Official Rules

• Group Name: Mortgage Madness External
• Password: waterstone
• Follow the instructions for completing the bracket. Illegible bracket entries or mail entries will not be accepted.
• You will be able fill out your bracket in its entirety from a single page. Click the team name to advance the team to the next round. Once the bracket is complete, and you have submitted your tiebreaker score for the Championship match, the Submit button will change color (RED button) and you may submit your picks.
  
  • Note: You will have the option to edit your bracket(s) at any time after they have been initially submitted, before the lock time. You cannot delete an entry/bracket once it has been created. An e-mail reminder will be sent to all entrants who had joined the game before the brackets were released and those who have not submitted their selections.

ENTRY PERIOD: Before the release of the official tournament bracket on Sunday, March 14, 2021, you will only be able to view your Entry page with the Countdown clock counting down to the release of the bracket. One hour following the announcement of the tournament match-ups you will have the opportunity to select who you think will win each of the 63 tournament games. Entrants may change their selections as often as they like prior to the scheduled tip-off time of the first game in the first round of the tournament (currently scheduled for Thursday, March 18, 2021) after which all selections must be finalized.

HOW TO PLAY: As determined in Section 6 by ESPN and ESPN’s Official Rules.

DETERMINATION OF WINNER: The winner will be the entrant who has scored the most points at the end of the tournament. Each entrant receives ten (10) points for each correct selection made in the second round of play; twenty (20) points for each correct selection made in the third round of play ; forty (40) points for each correct selection made in the Regional Semifinal round of play; eighty (80) points for each correct selection made in the Regional Final round of play; one hundred sixty (160) points for each correct selection made in the National Semifinal round of play; and three hundred twenty (320) points for selecting the tournament’s winning team in the National Final round of play. In the event a game does not occur as scheduled no points will be awarded. In the event of a tie between two or more entrants, there will be tie breaker. The entrant with a “Final Game Score Total Points” as shown on the entrant’s online bracket form closest to the combined actual scores in the National Final round of play will be the winner. In the event of a tie between two or more entrants after the tie breaker round, the winner will be selected by a random drawing between remaining entrants.

PRIZE: The prize for each bracket is an Amazon gift card - $250 for first place, $100 for second place, and $50 for third place. The prize may not be substituted and is not refundable or redeemable for cash, except by Waterstone Mortgage Corporation, who reserves the right to substitute a prize with another prize of equal or greater value if the prize is not available for any reason as determined by Waterstone Mortgage Corporation in its sole discretion. The winner is responsible for any and all taxes, fees and charges associated with the acceptance, receipt and/or use of a prize.

REQUIREMENTS OF THE POTENTIAL WINNERS: The potential winner must sign and return a fully completed IRS Form W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification) to Waterstone Mortgage Corporation within seven (7) business days of being notified. Except where prohibited, the potential winner may be required to complete and return an affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release within seven (7) days of being notified. If a potential winner fails to sign and return the Form W-9 or the Affidavit/Release (if required) within the required time period, an alternate entrant will be selected in his/her place in the manner described above (#7). Acceptance of a prize constitutes consent to use winner's name and likeness for editorial, advertising and publicity purposes without additional compensation except where prohibited by law.

GENERAL CONDITIONS: In the event that the operation, security, or administration of the contest is impaired in any way for any reason, including, but not limited to fraud, virus, or other technical problem, Waterstone Mortgage Corporation may, in its sole discretion, either: (a) suspend the drawing to address the impairment and then resume the contest in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules; or (b) award the prize at random from among the eligible entries received up to the time of the impairment. Waterstone Mortgage Corporation reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the contest or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to undermine the legitimate operation of the contest may be a violation of criminal and civil law and, should such an attempt be made, Waterstone Mortgage Corporation reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Waterstone Mortgage Corporation’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules will not constitute a waiver of that provision. In case of a dispute as to the owner of an entry, entry will be deemed to have been submitted by the authorized account holder of the screen name from which the entry is made. The authorized account holder is defined as the natural person who is assigned to 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 e-mail address.

RELEASE AND LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: By participating in the contest, entrants agree to release and hold harmless Waterstone Mortgage Corporation from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the contest or receipt or use of any prize, including, but not limited to: (a) unauthorized human intervention in the contest; (b) technical errors related to computers, servers, providers, or telephone or network lines; (c) printing errors; (d) lost, late, misdirected, or undeliverable email; or illegible bracket forms; (e) errors in the administration of the contest or the processing of entries; or (f) injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant's participation in the contest or receipt of any prize. Entrant further agrees that in any cause of action, Waterstone Mortgage Corporation’s liability will be limited to the cost of entering and participating in the contest, and in no event will Waterstone Mortgage Corporation be liable for attorney's fees. Entrant waives the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages. Each entrant waives the right to assert, as a cost of winning any prize, any and all costs of verification and redemption or travel to redeem a prize and any liability that might arise from redeeming or seeking to redeem a prize.

DISPUTES: Except where prohibited, entrant agrees that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of, or connected with, the contest or any prize awarded will be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate court located in the State of Wisconsin. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, entrant's rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of Waterstone Mortgage Corporation in connection with the contest, will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Wisconsin, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of Wisconsin or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Wisconsin.

CONTEST RESULTS: To request the name of the winner, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Waterstone Mortgage, N25W23255 Paul Road, Pewaukee, WI 53072, Attn: Lisa Fenske. Requests must be received within fifteen (15) days from the end date of the tournament.