QUEEN OF HEARTS NY

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Official Rules – Queen of Hearts NY

These House Rules govern the “Queen of Hearts NY” charitable raffle (the “Game”) conducted by the Punishers Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, Havana Chapter, operating out of Rochester, New York (the “Organization”). The Game is operated as a “Search for the Queen of Hearts” raffle under Article 9-A of the New York General Municipal Law and the Rules and Regulations of the New York State Gaming Commission.

These Rules are intended to conform to the New York State Gaming Commission’s “Guidelines for Conducting ‘Search for the Queen of Hearts’ Raffle” and all other applicable statutes, regulations, and local ordinances. If there is any conflict between these Rules and applicable law or license conditions, the law and license conditions control.

1. Sponsoring Organization & Authority

  1. The Game is sponsored and conducted by the Punishers Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, Havana Chapter, operating out of Rochester, New York, a recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization (“Organization”).
  2. The Organization is an “authorized organization” under New York law and conducts the Game pursuant to all required municipal licenses, registrations, and approvals, and subject to the oversight of the New York State Gaming Commission.
  3. The Organization reserves the right to suspend, modify, or terminate the Game as required by law, license conditions, or direction from the New York State Gaming Commission or local licensing authority.

2. Definitions

  1. Game Board – A sealed board containing a standard deck of fifty-two (52) playing cards plus two (2) Jokers (54 cards total), placed face-down in numbered positions and secured under a transparent locking cover.
  2. Grand Prize Pool – Sixty percent (60%) of all gross ticket sales for the Game, accumulated over all drawings of that Game, subject to the grand-prize cap stated in Section 7.
  3. Secondary Prize – A prize awarded when the card revealed on the Game Board is not the Queen of Hearts, as described in Section 7.
  4. Drawing – A regularly scheduled event at which a winning ticket is drawn and a card on the Game Board is revealed.
  5. Game – The series of Drawings conducted using a single Game Board, ending when the Queen of Hearts is revealed and the Grand Prize is awarded.

3. Eligibility

  1. Participants must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.
  2. Participants must be legal residents of the State of New York and must be physically located within New York State at the time of any online ticket purchase.
  3. By purchasing a ticket, participants represent and warrant that they satisfy all eligibility requirements. The Organization may request proof of age, residency, and physical location.
  4. Where prohibited by law, or where required approvals are not in place, participation is void.

4. Ticket Price, Format & Sales

  1. Tickets are sold at a fixed price of $1.00 per chance unless otherwise publicly announced.
  2. Tickets are two-part, sequentially numbered raffle tickets. The purchaser’s name, telephone number, and selected board position (if applicable) are recorded on the Organization’s portion of the ticket or in an electronic record; the purchaser retains the matching stub or electronic receipt.
  3. Tickets may be sold:
    • In person by licensed members or assistants; and/or
    • Online or via mobile devices using approved internet/mobile raffle procedures.
  4. Online ticket purchases are processed through the Organization’s website and payment processor. For each valid online purchase, a corresponding physical ticket is generated by the Organization and deposited into the raffle drum or receptacle before the Drawing.
  5. Ticket sales for a given Drawing close at the time posted on the website and/or at the point of sale. Tickets purchased after the cutoff time will be entered into the next scheduled Drawing, if any, or refunded if no further Drawing is scheduled.
  6. All ticket sales are final. Lost, stolen, mutilated, or illegible tickets will not be replaced or honored.
  7. Tickets may not be resold, transferred for value, or assigned in violation of New York law.

5. Game Board Preparation & Security

  1. A standard deck of fifty-two (52) playing cards plus two (2) Jokers is thoroughly shuffled by a licensed member in charge or an assistant, with all card faces concealed.
  2. Without revealing any card faces, the 54 cards are placed face-down, side-by-side, into the numbered positions on the Game Board. The transparent cover is then closed and locked, securing the cards in place.
  3. The Game Board is stored in a secure manner between Drawings. The cover is opened only at the time of a Drawing by a licensed member in charge or assistant.
  4. The Organization may publicly post or stream Drawings and may display an image or representation of the Game Board on its website for informational purposes.

6. Drawings & Selection of Cards

  1. Unless otherwise announced, Drawings are held on a bi-weekly schedule on the dates and times published on the Organization’s website and promotional materials. The Organization may adjust the schedule as permitted by law and will post any changes in advance.
  2. For each Drawing, all tickets sold and valid for that Drawing are placed in a raffle drum or receptacle. One (1) winning ticket is drawn at random by a licensed member in charge or assistant.
  3. Presence of the winning ticket holder at the Drawing is not required. Contact information provided on the ticket or in the electronic record will be used to notify winners.
  4. For online purchases, the board position associated with a ticket is selected at the time of purchase from among the card positions that remain unrevealed and “in play.” The system will not knowingly permit selection of a position that has already been revealed.
  5. When a winning ticket is drawn, the licensed member in charge (or assistant) will reveal the face-down card corresponding to the winning ticket’s board position. That card will determine whether the winner receives the Grand Prize (Queen of Hearts) or a Secondary Prize (any other card).
  6. Once revealed, the card is defaced (e.g., by drawing a diagonal line across its face) and returned to the Game Board face-up. It remains visible and is no longer in play for subsequent Drawings.
  7. Drawings continue, subject to license conditions, until the Queen of Hearts is revealed and the Grand Prize is awarded, at which point that Game concludes.

7. Prize Structure, Grand-Prize Cap & Payout Schedule

  1. Grand Prize Pool. For each Game, sixty percent (60%) of all gross ticket sales for that Game constitute the Grand Prize Pool. The remaining forty percent (40%) of gross ticket sales are retained by the Organization as raffle profit and are used solely for its lawful charitable purposes.
  2. Grand-Prize Cap. In accordance with New York law, no single raffle prize may exceed three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000), and the total value of all raffle prizes awarded by the Organization in a calendar year may not exceed the statutory aggregate limit. The Organization therefore caps the Queen of Hearts Grand Prize at $300,000 or such lower cap as may be stated on its raffle license or publicly announced.
  3. Once the Grand Prize cap is reached, receipts from additional ticket sales continue to be retained by the Organization as raffle profit for its lawful purposes; they do not increase the Grand Prize beyond the stated cap.
  4. Grand Prize – Queen of Hearts. When the Queen of Hearts is revealed, the holder of the winning ticket for that Drawing is awarded a cash prize equal to sixty percent (60%) of the Grand Prize Pool, subject to the Grand-Prize cap described above. The Organization retains forty percent (40%) of the Grand Prize Pool as raffle profit.
  5. Secondary Prizes. If the revealed card is not the Queen of Hearts, the holder of the winning ticket for that Drawing is immediately awarded a Secondary Prize determined by the card value. At the current ticket price of $1.00, the minimum Secondary Prizes are:
    • Any 2, 3, 4, or 5 – at least $4 (minimum 4-to-1 payout)
    • Any 6, 7, 8, or 9 – at least $6 (minimum 6-to-1 payout)
    • Any 10, Jack, or King – at least $8 (minimum 8-to-1 payout)
    • Any Ace – at least $10 (minimum 10-to-1 payout)
    • Any Joker – at least $15 (minimum 15-to-1 payout)
    • Any Queen other than Hearts – at least $20 (minimum 20-to-1 payout)
  6. The Organization may, from time to time, increase Secondary Prize amounts or provide promotional enhancements, provided that the minimum payout odds required by the New York State Gaming Commission are maintained or exceeded.
  7. All prize amounts are stated in U.S. dollars. Prizes may be paid by check or other lawful payment method, in the Organization’s discretion.

8. Claiming Prizes & Tax Matters

  1. The name and contact information on the winning ticket or corresponding electronic record are deemed the official record of the winner. In case of discrepancy, the Organization’s records control.
  2. Winners may be required to present valid government-issued identification and complete any required tax forms (including IRS Form W-2G or Form 1099) prior to payment of prizes.
  3. Prizes may be subject to federal, state, and local income tax reporting and withholding as required by law. Winners are solely responsible for all taxes, fees, and other charges associated with prizes.
  4. Unless a longer period is required by law, prizes must be claimed within one hundred eighty (180) days of the date of the Drawing. Unclaimed prizes will be handled in accordance with New York law and the Organization’s license conditions.

9. Online & Mobile Ticket Sales; Location Controls

  1. Online and mobile ticket sales are conducted only through systems approved for use by the appropriate licensing authorities and in accordance with New York State Gaming Commission rules for internet/mobile raffle sales.
  2. The Organization may use technical measures (such as IP geolocation and/or device-location checks) and manual review to verify that purchasers are New York residents physically located within New York State at the time of purchase. Purchases that cannot be verified may be rejected, voided, or refunded.
  3. The Organization is not responsible for failures of internet connectivity, mobile networks, or third-party platforms. In the event of a system failure that materially affects ticket sales or the conduct of a Drawing, the Organization may postpone or re-run the Drawing in a manner consistent with law and its license conditions.

10. Conduct of the Game; Disputes & Changes

  1. The Organization’s decisions regarding the interpretation and application of these Rules, the identification of winning tickets, and the awarding of prizes are final and binding, subject to applicable law.
  2. If a Drawing or any portion of the Game cannot be conducted as planned due to fraud, technical failure, tampering, or other causes beyond the Organization’s reasonable control, the Organization may take such action as it deems reasonably necessary and lawful to ensure fairness and integrity, including canceling or rescheduling a Drawing or Game.
  3. The Organization may amend these Rules to comply with changes in law or license conditions, or to clarify procedures, provided that no amendment will reduce a prize already won or vested. Any material changes will be posted on the Organization’s website before taking effect and, where required, approved by the relevant licensing authorities.
  4. Participation in the Game constitutes the participant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Rules.

These House Rules are provided for informational purposes and are intended to reflect current New York State requirements for “Search for the Queen of Hearts” raffles. They should be reviewed and, where necessary, modified by the Organization, its counsel, and the applicable licensing authorities to ensure full compliance before use.