# COMAR Title 36 — Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency

## Subtitle 02 — Lottery Provisions

### Chapter 07 — Unclaimed Lottery Prizes

**Authority:** State Government Article, §§9-103, 9-104, 9-109—9-111, and 9-122, Annotated Code of Maryland

**Administrative History:** Effective date: May 13, 2013 (40:9 Md. R. 790)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .01A amended effective December 2, 2019 (46:24 Md. R. 1104)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .01A, C amended effective May 26, 2025 (52:10 Md. R. 439)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .02 amended effective May 26, 2025 (52:10 Md. R. 439)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .02D, E amended effective January 14, 2019 (46:1 Md. R. 13)

#### Regulation .01 Prize Claiming Period.

*COMAR 36.02.07.01*

A. Unclaimed Monetary Award.

  (1) The Director shall retain an unclaimed monetary award for 182 days after:

    (a) The drawing;

    (b) The date the Fast Play game ticket was sold; or

    (c) The announced end of game date for an instant ticket.

  (2) If no claim for a monetary award is made within 182 days, the Director shall transfer the monetary award to the Unclaimed Prize Fund.

B. Unclaimed Merchandise or Experiential Award.

  (1) The Director shall designate the time period for retaining unclaimed merchandise or an experiential award.

  (2) If no claim is made for merchandise or an experiential award within the time period designated by the Director, the Director shall designate how the Agency will handle the merchandise or experiential award consistent with any Agency contract or license agreement for the merchandise or experiential award.

  (3) If no time period has been designated by the Director for retaining unclaimed merchandise or an experiential award, the period for claiming the award may not exceed 182 days.

C. Unclaimed Prizes Held Other Than 182 Days. The Director may hold a prize in a game or drawing for a period of time other than 182 days if:

  (1) The game is not a weekly, daily, or multi jurisdictional lottery drawing;

  (2) The Director designated the game as a bonus game or drawing; and

  (3) The Director designates the claiming period to be a time other than 182 days.

#### Regulation .02 Unclaimed Prize Fund.

*COMAR 36.02.07.02*

A. Prize money from a winning ticket that has not been claimed within the claiming period for that game shall accrue to the Unclaimed Prize Fund.

B. The Director may institute bonus prizes using funds from the Unclaimed Prize Fund.

C. Bonus Prizes.

  (1) The bonus prizes shall be determined by the Director.

  (2) The Director may change the number of bonus prize categories and the allocation of prize money among the prize categories.

  (3) The Agency shall announce any change to the number of bonus prize categories and to the allocation of prize money among the prize categories.