TMHCC MILLION DOLLAR BRACKET – MEN’S TOURNAMENT

OFFICIAL RULES

 

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE CHANCES OF WINNING. CONTEST is open TO INVITED EMPLOYEES OF TOKIO MARINE hcc WHICH IS HEADQUARTERED IN HOUSTON, TX, AND WHO ARE Legal U.S. REsidents, 18 OR OLDER AT THE TIME OF ENTRY (as defined in the rules below). VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

 

CONTEST IS COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY. PARTICIPATING IN ANY WAY IS NOT A WORK FUNCTION FOR WHICH EMPLOYEES WILL BE COMPENSATED. USE OF A PERSONAL DEVICE (E.G., SMART PHONE, TABLET, COMPUTER) TO PARTICIPATE IS ALSO VOLUNTARY.

 

Contest Name:  TMHCC Million Dollar Bracket – Men’s Tournament (the “Contest”).

 

Contest Dates:  Contest registration is scheduled to begin at 12:00:01am ET on 3/3/2025 and end at 12:00:00pm (noon) ET on 3/20/2025 prior to the start of the first game in the first round of the designated tournament (the “Registration Period”).  The Grand Prize Contest is scheduled to occur between 3/20/2025– 4/7/2025 during the designated 2025 Men’s College Basketball Tournament. Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.  Void outside of the fifty (50) United States of American, District of Columbia, and wherever prohibited or restricted by law.

 

Who May Enter:  Contest is ONLY open to legal U.S. residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia who are 18 or older at the time of entry, and who are invited employees of Tokio Marine HCC, which is headquartered in Houston, TX (“Sponsor”), and who have a valid U.S. driver’s license or government issued ID. If you are not a current employee of the Sponsor, do not enter this Contest. 

 

How to Enter – On-Line Registration: Visit https://www.tmhccmilliondollarbracket.com during the Registration Period and click ‘Men’s Bracket’ to connect to the Bracket Challenge Contest registration page, or visit directly at www.tmhccmensbracket.com (“Website”).  Fully complete the online registration with all required information, including your name, valid TMHCC work email address, and TMHCC business unit.  Each registrant will designate their own ‘Screen Name’ and must enter their username (email address) and password.  The designated ‘Screen Name’ will be displayed on the ‘Standings Page’ during the contest.  Each registrant’s username (email address) and password will allow participants to return to the Website to Log-in and view their prediction, points and standings.

 

After having read and agreed to these Official Rules, click the submit button to submit your online registration.  All entries must be fully complete for all required registration information.  Any entry submitted with an invalid email address will be disqualified.  Maximum of one entry per person or per valid email address.  Any contestant submitting more than one entry will void all entries by that contestant. 

 

Eligible Entries – Open to eligible entries received by 12:00:00pm (noon) ET on 3/20/2025:  Only entries received from contestants who have successfully completed the bracket prediction entry will be eligible to participate in the grand prize contest (see below). 

 

Any available opt-in opportunities are not required to enter the Contest, and checking the opt-in boxes will not improve your chances of winning.  By participating and submitting an entry, contestant agrees that Sponsor and Million Dollar Media (“Administrator”) are authorized to contact entrant via email, mail, phone or any other form of media to make contestant aware of information pertinent to the Contest, and to distribute information regarding the Sponsor or Administrator’s featured products, special events or promotional offers.  Contestants may opt-out of any further email communication at any time by simply replying REMOVE to any email message or following the provided opt-out instructions.

 

Bracket Prediction – Must be completed and submitted by 12:00:00pm (noon) ET on 3/20/2025: 

Bracket predictions must be completed and submitted between:

 

NOTE – Play-in game byes:  The play-in games on 3/18/2025 & 3/19/2025 are byes, and not part of the prediction challenge.

 

Bracket:  Once the Tournament team selections have been announced on 3/16/2025 – all registered or newly registering participants must fully complete the provided Bracket Prediction form on the Edit/Update Picks page of the Website. 

 

Tie-Breaker:  Each participant will also be required to submit their prediction of the Total Cumulative Points to be scored in the Championship Game on 4/7/2025.  Any contestant who failed to complete the Total Cumulative Points ‘tie-break’ prediction will be assigned a point total of 0 cumulative points for the Championship Game. 

 

IMPORTANT – Save Picks:  Participants are required to click the ‘Save Picks’ button on the Website to save their bracket predictions selections, cumulative score prediction or updates to their predictions.  Any changes or predictions made without clicking the ‘Save Picks’ will not be saved or recognized for this contest.

 

Completed bracket prediction entries must be received by 12:00:00pm (noon) ET on 3/20/2025 in order to be eligible to participate or claim any prize.  Any registered participant or contestant who fails to fully or correctly complete the on-line registration form, or fully and correctly complete the required Bracket Prediction for all (63) games in the Tournament (and Save their picks) will be disqualified from the Contest and will be ineligible to claim any prize (see below).  Any bracket prediction not received by the required deadline for any reason including, but not limited to transmission error, internet problems, equipment or website malfunction, internet traffic or errors caused by viruses or hackers will be disqualified.  Sponsor is not responsible for any delays or difficulty in receipt an eligible contestant’s Bracket Prediction that prevents participation. 

 

Any incomplete or illegible entries will be disqualified.  Sponsor and Administrator are not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, illegible, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, damaged, or for entries submitted in a manner that is not expressly allowed under these rules, or for any entry not submitted or received due to any technical error or failure, unauthorized human intervention, inaccurate capture or mis-entry of any required information, or the failure to capture any such information or effects of hackers or failure of any electronic equipment, computer or cellular transmissions and/or network connections; all of which will be disqualified.

 

Each participant must submit an entry on his/her own behalf.  Any entry submitted on behalf of another individual or using another person’s email address or name will be disqualified and ineligible to claim any prize.  No mechanically reproduced or automated entries permitted.  Use of any automated system to participate is prohibited and will result in disqualification and all such entries will be deemed void. 

 

In the event of a dispute as to any on-line registration, the authorized account holder of the e-mail address used to register will be deemed to be the registrant and he/she must be eligible according to these Official Rules.  The “authorized email account holder” is the natural person assigned an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted address.  All entries received become the property of the Sponsor and will not be returned.

 

Scoring – Bracket Points:  Each eligible participant who has successfully completed the on-line registration and bracket prediction as required by these Official Rules will receive the following points for each of the (63) games for which they have correctly predicted the winning team:

 

1 point for each correct pick in Round 1

2 points for each correct pick in Round 2

4 points for each correct pick in Round 3

8 points for each correct pick in Round 4

16 points for each correct pick in Round 5

32 points for the correct Champion

 

Any incorrect predictions will receive 0 points.  The maximum point total for correctly predicting the winning team in every game played during the Tournament is 192 points.  At the completion of the Tournament, each eligible contestant bracket prediction received will be compared to the actual bracket outcome. 

 

Tie Breaking Procedures – Bracket Winner:  In the event of a tie among any point leaders in the Bracket prediction, the tie-breakers to determine the Winner for the 1st – 16th place overall prize packages shall be as follows (tie breaker procedures shall not apply for the $1,000,000 40-year annuity Grand Prize – see below):

·       Contestant who has predicted closest to the actual Cumulative Points total in the Championship game, regardless if the prediction is higher or lower than the actual point total.

·       In the event of a remaining tie among any eligible contestants, the tie-breaker shall then be a random drawing conducted by the Administrator.

 

Grand Prize Award Requirements – Perfect Bracket (all 63 games correct):  In order for the grand prize to be awarded, an eligible contestant must correctly predict the winner of all (63) games in the Tournament.  If no eligible contestant correctly predicts the winner of all 63 games as required by these official rules, then the Grand Prize award will NOT be awarded in this contest.

·       NOTE:  For purposes of clarity, if any game(s) are cancelled, forfeited, postponed, or indefinitely suspended for any reason whereby fewer than (63) games are played for any reason, or neither team is declared a winner or neither team advances to the next round, then no entrant shall be able to correctly predict the winner of all (63) games in the Tournament, as required to claim the grand prize.  As a result of any such cancellations, forfeits or indefinite game suspensions, there shall be no (63) game perfect brackets, and no opportunity to claim the $1,000,000 40-year annuity grand prize, and no grand prize or alternate substitute prize or compensation will be available for award in the contest.  Any eligible contestant who has correctly predicted every game played in the Tournament as of the date of any such cancellation(s), forfeit(s) or indefinite suspension(s), but fewer than all scheduled (63) games for any reason, shall not be awarded and shall have no opportunity to claim the grand prize.

 

Prize Awards:  The following prize awards will be available to eligible contestants participating in the Contest:

 

Grand Prize – Predict all (63) Games Correctly (“Perfect Bracket”):  If any eligible contestant correctly predicts the winner of all (63) games in the Tournament, they will be eligible to claim the grand prize subject to verification of compliance with these official rules.  The grand prize is:  $1,000,000 40-year annuity, awarded in the form of $25,000 Cash per year for 40-years without interest.  The initial prize award of $25,000 cash shall be awarded within approximately 30-days of receipt of all required prize acceptance paperwork, and each subsequent payment shall occur on or about the anniversary date of the first payment for 39-years.  Winner will have the option of a lump sum payout in the amount of $500,000 cash.

 

A maximum of one (1) grand prize will be awarded.  In the event of multiple winning entries, then the cash value of the grand prize will be evenly distributed among eligible winning contestants.  If no eligible contestant successfully completes the grand prize winning requirements, then the grand prize will NOT be awarded.

 

1st and 2nd Place Overall Prize – Points (“Bracket Champions”): The eligible contestants who score the most points and the 2nd most points (each a “Bracket Champion”) in the bracket challenge will be eligible to claim the Bracket Champion prize subject to verification of compliance with these official rules.  The Bracket Champion prize is:

·         One (1) basketball

·         Trip for Bracket Champion and one (1) guest to Houston, TX, which includes the following:

o    Round trip coach class airfare for Bracket Champion and one (1) guest from the nearest major airport to the Bracket Champion’s home as designated by Sponsor to the Sponsor designated airport servicing the Houston metro area. Actual departure date, times, airline and airports based upon availability and shall be solely determined by Sponsor.

§   NOTE: If winner resides within 75-miles of Houston, TX, Sponsor reserves the right to award a $1,000.00 travel stipend in lieu of air transportation.

o    One (1) night standard hotel accommodation (1 hotel room), double occupancy at a standard hotel as solely designated by Sponsor in the Houston metro area (based upon availability); check-in and check-out dates as solely specified by Sponsor;

o    Two (2) tickets to a sporting event in the Houston, TX area during designated trip dates.

 

Sponsor and Administrator are not responsible for any travel delays or difficulty for any Bracket Champion award. If travel delays or difficulty prevent arrival in time for any and all elements of trip or Bracket Champion award, Sponsor and Administrator are not responsible for awarding any compensation in lieu thereof. Any changes to completed travel arrangements, once booked, are the sole responsibility of the Bracket Champion, and are solely at the Bracket Champion’s expense. Actual value of the trip will depend on point of departure, destination and any airfare fluctuations. Any difference between the value stated in these official rules and the actual value, if any, will not be awarded. Bracket Champion is solely responsible for all costs incurred to and from the nearest major airport to the Bracket Champion’s home as designated by Sponsor as the prize originates and terminates at such departure point unless otherwise agreed to by Sponsor in writing. Bracket Champion must be of legal age of majority in his/her state of residence (and at least 18*) and will be required to execute and return a liability release and, where permitted by law, a publicity release, prior to prize award.  Bracket Champion and guest must travel together on the same itinerary. If Bracket Champion’s guest is a minor, then Bracket Champion must be the parent or legal guardian of such guest. If Bracket Champion elects to take the Grand Prize trip without a guest, components of the Grand Prize trip will be awarded in increments or quantities suitable for one traveler.  Bracket Champion will not receive any compensation or a substitute  prize.  All ground transportation including airport and hotel transfers, parking, meals, gratuities, checked baggage fees, airline seat assignment fees, hotel resort fees, incidental expenses, applicable taxes (including, but not limited to all local, state and federal taxes) and any other expenses not specified herein as being included in the prize award are the sole responsibility of Bracket Champion. Sponsor is not responsible for late, lost, damaged or stolen luggage. Bracket Champion will be required to provide a credit card at the time of hotel check-in, and hotel will place a temporary ‘hold’ on credit card to cover any incidental charges by Bracket Champion. Temporary hold dollar amount on credit card is subject to hotel policy. It is recommended that Bracket Champion and guest obtain sufficient personal insurance (at their own expense) prior to departure. Bracket Champion and guest hereby releases Sponsor from any duty to provide, check, or verify any and all necessary ID’s, passports, visas and tourist cards, birth certificates, vaccination certificates, and any other travel requirements (“Personal Documents”). Sponsor shall not have any responsibility for the replacement of lost or stolen Personal Documents or tickets, coupons, vouchers, receipts or other documents pertaining to the prize (“Travel Documents”) once the Travel Documents have been provided to Bracket Champion. Bracket Champion and guest agree to maintain their behavior and the behavior of its guest in accordance with all applicable laws, generally accepted social practices, and adhere to all rules and regulations applicable to any airline, hotel, venue or other entity connected to participation in any prize activity, including, without limitation, use of a prize component. Bracket Champion understands and agrees that if Bracket Champion or guest are removed from any activity at any time, or if the Bracket Champion or guest’s behavior at any point is disruptive, causes damage or could cause damage to person, property or otherwise violates the policies of an entity associated with the prize, then Bracket Champion may be required to forfeit the remainder of the prize without substitution or compensation.

 

A maximum of two (2) Bracket Champion prizes will be awarded.  In the event of multiple contestants tied for the most points, then the tie breaking procedures (see above) will apply for determining the Bracket Champion winners. Approximate retail value (‘ARV”) of Bracket Champion Prize is $1,000.00.

 

3rd Place – 16th Place Overall Prize – Points (“Bonus Prize Winners”): The eligible contestants who score the 3rd – 16th most points in the bracket challenge will be eligible to claim the Bonus Prize subject to verification of compliance with these official rules.  The Bonus Prize is:

·         One (1) basketball

 

A maximum of sixteen (14) Bonus Prizes will be awarded.  In the event of multiple contestants tied for the 3rd – 16th most points, then the tie breaking procedures (see above) will apply for determining the Bonus Prize Winners. ARV of Bonus Prize is $129.00.

 

All prize awards are non-cumulative.  Maximum of one prize award per participating contestant. Winners must accept delivery of prize as specified by Sponsor.  Prize does not include any other costs or associated expenses. All applicable federal, state and local taxes are the winner’s sole responsibility.  All prize awards are non-transferable and no cash redemption or prize substitution allowed, except at Sponsor’s sole discretion or as provided herein.  Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of comparable or greater value, at its sole discretion.  Maximum retail value of all available prizes: 

·         Grand Prize:                                    $1,000,000.00 40-year annuity

·         Bracket Champion Prizes:              $2,000.00

·         Bonus Prizes:                                  $1,806.00

 

All of the following will apply for each Bracket Champion: 1) Bracket Champion will be required to complete and return, within 5 days of date of receipt, a W-9 form (if prize value exceeds $600), an affidavit of eligibility, and a liability/travel/publicity release (where permitted); 2) Bracket Champion will be required to present a copy of a valid social security card and a valid driver’s license as a condition of participating or receiving any prize;  3) Bracket Champion will be issued an IRS Form 1099 reflecting the actual value of all prizes won, if prize value exceeds $600; and 4) Bracket Champion will be responsible for paying all applicable taxes (including, but not limited to all local, state and federal taxes) on all prizes awarded.  Failure to collect or properly claim any prize in accordance with these rules will result in forfeiture of the prize.  If forfeited for any reason, contestant will not receive any other prize substitution or compensation, and the prize will remain the property of Sponsor and will not be awarded, except as provided herein. 

 

All prizes requiring delivery (“Shipped Prize(s)”) will be shipped to each confirmed winner’s TMHCC business unit as submitted during Contest registration.  All Shipped Prizes will be delivered by U.S. Postal Service or common carrier of Sponsor’s choosing, and Shipped Prizes will be deemed delivered to the winner once a Shipped Prize is delivered by Sponsor to the U.S. Postal Service or other common carrier of Sponsor’s choosing.  Sponsor will not be responsible or liable for a late, delayed, lost, stolen, undeliverable or damaged Shipped Prizes once delivered to the U.S. Postal Service or other common carrier, for any loss or damages relating to delivery, use, or misuse of a Shipped Prize, or for any entrant who incorrectly entered their actual address during the registration process.  Please allow 8-12 weeks for delivery of Shipped Prizes.

 

Additional Rules & Restrictions:  By participating in this Contest, contestants agree to abide by and be bound by the Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor and Administrator, which shall be final in all matters relating to this Contest.  In the event a contestant  wins a prize and is later found to be in violation of these rules he/she will be required to forfeit the prize or to reimburse Sponsor for the stated value of the prize if such violation is discovered after Winner has used the prize. Participation in Contest constitutes permission for the Sponsor and its designees to use contestant names, cities and states of residence and/or likenesses for purposes of advertising and trade in any and all media now or hereafter known worldwide on perpetuity without limitation or further compensation, notification or permission, unless prohibited by law.  False, fraudulent or deceptive entries or acts shall render entrants ineligible for any prize.

 

By participating, contestants agree to hold Sponsor and Administrator harmless from any claims, losses, actions, or damages of any kind, whether actual, incidental or consequential, for injury (including but not limited to death), damages, losses or expenses arising out of or relating to contestant’s participation in this Contest, or the acceptance, possession or use/misuse of any prize, or participation in prize-related activities (including but not limited to travel or activity related thereto), and to assume all liability thereof.  Sponsor and Administrator shall not be liable to Winner or any other person for failure to supply the prize or any part thereof by reason of any acts of God, Pandemics, Force Majeure, any actions, regulations, orders, or requests by any governmental entity, equipment failure, terrorist acts, war, fire, unusually severe weather, embargo, labor dispute or strike, labor or material shortage, transportation interruption of any kind, or any other cause beyond Released Parties’ sole control. 

 

Participants are restricted to use of ordinary and typical computer equipment, mobile phone equipment, Internet access and cellular networks. Sponsor and Administrator disclaim all liability for the inability of a participant to complete or continue an entry due to equipment malfunction, busy lines, inadvertent disconnections, acts beyond the Sponsor and Administrator’s control, or otherwise. The Sponsor and Administrator disclaim any liability for received entries due to technical difficulties or transmission errors. The Sponsor and Administrator disclaim all liability for any delays, mis-delivery, loss, or failure in the delivery of any item sent by mail, courier, express, electronic transmission, or other delivery method.  Sponsor and Administrator are not responsible for mechanical, technical, electronic, communications, telephone, computer, hardware or software errors, malfunctions or failures of any kind, including: failed, incomplete, garbled or delayed transmission of online entries, traffic congestion on telephone lines, the Internet or at any website or lost or unavailable network connections which may limit an online entrant's ability to participate in the Contest, and any injury or damage to entrant’s or any other person’s computer or mobile phone related to or resulting from participating in or downloading any information necessary to participate in the Contest.  Sponsor and Administrator are not responsible for any other errors of any kind, whether computer, technical, typographical, printing, human or otherwise, relating to or in connection with the Contest, including, without limitations, errors which may occur in connection with the printing or advertising of this Contest, administration or execution of the Contest, the cancellation of the game, the processing of entries or in the announcement of the prizes or prize winners.  Administrator, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any person tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Website.

 

Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, modify or terminate the Contest for any reason including in the event the Tournament is postponed, rescheduled, cancelled or fewer than (63) games will be played for any reason including due to Pandemic, Force Majeure, acts of God, terrorist acts, war, or if any fraud, misconduct, technical failures, programming error or other issue destroys or threatens the integrity of the Contest, in the opinion of the Sponsor/Administrator, or if a computer virus, bug, or other technical problem corrupts the administration, security, or proper conduct of the Contest as determined by Sponsor/Administrator, in their sole discretion. In the event of early termination of the Contest, the grand prize and bonus prize shall not be awarded for any reason.

 

If due to circumstances beyond the control of the Sponsor, the Tournament or any game or event associated with this Contest is delayed, rescheduled, postponed or cancelled, Sponsor reserves the right, but not the obligation, to cancel or modify the Contest and shall not be required to award any prize(s). 

 

IN CASE OF DISPUTES:  By participating, each contestant agrees that (1) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with this Contest, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and any judicial proceeding shall take place in a federal or state court within the State of Texas; (2) any and all claims, judgments, and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Contest, and in no event will entrant be entitled to received attorneys' fees or other legal costs; and (3) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, and consequential damages, and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrant and Sponsor in connection with this Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Texas or any other jurisdiction), that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Texas

 

Official Rules & Winners List:  For a copy of these Official Rules or the names of prize winners, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to be received by 6/7/2025 to: TMHCC Million Dollar Bracket Challenge – Men’s Tournament, c/o Million Dollar Media, P.O. Box 278, Woodbridge, NJ  07095.  PLEASE SPECIFY which you are requesting: Official Rules or Winners List. 

 

Sponsor: This Contest is sponsored by Tokio Marine HCC, 13403 Northwest Freeway, Houston, TX  77040.

 

Administrator: This Contest is administered by Million Dollar Media, P.O. Box 278, Woodbridge, NJ  07095.