Do you play the lottery?

[Moishebatchy]

How would a copy prove anything? Even if you sent it to yourself with certified mail 

Similar in concept to the poor man's patent.

[zale]

Not so simple. There was a big story last year of someone who formed a trust to claim the lottery winnings in CT. The media was all over it.

Now, although it seems that you will be more at peace if you stay anonymous, there are some dangers involved in doing so:

• If the wrong people find out that you won, you will be in danger, as you will have no protection whatsoever.
• It may be mentally too much for you to handle.
• Having someone else claim the ticket is a serious risk, no matter how many lawyers and contracts you have. The ticket is in THEIR hands, and for all intents and purposes, as far as lottery officials are concerned, the person who claimed it is the winner.

The reality is, that if you won the lottery you would never be at peace. Anyone who plays the lottery knows this. You play because it's a nice little dream.

If you are a gambler, the lottery to play are the scratchers. 1k-30k prize. Practical.

[jj1000]

If you are a DUMB gambler, the lottery to play are the scratchers. 1k-30k prize. Practical.

ftfy (It's simply playing a guaranteed losing odds.)

[zale]

ftfy (It's simply playing a guaranteed losing odds.)

You are correct. And if you are an even dumber gambler, the lottery to play is the Powerball or Mega Millions.

[Dan]

You are correct. And if you are an even dumber gambler, the lottery to play is the Powerball or Mega Millions.

Actually the expected value of a very large MM or PB draw is greater than the cost of a ticket (it's just the variance that gets you).  That's never the case with an instant ticket.

[popcorn1508]

why waste ur money if u know ur going to lose

[Achas Veachas]

WOW! $425mm
Maybe I should buy one this week, looks like Hashem is really trying to give me something here

[AsherO]

WOW! $425mm
Maybe I should buy one this week, looks like Hashem is really trying to give me something here

$1 buys $425mm worth of dreams, I'll bite

[A3]

$1 buys $425mm worth of dreams, I'll bite

I don't usually play. Excuse my ignorance. Isn't it $2 with the powerball number? And $1 for only the first 5 numbers without the power ball? Or am I way off

[Achas Veachas]

IIRC it's $2 for the powerball. Either way quite a bargain for so much daydreaming

[jj1000]

IIRC it's $2 for the powerball. Either way quite a bargain for so much daydreaming

+1 especially because when it was $650Mil. I won

[HelpMe]

You have to play to win!!!

[AJK]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-powerball-record-jackpot-20121125,0,6716830.story

[churnbabychurn]

imagine you win, you go pick up the 100mil check, where do you deposit? Fdic insures up to 250k per account. What bank would you go with even just for a few days?

[HelpMe]

...and how many banks are there?

[AJK]

imagine you win, you go pick up the 100mil check, where do you deposit? Fdic insures up to 250k per account. What bank would you go with even just for a few days?

Nobody with $100 million keeps it in a checking account. It doesn't matter where you deposit it.

[sky121]

imagine you win, you go pick up the 100mil check, where do you deposit? Fdic insures up to 250k per account. What bank would you go with even just for a few days?

Split the money up.

[Dan]

Nobody with $100 million keeps it in a checking account.

What do they do with it?

[AJK]

What do they do with it?

Ordinary investments? Stocks, bonds, ETF's, index funds, mutual funds, etc.

Alternative investments? Hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, etc.

[Saver2000]

Ordinary investments? Stocks, bonds, ETF's, index funds, mutual funds, etc.

Alternative investments? Hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, etc.

+1

Or if you're really nuts, just put it in a safe deposit box. (Or a few boxes in different banks)