![[UK National Lottery Logo]](/Lottery.gif){kind=small}
If you'd like the terminal to choose your numbers at random, mark the 'Lucky Dip®' box on each of those boards on wish you wish to play 'Lucky Dip®' or simply ask the retailer for a 'Lucky Dip®'. (Note: You should not select a set of numbers and mark the 'Lucky Dip®' box on the same board.)
If you wish to make another selection, use another board. Each board will cost you £1. Only use a pencil or a blue or black pen. Put a clear, bold, vertical line through each number you have chosen. If you make a mistake, mark the "void" box and use another board.
Here's an example of how it works. Let's suppose you have filled in 4 boards on your Play Slip and you would like to play these same numbers for 3 weeks. Simply mark the '3' box in the 'No. of WEEKS' column. For this example, 4 boards for 3 weeks will cost you £12. When you give your Play Slip to the retailer, he or she will give you a ticket that will enter you into every Thunderball draw for the next 3 weeks. It's that simple.
Winning Selections Odds Prize Value* 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
* Depending on the number of winners overall and per prize category, prizes may on occasion be less than stated above. This will happen when the total value of prizes, which would otherwise have been paid, exceeds the total sales for that draw and the number of prizes in any category exceeds the maximum number of prizes for that category, as specified in the Game Procedures available from all National Lottery On-Line retailers or The National Lottery Line. If this happens, the prize amounts in such categories will be reduced as specified in the Game Procedures so that the total value of the prizes does not exceed the total sales for that draw.
Due to the fixed prize nature of this game, there are no Rollovers if the top prize is not won [this is a con - this means that you can never win more than £250,000 - and where does that unwon jackpot go ? - plus it's a major mistake not to rollover the jackpot to increase the excitement and at least get a little closer in jackpot size to the main UK lottery, The US Powerball game, on which this game is mostly based, does have unlimited rollovers and it causes major lottery ticket buying frenzies in the States when there's a big jackpot to be won].
Some National Lottery retailers are authorised to pay prizes of up to £500. National Lottery Post Offices will pay out prizes of up to £10,000, though prizes over £500 will be paid by cheque. Anything above £10,000 must be claimed in person from a National Lottery Regional Centre and will be paid by cheque (no cash is held on these premises).
If you match the five main numbers and the Thunderball number, please call The National Lottery Line immediately for assistance in claiming your prize. Ring 0845 9 100 000 (calls normally charged at local rate in the UK except for mobile phones).
To claim any prize above £500, you will have to complete a Prize Claim Form (available at National Lottery retailers or by phoning The National Lottery Line) and give proof of your identity. If you are claiming a large prize, additional checks on your winning ticket may be conducted. All National Lottery prizes must be claimed by 11.00pm, 180 days after the winning draw. You can also, at your own risk, claim your winnings up to £10,000 by post. Send your winning ticket and the completed Prize Claim Form to this address:
The National Lottery,
Accounts Dept.,
P.O. Box 287,
Watford WD1 8TT
Remember, The National Lottery accepts no responsibility for tickets lost in the post.
Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter,
Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London,
Reigate, Sunderland and Watford.
Ask your National Lottery retailer for the full address.
If you have any questions or complaints about The National Lottery, ask your National Lottery retailer or phone The National Lottery Line on 0845 9 100 000 (calls normally charged at the local rate in the UK except on mobile phones). Or you can write to this address:
The National Lottery,
P.O. Box 1010,
Liverpool. L70 1NL
For the hard of hearing, please call Minicom on 0845 9 100 045.
Now you know how, there's nothing to stop you playing. Remember, the next Thunderball top prize winner could be you.
The National Lottery Thunderball Game is subject to the Rules for On-Line Games and The National Lottery Thunderball Game Procedures (as amended from time to time). In the event of any discrepancy between this leaflet and the Games Rules and Procedures (as amended from time to time), the Games Rules and Procedures apply. The Game Rules and Procedures are available at National Lottery retailers or from The National Lottery Line.
Please play responsibly.
For example, let's say you and nine friends [if you have that many] decide to form a group, putting in £1 a draw each week. Instead of your £1 buying one set of numbers, you'll have an equal share in ten sets of numbers, giving you ten times more chances of winning a prize [not strictly correct - it gives you ten times more chances of winning the jackpot. There's up to 16 duplicate main numbers in the 50 main numbers picked]. So if your group won a top prize of £250,000, your share would be £25,000.
It's a good idea to appoint a manager [essential more like !]. This person will be responsible for the running of the group, purchasing the tickets and the collection and division of the winnings.
Under The National Lottery Game Rules, a prize on a winning ticket is payable to one person only: this should, we suggest, be the manager of the group [make sure that person is very trustworthy]. The manager should write their name and address on the back of the ticket and keep it safe. It will be that person's responsibility to share out the winnings with the other members of the group.
If there is no [written] agreement and the winner of a prize transfers part of it to others, these gifts may attract Inheritance Tax. If the members of the group can prove that the distribution of the prize was made in accordance with a group agreement entered into before the win, no liability to Inheritance Tax will arise [effectively this means you need a written agreement].*
[Surprisingly, they've left out a sample Group Playing Agreement here, instead saying "Group Player's Agreement Form - as per The National Lottery Playing In A Group brochure". I've included said form, with my changes, below]
GROUP PLAYING AGREEMENT
The Name Of The Group: _______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Member's Weekly % Of Date Signature
Name Contribution (£) Prizes
[One line per member]
Witness' Signature: ________________ Name: ________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________
Occupation: ________________________ Date: ___________________ 199_
SPECIFIC GROUP ARRANGEMENTS
[You need to list the manager's name, how the numbers will be selected,
the payment failure contingency plan and how publicity will be handled
(either individual consent or as a group)]
Remember - it's a good idea to decide what you are going to do if one of the members of the group can't pay for a particular draw. Get this clear from the start, just in case the situation arises.
Your tickets should be kept safe as they will be required to claim a prize. It's important that the manager writes his/her name and address on the tickets. You may like to make a photocopy of the ticket(s) for each of your group's members [hmmm...if the manager has to do that for each draw, then maybe he/she shouldn't be trusted with the job of group manager in the first place !].
Remember - winnings should be collected by your manager and shared out according to your group agreement.
If you have any questions or complaints about The National Lottery, ask your National Lottery retailer or phone The National Lottery Line on 0845 9 100 000 (calls normally charged at the local rate in the UK except on mobile phones) or visit The National Lottery website at "http://www.national-lottery.co.uk/" [or this site of course, which is far more detailed and up-to-date :-) ].
For the hard of hearing using Minicom equipment, please call 0845 9 100 045. Or you can write to this address:
The National Lottery,
P.O. Box 1010,
Liverpool. L70 1NL
Each group member must be 16 years or over to play The National Lottery.
A summary of the Player Code Of Practice is on display at all National Lottery retailers.
In the event of any discrepancy between this leaflet and the Rules for On-Line Games and The National Lottery Thunderball Game Procedures, the Rules and Procedures apply.
We hope these guidelines are useful [just about - they're more useful with my comments included !]. They are, though, given without legal liability on our part and we would advise you to consider having a solicitor prepare the form of agreement [how many people really would do that, complete with solicitor fees probably exceeding the first year's winnings :-) ].
Please play responsibly. [that's the second time they've said this, but I bet they'd rather hope you didn't :-) ]
*It is important to note that Inland Revenue law and practice may change; the comments on Inheritance Tax are based on our understanding of Inland Revenue practice as of November 1994 [er, that's nearly 5 years before the issue of this leaflet ! Sadly, there's nothing else about Inheritance Tax e.g. Is there a personal allowance ? What's the tax rate (40%) ? etc.].
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