General provisions

(a) Games. Each different type of lottery game shall be established by the Connecticut Lottery Corporation ("CLC") and approved by the Division of Special Revenue ("division") in writing. For purposes of sections 12-568a-1 to 12-568a-23, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, the types or categories of games shall be (1) instant; (2) on-line and (3) others, including any variations of these. Any game or type or category of game, once having been established may thereafter be discontinued in similar manner provided reasonable notice of such intention is given to the division and its written approval secured within seven (7) business days after receipt; provided, however, if the division does not approve or disapprove of the CLC's request within seven (7) business days of such request, such approval shall be deemed granted. Such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. Except as otherwise provided in sections 12-568a-1 to12-568a-23, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, a discontinuation shall not affect the rights of those who purchased tickets prior to the effective date of termination. (b) Official procedures, division approval. (1) Prior to implementation, the CLC shall obtain the division's written approval of all official procedures which assure the integrity of the Connecticut State lottery games in order to minimize the possibility of corruption or illegal practices for the protection of the public. Procedures shall be required for, but are not limited to, the following: prize claim period(s); unclaimed prizes; ticket validation and verification requirements; controls on the production and distribution of tickets and ticket stock; ticket destruction; central system configuration; failover recovery procedures; acceptance testing; procedures to protect the on-line system from tampering with pools, liabilities or winfiles; procedures for balancing and for reconciling the on-line automated wagering system on a daily and weekly basis; lost or stolen ticket claims; mutilated tickets; payments of prizes to minors; multiple claimants; interrupted games; timing of prize payments; cancellation of tickets; security plans for primary and secondary CLC sites; game additions, changes, discontinuations; game procedures; subscription programs; disaster recovery plans; probability of winning; lump sum versus annuitized payment plans; on-line drawings; confidentiality of drawing procedures; promotional drawings; vendor reports for issuance of ticket stock; fraudulent claims; previously paid claims; rightful ticket ownership and incredulous claims; unclaimed prize information; audits of instant ticket games; ticket reconstruction; definitions of a valid on-line ticket and a valid instant ticket; and instant ticket vending machines. (2) All procedures shall be promulgated after receipt of the division's approval; provided, however, if the division does not approve or disapprove of the CLC's request within seven (7) business days after receipt of such request, such approval shall be deemed granted; provided, further, that the division shall not unreasonably withhold written approval of any and all CLC official procedures that assure the integrity of the lottery. (c) Emergencies. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, in the event of unforeseen problems which might reasonably cause substantial detriment to the public interest of the state of Connecticut, the division reserves the right to order an immediate suspension of the sales of any tickets or the conducting of any drawing relating to a particular game. The division will thereafter require the CLC to establish new procedures relating to the manner in which any incidental drawings are to be conducted, winners to be determined, and the amount of any prizes to be fixed. In addition, if during the actual conduct of any drawing, a problem arises requiring immediate action, the executive director or the executive director's designee shall take immediate action. (d) Prize payouts. (1) Except in the event of a multi-state lottery game, at least forty-five percent (45%) of the total gross sales in any lottery game shall be returned as prizes to holders of winning tickets. (2) The CLC may limit its liability in games with fixed payouts and may cause a cessation of sales of tickets of certain designation when such liability limit has been reached. (e) Notice of change of games; drawing deadline. In the event that the CLC changes a lottery game to a game which is greatly dissimilar to the old game, the CLC may set a date before which all eligible winners must claim to participate in the final drawing of the old game. The CLC shall give adequate notice to the public by publishing in at least two newspapers having substantial circulation in the state that the lottery game is to be changed and that winning ticket holders must claim by a certain date pursuant to this rule to be eligible for the final drawing. This notice shall be published at least three times a week for at least two weeks commencing no later than three weeks prior to the final claiming date. (f) Waiver. In the sole discretion of the executive director, any rule contained herein may be waived when such waiver shall be in the best interests of the state of Connecticut and the operation of state lotteries. (g) Game procedures. All game procedures shall be in written form and kept on file at the CLC offices in sufficient supply to assure distribution to any party requesting a copy. The CLC shall also provide to the division a sufficient supply of copies of all game procedures. Official notice of the adoption of procedures governing any particular game shall be published in at least two newspapers having a substantial circulation in the state not later than one day prior to the beginning of that game. The CLC may produce and distribute informational brochures and other materials designed to inform the general public as to the manner of participation in a game. This game information may also be printed on the ticket itself. However, in the event of any conflict, the official procedures, as adopted and on file with the CLC, shall control. (h) General division approval. In any instances in which division approval is required under Sections 12-568a-1 through 12-568a-23, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State agencies, the division shall not unreasonably withhold its approval. Where no particular time period is otherwise specified for division approval or deemed approval, the division shall not unreasonably delay its approval decision.