Chapter 565

565.25(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “department” means the department of administration.

565.25(1m) (1m) Scope of authority. Subject to approval by the secretary of revenue, the administrator may determine whether lottery functions shall be performed by department of revenue employees or by one or more persons under contract with the department of administration, except that no contract may provide for the entire management of the lottery or for the entire operation of the lottery by any private person. The department of administration may contract for management consultation services to assist in the management or operation of the lottery. The department of administration may not contract for financial auditing or security monitoring services, except that, if the department of administration delegates under s. 16.71 (1) to the department of revenue the authority to make a major procurement, the department of revenue may contract with the department of administration for warehouse and building protection services relating to the state lottery. If the department of administration delegates under s. 16.71 (1) to the department of revenue the authority to make a major procurement, the department of revenue shall assume the powers and duties of the department of administration and the administrator shall assume the powers and duties of the secretary of administration under this section and ss. 16.70 to 16.77, except under ss. 16.72 (4) (a), 16.76 (1) and 16.77 (1).

565.25(2) (2) Purchasing procedures.

565.25(2)(a) (a)

565.25(2)(a)1. 1. Except as provided under s. 16.71 (1), the department shall make major procurements.

565.25(2)(a)2. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 16.75 (1) (a) relating to the lowest responsible bidder and s. 16.75 (2m) (g) relating to the most advantageous proposal, all contracts or orders under s. 16.75 (1) and (2m) shall be awarded on the basis of a formula specified by the department that weighs all of the following factors, to the extent applicable:

565.25(2)(a)2.a. a. The cost of the bid or proposal.

565.25(2)(a)2.b. b. The technical capability and expertise of the proposed vendor.

565.25(2)(a)2.c. c. The integrity, reliability and expertise of the proposed vendor in providing the items covered by the bid or proposal.

565.25(2)(a)2.d. d. The security for lottery operations provided under the bid or proposal.

565.25(2)(a)2.e. e. The financial stability of the proposed vendor.

565.25(2)(a)3. 3. In addition to the provisions of ss. 16.75 (3m) and 16.765 that apply to purchasing or contracting state agencies, in awarding orders or contracts, the department shall give preference to a bidder if at least 5 percent of the individuals employed by the bidder and any subcontractors to produce, distribute, supply or sell the materials, supplies, equipment or services under the order or contract are minority group members and are employed in the state.

565.25(2)(a)4. 4. The administrator shall develop specifications for major procurements. If security is a factor in the materials, supplies, equipment, property, or services to be purchased in any major procurement, then invitations for bids or competitive sealed proposals shall include specifications related to security. The administrator shall submit specifications for major procurement to the secretary of revenue for review and approval before the department of administration releases the specifications in invitations for bids or competitive sealed proposals. The department of administration shall require separate bids or separate competitive sealed proposals for management consultation services if the services are provided under contract as provided in sub. (1m).

565.25(2)(a)5. 5. The vendor shall disclose such information as is required by the department, by rule, with the vendor’s submission of a bid or proposal for a major procurement.

565.25(2)(a)6. 6. If the department of administration delegates under s. 16.71 (1) to the department of revenue the authority to make a major procurement, the award of the major procurement contract is subject to the requirements in ss. 16.72 (4) (a) and 16.76 (1). Copies of requisitions and contracts for major procurements shall be maintained by the administrator and shall be subject to inspection and copying under subch. II of ch. 19.

565.25(2)(a)7. 7. No bill or statement for any purchase or engagement for the department of revenue relating to the state lottery may be paid until the bill or statement is approved by the administrator.

565.25(2)(c) (c) A major procurement contract under this subsection may be for any term deemed to be in the best interests of the state lottery or the multijurisdictional lottery in which the state participates, but the term and any provisions for renewal or extension shall be incorporated in the bid specifications or proposal solicitation and the contract document.

565.25(3) (3) Vendor qualifications.

565.25(3)(a) (a) No contract for a major procurement may be entered into with a person if, during the immediately preceding 10 years, the person has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or no contest to, any of the following, unless the person has been pardoned:

565.25(3)(a)1. 1. A felony.

565.25(3)(a)2. 2. A gambling-related offense.

565.25(3)(a)3. 3. Fraud or misrepresentation in any connection.

565.25(3)(a)4. 4. A violation of this chapter or any rule promulgated under this chapter.

565.25(3)(b) (b)

565.25(3)(b)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 4., if the vendor is a partnership, par. (a) applies to the partnership and each partner of the partnership.

565.25(3)(b)1L. 1L. Except as provided in subd. 4., if the vendor is a limited liability company, par. (a) applies to the limited liability company and to each of its members.

565.25(3)(b)2. 2. Except as provided in subd. 4., if the vendor is an association, par. (a) applies to the association and each officer and director of the association.

565.25(3)(b)3. 3. Except as provided in subd. 4., if the vendor is a corporation, par. (a) applies to the corporation, each officer or director of the corporation and each owner, directly or indirectly, of any equity security or other ownership interest in the corporation. In the case of owners of publicly held securities of a publicly traded corporation, par. (a) only applies to those persons who are beneficial owners of 5 percent or more of the publicly held securities.

565.25(3)(b)4. 4. The restrictions under par. (a) do not apply to the partnership, limited liability company, association or corporation if the department determines that the partnership, limited liability company, association or corporation has terminated its relationship with the partner, member, officer, director or owner who was convicted or entered the plea or with the partner, member, officer, director, owner or other individual whose actions directly contributed to the partnership’s, limited liability company’s, association’s or corporation’s conviction or entry of plea.

565.25(3)(c) (c) No contract for a major procurement may be entered into unless the contract provides that the vendor has established or will, within a period of time specified in the contract, establish an office within the state from which the vendor will process, produce, distribute, supply or sell materials, supplies, equipment or services under the contract.

565.25(3)(d) (d) The vendor shall meet any additional qualifications established by rule under s. 565.02 (4) (c).

565.25(3m) (3m) False statement or material omission. No person proposing to contract for a major procurement may intentionally make a false statement or material omission in any disclosure statement required under sub. (2) (a) 5.

565.25(4) (4) Background investigations. The department of justice shall conduct a background investigation of any person proposing to contract or contracting for a major procurement and of all partners, members, officers, directors, owners and beneficial owners identified under sub. (3) (b). The department of justice may require the person and partners, members, officers, directors and shareholders identified under sub. (3) (b) to be photographed and fingerprinted. The department of justice may submit the fingerprints to the federal bureau of investigation for the purposes of verifying the identity of the persons fingerprinted and obtaining records of their criminal arrests and convictions. If the results of the background investigation disclose information specified in sub. (3) (a) with respect to the person, partner, member, officer, director, owner or beneficial owner, a contract with the vendor, if entered into prior to the disclosure, is void and the vendor shall forfeit any amount filed, deposited or established under sub. (5) (b). The department of justice shall repeat the background investigation of each vendor, and each vendor’s partners, members, officers, directors, owners, and beneficial owners, under sub. (3) (b), every 5 years. The department of revenue shall reimburse the department of justice for the department of justice’s services under this subsection and shall obtain payment from the person proposing to contract or the vendor in the amount of the reimbursement.

565.25(5) (5) Financial responsibility.

565.25(5)(a) (a) In this subsection, “financial institution” has the meaning specified in s. 705.01 (3).

565.25(5)(b) (b) For a major procurement, the department may require from a person proposing to contract on a bid, conditioned upon signing the contract if awarded to the person, or on a contract award, conditioned upon performance under the contract or payment of subcontractors, any of the following:

565.25(5)(b)1. 1. The deposit with the department of a bond payable to the department, in an amount required by the department.

565.25(5)(b)2. 2. The deposit and maintenance with the department of interest-bearing or interest-accruing securities approved by the department, which shall be held in trust by the department and shall have at all times a market value equal to at least the amount required by the department.

565.25(5)(b)3. 3. The filing with the department and maintenance of an irrevocable letter of credit payable to and for the benefit of the department, in an amount required by the department.

565.25(5)(b)4. 4. The establishment with a financial institution of an escrow account, the terms, conditions and amount of which are established for the benefit of the department, in an amount required by the department.

565.25 History History: 1987 a. 119, 399; 1989 a. 31, 56, 99, 172, 345, 359; 1991 a. 39, 269, 315; 1993 a. 112; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 213; 2017 a. 17.

565.25 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Tax 62, Wis. adm. code.

565.27 565.27 Lottery games.

565.27(1) (1) Game features and procedures. Subject to this section, the rules promulgated under s. 565.02 (3) (d) and (4) (a) and approval by the secretary of revenue, the administrator shall determine the particular features of and procedures for each lottery game offered. The features and procedures shall be in writing, shall be accessible to the public and shall include all of the following:

565.27(1)(a) (a) The theme and name of the game.

565.27(1)(b) (b) The price of lottery tickets or lottery shares and any discount authorized for the price.

565.27(1)(c) (c) The prize structure, including the number and value of prizes.

565.27(1)(d) (d) The frequency of drawings or other winner selections.

565.27(1)(e) (e) The method of selecting winners.

565.27(1)(f) (f) The method of making payment to winners.

565.27(2) (2) Selecting winners.

565.27(2)(a) (a) The actual selection of any winning lottery ticket or lottery share may not be performed by an elected or appointed official or an employee of the lottery division in the department.

565.27(2)(b) (b) If drawings are used to select among winning numbers, to select among entries or to select among finalists, all of the following requirements shall be met:

565.27(2)(b)1. 1. The drawings shall be witnessed by an independent certified public accountant.

565.27(2)(b)2. 2. The drawings shall be open to the public.

565.27(2)(b)3. 3. The drawings shall be documented with a video and audio recording.

565.27(2)(b)4. 4. Any equipment used for the drawing must be inspected by a certified public accountant and a department employee before and after the drawing, except that a department employee is not required to inspect the equipment if the drawing is used for a multijurisdictional lottery.

565.27(3) (3) Ticket and share numbers. Every lottery ticket and lottery share shall have a unique number that distinguishes the ticket or share from every other ticket or share in the lottery game.

565.27(4) (4) Lottery ticket appearance. No name of an elected or appointed official may appear on the lottery tickets of any lottery game.

565.27(5) (5) Notification that prizes in scratch-off game claimed. The department shall notify each retailer when the top prizes in a scratch-off game are claimed and shall provide retailers a sign for display that provides notice that the top prizes for a game have been claimed.

565.27 History History: 1987 a. 119; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 269, 321; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27; 2005 a. 25; 2023 a. 138.

565.28 565.28 Lottery prize payment option.

565.28(1) (1) A person who becomes entitled to receive payment of a lottery prize under s. 565.30 (1) on or after October 29, 1999, may elect to receive payment of the lottery prize in the form of a lump sum or in installments over a period of years if the lottery prize is payable over at least 10 years.

565.28(2) (2) A person who chooses to make an election under sub. (1) shall make the election no later than 60 days after becoming entitled to the lottery prize. An election made under sub. (1) is final and may not be revoked.

565.28(3) (3) If a person eligible to make an election under sub. (1) does not make an election within 60 days after becoming entitled to a lottery prize, the administrator shall make payment in the form of an annuity.

565.28 History History: 1999 a. 9; 2023 a. 138.

565.30 565.30 Lottery prizes.

565.30(1) (1) Payment of prizes.

565.30(1)(a) (a) The administrator shall direct the payment of a prize, in the form elected under s. 565.28, if applicable, to the holder of the winning lottery ticket or lottery share or to a person designated under sub. (2), except that a prize may be paid to another person under a court order or, upon the death of a prize winner, any prize money that has not been paid shall be paid to the prize winner’s estate.

565.30(1)(b) (b) If prize money, other than prize money from a multijurisdictional lottery, is being paid in the form of an annuity to a person at the time of his or her death, and if the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate petitions the administrator within 18 months after November 1, 2013, or within 18 months after the date of death of the person, whichever is later, to have the remaining prize money paid in the form of a lump sum, the administrator shall direct that the payment be made as a lump sum.

565.30(1)(c) (c) If prize money, other than prize money from a multijurisdictional lottery, is being paid in the form of an annuity to a person, other than a prize winner, and if the person petitions the administrator within 18 months after November 1, 2013, or within 18 months after the date of the receipt of the first annuity payment by the person, whichever is later, to have the remaining prize money paid in the form of a lump sum, the administrator shall direct that the payment be made in a lump sum.

565.30(1)(d) (d) The administrator shall establish a procedure for submitting petitions under pars. (b) and (c).

565.30(1)(e) (e) The department, administrator, state and any contractor for materials, equipment or services of the game in which the prize is won are discharged of all liability upon payment of the prize to the holder of a winning lottery ticket or lottery share.

565.30(2) (2) Payment of prizes to minors. If the prize for a winning lottery ticket or lottery share given to a minor is less than $1,000, the administrator may make payment of the prize by delivering to an adult member of the minor’s family, or to the minor’s guardian, a check or draft payable to the minor. If the prize is $1,000 or more, the administrator shall make payment to the minor by paying or delivering the money to a broker or financial institution under s. 54.870 (1) (b).

565.30(2m) (2m) Prizes over years. If the prize for a winning lottery ticket or lottery share is monetary and is payable in installments over a period of years, any informational material about the lottery must state the number of years over which the prize shall be paid.

565.30(3) (3) Unclaimed prizes.

565.30(3)(a) (a) Period to claim.

565.30(3)(a)1. 1. Except as provided in subds. 2. and 3., the holder of a winning lottery ticket or lottery share may claim a prize within 180 days after the drawing or other selection in which the prize is won.

565.30(3)(a)2. 2. The holder of a winning lottery ticket or lottery share for an instant game or scratch-off game may claim a prize within 180 days after the game’s end date, as determined by the administrator.

565.30(3)(a)3. 3. As determined by the administrator, multijurisdictional lottery secondary or subsequent chance drawings or games may have a shorter claim period for holders of a winning lottery ticket or lottery share, which shall be prescribed in the features and procedures for the secondary or subsequent chance drawing or game.

565.30(3)(b) (b) Retailer bonuses. Any bonuses offered by the department to retailers who sell winning lottery tickets or lottery shares shall be paid to the retailer regardless of whether the prize is claimed if the retailer can be identified as the seller of the winning ticket or share.

565.30(3m) (3m) Value of certain prizes. A prize that is a lottery ticket or lottery share in the same lottery game in which the prize is won or in another lottery game shall, for prize structure accounting purposes, be valued at the same percentage of the retail price, as specified under s. 25.75 (3) (a), as are other prizes in the same lottery game in which the prize is won.

565.30(4) (4) Withholding of income taxes. The administrator shall withhold from lottery winnings any federal income taxes required to be withheld under 26 USC 3402 (q) (3) (B) and any state taxes required to be withheld under s. 71.67 (4) (a).

565.30(4m) (4m) Carry over of prize money. The department may carry over unexpended lottery prize money that is not unclaimed lottery prize money from one drawing of a game to another drawing of the same game.

565.30(5) (5) Withholding of delinquent state taxes, child support or debts owed the state. The administrator shall report the name, address and social security number or federal income tax number of each winner of a lottery prize equal to or greater than $600 and the name, address and social security number or federal income tax number of each person to whom a lottery prize equal to or greater than $600 has been assigned to the department of revenue to determine whether the payee or assignee of the prize is delinquent in the payment of state taxes under ch. 71, 72, 76, 77, 78 or 139 or, if applicable, in the court-ordered payment of child support or has a debt owing to the state. Upon receipt of a report under this subsection, the department of revenue shall first ascertain based on certifications by the department of children and families or its designee under s. 49.855 (1) whether any person named in the report is currently delinquent in court-ordered payment of child support and shall next certify to the administrator whether any person named in the report is delinquent in court-ordered payment of child support or payment of state taxes under ch. 71, 72, 76, 77, 78 or 139. Upon this certification by the department of revenue or upon court order the administrator shall withhold the certified amount and send it to the department of revenue for remittance to the appropriate agency or person. The department of revenue shall charge the winner or assignee of the lottery prize for the department of revenue’s administrative expenses associated with withholding and remitting debt owed to a state agency and may withhold the amount of the administrative expenses from the prize payment. The administrative expenses received or withheld by the department of revenue shall be credited to the appropriation under s. 20.566 (1) (h). In instances in which the payee or assignee of the prize is delinquent both in payments for state taxes and in court-ordered payments of child support, or is delinquent in one or both of these payments and has a debt owing to the state, the amount remitted to the appropriate agency or person shall be in proportion to the prize amount as is the delinquency or debt owed by the payee or assignee.

565.30(5m) (5m) Withholding of child support, spousal support, maintenance or family support.

565.30(5m)(a) (a) The administrator shall report to the department of children and families the name, address, and social security number of each winner of a lottery prize that is payable in installments and the name, address, and social security number or federal income tax number of the person who has been assigned a lottery prize that is payable in installments. Upon receipt of the report, the department of children and families shall certify to the administrator whether any payee or assignee named in the report is obligated to provide child support, spousal support, maintenance, or family support under s. 767.531, 2019 stats., or s. 767.001 (1) (f) or (g), 767.225, 767.34, 767.511, 767.56, 767.804 (3), 767.805 (4), 767.85, 767.863 (3), 767.89 (3), 767.893 (2m), or 948.22 (7) or ch. 769 and the amount required to be withheld from the lottery prize under s. 767.75. Subject to par. (b), the administrator shall withhold the certified amount from each payment made to the winner or assignee and remit the certified amount to the department of children and families.

565.30(5m)(b) (b) The administrator may not withhold from any payment to an assignee of a lottery prize any child support, spousal support, maintenance or family support specified in par. (a) that is owed by a winner of a lottery prize, nor may the administrator withhold from any payment to a winner any child support, spousal support maintenance or family support that is owed by an assignee.

565.30(5r) (5r) Withholding of assessments, fines, restitution and surcharges.