SECTION 429:10-1-7. Payment of prizes

(a)   During the retailer's normal business hours, retailers are required to pay prizes $600.00 or under. Retailers are encouraged to pay in cash, but they may pay mid-tier prizes ($25.01 to $600) with a business check or money order if this is disclosed in advance to the claimant. Consistent reported failure to pay prizes to claimants or the issuance of a non-sufficient funds (NSF) check to claimants may be sufficient grounds to suspend or terminate the retailer contract.

(b)   OLC may authorize designated retailers to pay prizes up to five-thousand dollars ($5,000.00), without regard to where the ticket or share was purchased, after performing validation procedures appropriate to the game and as specified by the Board.

(c)   Before attempting to validate a ticket, the Retailer should instruct the Claimant to print their name on the back of the ticket and sign their name in the space provided.

(d)   Retailer must establish that the ticket is a winning ticket by using the OLC validation procedures/system. If the retailer does not receive the appropriate authorization to pay, the ticket should be returned to the claimant with instructions to file a claim with OLC.

(e)   After validating and paying a winning instant game ticket, the retailer should deface the ticket in a manner sufficient to prevent subsequent attempts to claim the ticket prize amount.

(f)   For prizes greater than $600, retailers will provide claimants with OLC claim forms, if available, or direct them to an authorized claim center, the OLC office, or the OLC website.

(g)   A retailer shall not charge any player or claimant a fee for selling a ticket, validating a winning ticket, paying a winning ticket, verifying a non-winning ticket, providing a claim form, or for any other assistance not authorized by OLC.

(h)   If a claimant of a winning ticket is less than 18 years of age, retailers must instruct the claimant that the Act prohibits prize payment to any person 18 year of age or under and return the ticket to the claimant.

[Source: Added at 23 Ok Reg 174, eff 10-10-05 (emergency); Added at 23 Ok Reg 2778, eff 6-25-06; Amended at 24 Ok Reg 1092, eff 5-12-07]