (B) Ways to buy a Thunderball Play

    • (1) Buying a Thunderball Play on the Website
      • (a) You should fill in the interactive play slip for the Game by following the instructions on the Website.
      • (b) A ‘week’ when mentioned in the ‘number of weeks’ boxes on the interactive play slip, will start on the first available Wednesday, Friday or Saturday Thunderball Draw that your Thunderball Play is entered into and will end immediately before (and excluding) the Thunderball Draw on the same day of the following calendar week.
    • (2) Buying a Thunderball Play via a Mobile
      • (a) You should send your Mobile Request by following the instructions set out on the “How to Play” page of the “Play by text” section of the Website.
      • (b) You will incur your usual charge for sending a text message, payable to your mobile network operator, when a Mobile Request is sent.
      • (c) Camelot will send you a text message on receiving your Mobile Request.
      • (d) You can only submit a Mobile Request for the next Thunderball Draw at any one time.

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  • (C) Cancellation of a Thunderball Play

    • (1) You cannot cancel a Thunderball Play purchased on the Website after you have accepted the Selection(s) displayed on the "Confirm Play Slip" screen of the Website, or cancel a Thunderball Play once you have submitted a Mobile Request, unless paragraph (C)(2) below applies.
    • (2) You can only cancel a Thunderball Play bought via the Website or a Mobile if:
      • (a) the Thunderball Play includes two or more Lucky Dip Selections that contain the same six numbers; and
      • (b) you telephone the Interactive Contact Centre within 120 minutes of the time you bought the relevant Thunderball Play or before the close of sales for that Thunderball Draw, whichever is the earlier.

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  • (D) Winning and Prizes in the Game

    • (1) If your Thunderball Play matches any of the Prize categories set out in the table in paragraph (D)(2), you will win a Prize in that Prize category, subject to the Rules and these Game Procedures.
    • (2) The table below sets out and explains the Prize categories, the approximate odds of winning and the Prize value for each Prize category.
      Prize Categories Approximate Odds of Winning Prize (subject to Prize capping explained in paragraph (D)(5) below)
      Match 5 & Thunderball = First five numbers* in one Thunderball Play matched to the Main Numbers and the Thunderball number* in that Thunderball Play matched to the Thunderball 1:8,060,598 £500,000
      Match 5 = First five numbers in one Thunderball Play matched to the Main Numbers 1:620,046 £5,000
      Match 4 & Thunderball = Four of the first five numbers in one Thunderball Play matched from the Main Numbers and the Thunderball number in that Thunderball Play matched to the Thunderball 1:47,416 £250
      Match 4 = Four of the first five numbers in one Thunderball Play matched from the Main Numbers 1:3,648 £100
      Match 3 & Thunderball = Three of the first five numbers in one Thunderball Play matched from the Main Numbers and the Thunderball number in that Thunderball Play matched to the Thunderball 1:1,437 £20
      Match 3 = Three of the first five numbers in one Thunderball Play matched from the Main Numbers 1:111 £10
      Match 2 & Thunderball = Two of the first five numbers in one Thunderball Play matched from the Main Numbers and the Thunderball number in that Thunderball Play matched to the Thunderball 1:135 £10
      Match 1 & Thunderball = One of the first five numbers in one Thunderball Play matched from the Main Numbers and the Thunderball number in that Thunderball Play matched to the Thunderball 1:35 £5
      Match Thunderball = the Thunderball number in one Thunderball Play matched to the Thunderball 1:29 £3
      Any Prize 1:13  

      *the first five numbers in a Thunderball Play are the five numbers chosen by you from the numbers one to thirty-nine inclusive

      ** the Thunderball number in a Thunderball Play is the one number chosen by you from the numbers one to fourteen inclusive

    • (3) On average, 52% of Thunderball sales will be available to be paid out in Prizes to players. Due to the fixed Prize nature of this Game, there is no rollover of any Prize monies if the top Prize is not won.
    • (4) Except in the exceptional circumstances described in paragraph (D)(5) below, all Prizes in a Thunderball Draw will be paid in full.
    • (5) Prize capping (which means Prizes may be less than stated) will occur in very limited circumstances and only if the total value of Prizes in a Thunderball Draw is more than four times the total value of entries for that Thunderball Draw. If Prize capping takes place, a calculation will be made to identify which Prize categories will be affected (meaning that Prizes in that Prize category cannot be paid in full). This calculation will divide the total value of entries for that Thunderball Draw by the odds of winning in a Thunderball Draw for each Prize category (as set out in the table above). The number produced by this calculation will then be divided by 0.132205*** to produce a figure (the “Calculated Number”). If the number of Prizes in any Prize category is greater than the Calculated Number for that Prize category, the Prize category will be capped. The reduced Prize amount payable will be calculated as set out in paragraph (D)(6) below.

      *** The figure 0.132205 represents the Prize payment percentage for the Game of 52.882% divided by the Prize cap value of 400%.

    • (6)
      • (a) If Prize capping takes place, the total amount of funds available for Prizes across all Prize categories will be four times the total value of entries for that Thunderball Draw.
      • (b) If only one Prize category must be capped, the value of Prizes in uncapped Prize categories will be set aside and the remainder will be divided equally between the winning entries in the capped Prize category.
      • (c) If more than one Prize category must be capped, after the value of Prizes in uncapped Prize categories has been set aside, the remainder will be divided between the capped Prize categories in proportion to the value of Prizes that would have been won if capping had not occurred. The resulting amount in each capped Prize category will be divided equally between the winning entries in that capped Prize category.
      • (d) Prizes in Prize categories which are not capped will be paid in full.

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  • (E) Refunds for Cancelled Thunderball Draws

    • (1) Without limiting Camelot’s liability (as set out in Rule 5(D)(5) of the Rules), if there is a Cancelled Thunderball Draw and you have bought a Thunderball Play for that Cancelled Thunderball Draw, Camelot will refund you an amount equal to the price you paid for the Cancelled Thunderball Draw only.
    • (2) Any refund will be placed directly into your National Lottery account or refunded by any other means decided by Camelot. Please note that no interest will be paid on any refunds made.
    • (3) This paragraph (E) shall not apply where a Thunderball Draw has been delayed or postponed, or has been cancelled but is not a Cancelled Thunderball Draw as defined in these Procedures.

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  • (F) Meaning of Words

    Cancelled Thunderball Draw:
    Any Thunderball Draw which does not take place because of the expiry, suspension or withdrawal of either Camelot’s licence from the Commission to run The National Lottery or Camelot’s licence from the Commission to promote the Game.
    Interactive System:
    The system accessed via the Website which is used by Camelot to register prospective players, administer accounts, enable Thunderball Plays (including via a Mobile) and pay Prizes.
    Lucky Dip:
    Six different numbers (being five numbers from the numbers one to thirty-nine inclusive and one number from the numbers one to fourteen inclusive) which are randomly selected by Camelot’s central computer system on your behalf.
    Main Numbers:
    The first five numbers randomly chosen at a Thunderball Draw from the numbers one to thirty-nine inclusive.
    Mobile:
    A mobile phone registered on a UK mobile network which has been registered on the Interactive System either through the Website or the Interactive Contact Centre.
    Mobile Request:
    Your request via a text message for a Selection to be entered into a Thunderball Draw.
    Prize:
    A prize won by an eligible player in the Game.
    Selection:
    One set of six numbers chosen by you to play the Game, being five numbers from the numbers one to thirty-nine inclusive and one number from the numbers one to fourteen inclusive, or a Lucky Dip for the Game.
    Thunderball:
    The one number randomly selected as part of a Thunderball Draw from the numbers one to fourteen inclusive.
    Thunderball Draw:
    The process which results in the random selection by Camelot of a set of winning numbers for the Game.
    Thunderball Play:
    An entry into the Game made via the Interactive System in the ways set out in these Procedures.
    Website:
    The website www.national-lottery.co.uk
    Y(y)ou/your:
    A member of the public who is eligible to play the Game, is eligible to open an account on the Interactive System (according to the criteria set out in the Interactive Account Terms and Conditions) and has opened an account on the Interactive System. An Interactive Player does not include a person whose account on the Interactive System has been terminated, cancelled, suspended or closed.

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CONTACT NUMBERS & ADDRESSES

TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES

National Lottery Customer Care Team Tel: 0845 278 8000

For the hard of hearing using Minicom equipment, please call 08459 100 045.

Complaints or comments should also be made to the above numbers. Calls from a BT line are charged at your calling plan’s standard network rate. Mobile and other providers' charges may vary. This information is correct at January 2011.

POSTAL ENQUIRIES

The National Lottery PO Box 251 Watford WD18 9BR

E-MAIL

help@national-lottery.co.uk

POSTAL CLAIMS

The National Lottery PO Box 287, Watford, WD18 9TT

WEBSITE

www.national-lottery.co.uk

NATIONAL LOTTERY REGIONAL CENTRE ADDRESSES

LIVERPOOL

The National Lottery 5 Tiger Court Kings Drive Kings Business Park Prescot Knowsley Liverpool L34 1BH Tel: 0151 236 1796

WATFORD

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

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