Found someone to buy tickets for record US lottery jackpot - $656 million [Archive]

Mario38

Mar 26th, 2012, 12:16 PM

Found someone to buy tickets for record US lottery jackpot - $656 million. Thanks.

Original request for help:

Looking for someone willing to buy Mega Millions lottery tickets for my lottery group from one of the following US border states: Maine, New York, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana or Washington. My usual ticket buyer is not available to buy this week.

So far, we have up to $200 to spend. Will pay for the tickets with an Interac transfer or the buyer can use some or all of their cost as a credit for future lottery group plays.

The jackpot is $363 million annuity or a $259 million cash. The cash value makes it the largest US jackpot in history.

The Mega Millions game is similar to the US Powerball game where 5 numbers are selected from 1 to 56 and a Mega number is selected from 1 to 46. Matching the Mega number only pays $2. If the buyer is willing to select the Mega number and quick pick for the other 5 numbers, then we have the option to select every Mega number at least 4 times guaranteeing a win of at least $8. Therefore we can buy 208 tickets.

The buyer would need to buy the tickets before draw time on Tuesday, March 27 at 11 PM Eastern leaving enough time to scan the tickets, email them to me and for me to email the group members.

Please let me know if you are interested.

Good luck.

diggler649

Mar 26th, 2012, 12:19 PM

Have you tried asking any of the Nigerians on RFD?

y2jversion1

Mar 26th, 2012, 12:22 PM

If only you had posted this Friday/Saturday - I was there this weekend and picked up a bunch of tix for myself.. just got back in late last night...

Mario38

Mar 26th, 2012, 12:25 PM

If only you had posted this Friday/Saturday - I was there this weekend and picked up a bunch of tix for myself.. just got back in late last night...

Are you willing to use some or all of your tickets as a way of buying into the group?

Good luck.

zz000ter

Mar 26th, 2012, 12:30 PM

Lotteries are a tax on Stupidity.

Believe me - You will NOT win anything

ji2o0k

Mar 26th, 2012, 12:51 PM

Lotteries are a tax on Stupidity.

Believe me - You will NOT win anythingCome on man...it is always fun to play and dream...

Plus someone may win...but if you don't have a ticket, you will definitely not win..

If you have a ticket, you might win....but the probability is very very very low..but still a possibility!

Mario38

Mar 26th, 2012, 01:28 PM

The group is up to 21 shares and $210. Assuming the ticket buyer will also join, then we have enough to cover every Mega number 5 times. This gives a total of 230 tickets and odds of 1 in 763,963 of winning the largest US jackpot in history.

Good luck.

laptop-tech

Mar 26th, 2012, 01:31 PM

Lotteries are a tax on Stupidity.

Believe me - You will NOT win anything

You speak with so much credibility that of course I will believe you. Of course you know exactly what you are talking about and can prove it.

Starkicker

Mar 26th, 2012, 05:02 PM

Are those lotteries open to Canadians? I always thought they were for US residents only...

Mario38

Mar 26th, 2012, 05:13 PM

Are those lotteries open to Canadians? I always thought they were for US residents only...

Anyone can buy US lottery tickets. They have to be bought in person from an authorized retailer though. There are companies that sell US lottery tickets online but I suspect, if you win, the State run lottery commission will not pay out. Stupid chance to take

My groups have bought US lottery tickets in the past and have claimed large enough prizes that I had to made the claim at a bank. Some states allow banks to process lottery redemptions rather than force a winner to travel to the main lottery office.

Good luck.

Setz

Mar 27th, 2012, 01:19 AM

Damn shame I got midterms all week, else I'd help you guys out. I'm literally 5min from the border. :(

1minutecloser

Mar 27th, 2012, 03:08 AM

Looking for someone willing to buy Mega Millions lottery tickets for my lottery group from one of the following US border states: Maine, New York, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana or Washington. My usual ticket buyer is not available to buy this week.

So far, we have up to $200 to spend. Will pay for the tickets with an Interac transfer or the buyer can use some or all of their cost as a credit for future lottery group plays.

The jackpot is $363 million annuity or a $259 million cash. The cash value makes it the largest US jackpot in history.

The Mega Millions game is similar to the US Powerball game where 5 numbers are selected from 1 to 56 and a Mega number is selected from 1 to 46. Matching the Mega number only pays $2. If the buyer is willing to select the Mega number and quick pick for the other 5 numbers, then we have the option to select every Mega number at least 4 times guaranteeing a win of at least $8. Therefore we can buy 208 tickets.

The buyer would need to buy the tickets before draw time on Tuesday, March 27 at 11 PM Eastern leaving enough time to scan the tickets, email them to me and for me to email the group members.

Please let me know if you are interested.

Good luck.

I will do it for you I have PM you!

Simaahoy

Mar 27th, 2012, 07:19 AM

have you tried asking any of the nigerians on rfd?

lmao

pupazzo

Mar 27th, 2012, 08:37 AM

My cumpare does this for all his cugines. Shoot him a pm

Shaner

Mar 27th, 2012, 09:03 AM

Lotteries are a tax on Stupidity.

Believe me - You will NOT win anything

Lotteries are entertainment. I pay $3 on a lotto 649 ticket and I'm entertained for that week by the thought I could win. It's worth every penny.

I personally know 3 people that have won the lottery ( one of the guys won it twice). Somebody has to win, and although unlikely, it could be me one day.

Mario38

Mar 27th, 2012, 04:08 PM

Found someone willing to buy Mega Millions tickets. Ended up with two buyers and two groups.

Group T25 bought 50 tickets and has 25 shares. Cost to join is $5.

Group T26 bought 135 tickets and has 27 shares. Cost to join is $5.

Good luck.

aaronl3e7

Mar 27th, 2012, 05:16 PM

Have you tried asking any of the Nigerians on RFD?

:cheesygri

Shaner

Mar 27th, 2012, 05:44 PM

Mario, if you're ever looking for someone to join into your lotto group, I'm interested. Just PM me.

Mario38

Mar 27th, 2012, 06:48 PM

Mario, if you're ever looking for someone to join into your lotto group, I'm interested. Just PM me.

Private message sent.

Good luck.

projectmoonlightcafe

Mar 27th, 2012, 07:55 PM

Found someone willing to buy Mega Millions tickets.

I hope you don't mean the newbie on page 1

1minutecloser

Mar 27th, 2012, 08:41 PM

I hope you don't mean the newbie on page 1

Why I did do it and me and Mario worked everything out just because I'm a newbie doesn't mean I shouldn't be trusted. Don't judge a user by it's ranking.

projectmoonlightcafe

Mar 27th, 2012, 08:50 PM

Why I did do it and me and Mario worked everything out just because I'm a newbie doesn't mean I shouldn't be trusted. Don't judge a user by it's ranking.

You're right, yet i still wouldn't trust someone with a couple of hundred of bucks who has nothing to lose. Nothing against you specifically, it's just common sensical

Mario38

Mar 27th, 2012, 11:00 PM

Group T25 bought 50 tickets and Group T26 bought 136 tickets for the Mega Millions draw on March 27. The jackpot is $363 million and is the largest US jackpot ever.

Good luck.

anyasok

Mar 28th, 2012, 12:42 AM

Private message sent.

Good luck.
Can I join into your group too?
I wish I could participate in that draw :)

Mario38

Mar 28th, 2012, 12:48 AM

Can I join into your group too?
I wish I could participate in that draw :)

Too late. The draw has been held and the tickets checked. Send me your email address and I can place you on the mailing list for the next group play.

Good luck.

BornRuff

Mar 28th, 2012, 04:58 AM

Any chance you are a multimillionaire now?

Mario38

Mar 28th, 2012, 12:59 PM

Any chance you are a multimillionaire now?

No, we are not millionaires. But to everyone's surprise, the jackpot was not won and it is now an unprecedented $476 million. By far the largest US jackpot in history. There will be a frenzy of ticket buyers the next three days. There is a chance the jackpot estimate may increase by draw time and it may hit a half billion dollars.

The draw is also expected to have a positive expected value. Something that rarely occurs with US lotteries.

We of course are buying more tickets.

Good luck.

Insider

Mar 28th, 2012, 01:07 PM

how and where can I play. ;)

Mario38

Mar 28th, 2012, 01:13 PM

how and where can I play. ;)

Register and make payment using the following online form:
http://www.eventsonline.ca/events/lottery_group/

Group T25 is buying tickets and it cost $4 per share to join.

Group T26 and Group T27 may be buying tickets. Waiting for the ticket buyer to confirm.

Group T26 is $1 per share and Group T27 is $5 per share.

Good luck.

dirkpitt

Mar 28th, 2012, 01:20 PM

Are those lotteries open to Canadians? I always thought they were for US residents only...This is what I had thought as well, but if you say so...!

Gives me a chuckle thinking of the headline: Largest Ever U.S. Lotto Jackpot Claimed by Canadians!!

Ah, just as they were thinking that they were going to pull out of that nasty little recession... :lol:

Mario38

Mar 28th, 2012, 01:39 PM

This is what I had thought as well, but if you say so...!

Gives me a chuckle thinking of the headline: Largest Ever U.S. Lotto Jackpot Claimed by Canadians!!

Ah, just as they were thinking that they were going to pull out of that nasty little recession... :lol:

Not that the huge amount of money is already a great incentive to play, but the headlines and grief we would cause in the US press is definitely an added incentive. It is the kind of stuff money cannot buy. Kind of like the Master Card commercial - priceless.

Good luck.

Mario38

Mar 28th, 2012, 02:24 PM

Wow, that was quick. The Mega Millions jackpot for the March 30 draw was estimated at $476 million last night after it was determined no one won the jackpot in the March 27 draw. Now, only after a couple of hours of ticket buying, the estimate has already been changed to $500 million. There must be a huge ticket buying frenzy.

The following are the 3 groups buying tickets for the Mega Millions draw along with the cost per share to join.

Group T25 - $4
Group T26 - $1
Group T27 - $5

Good luck.

Mario38

Mar 29th, 2012, 12:43 PM

The Mega Millions jackpot is now an estimated $540 million.

Good luck.

deltone

Mar 29th, 2012, 01:10 PM

Lotteries are entertainment. I pay $3 on a lotto 649 ticket and I'm entertained for that week by the thought I could win. It's worth every penny.

I personally know 3 people that have won the lottery ( one of the guys won it twice). Somebody has to win, and although unlikely, it could be me one day.

My cousin's ex wife won just under 4 million a few years back. She was always a real nasty witch but the money changed her. She's now a real nasty rich witch.

Our old neighbour won a million on a scratch ticket a few years back. He had won $30,000 only a few weeks prior to that. Pretty lucky guy.

projectmoonlightcafe

Mar 29th, 2012, 01:30 PM

My cousin's ex wife won just under 4 million a few years back. She was always a real nasty witch but the money changed her. She's now a real nasty rich witch.

Our old neighbour won a million on a scratch ticket a few years back. He had won $30,000 only a few weeks prior to that. Pretty lucky guy.

So was the ex- part before or after she won?

Thai

Mar 29th, 2012, 01:40 PM

You guys would really trust someone else to buy your tickets? Say the ticket is a winner, good luck trying to get it from the purchaser.

Mario38

Mar 29th, 2012, 01:58 PM

You guys would really trust someone else to buy your tickets? Say the ticket is a winner, good luck trying to get it from the purchaser.

There are very easy ways to manage that situation. The probability of having a problem is lower than the probability of winning.

Good luck.

projectmoonlightcafe

Mar 29th, 2012, 02:37 PM

How many people are in the pool? Watch the RFD effect and at payout, each member gets peanuts..lol

anyasok

Mar 29th, 2012, 04:14 PM

Who can buy a ticket for me?

Tornado F2

Mar 29th, 2012, 04:15 PM

So was the ex- part before or after she won?

I see the neighbour got away too. Very lucky in both cases. ;)

Personally I'm not a fan of mega lotteries. Limit the prize money to around $1-2M and have a lot more winners. It's the better way for pretty much all concerned.

anyasok

Mar 29th, 2012, 06:35 PM

There are very easy ways to manage that situation. The probability of having a problem is lower than the probability of winning.

Good luck.
Lottery is a tax on people who are bad at math..

MrKap

Mar 29th, 2012, 06:39 PM

Lottery is a tax on people who are bad at math..

Not in Texas - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2023514/Joan-R-Ginther-won-lottery-4-times-Stanford-University-statistics-PhD.html

sandikosh

Mar 29th, 2012, 06:44 PM

With $540M, I am going to disappear from everyone I know! At least for a year.

anyasok

Mar 29th, 2012, 06:57 PM

Not in Texas - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2023514/Joan-R-Ginther-won-lottery-4-times-Stanford-University-statistics-PhD.html
This is... AMAZING! Wow lol

wineluvr

Mar 29th, 2012, 08:37 PM

I'm going to Buffalo tomorrow to buy $100. worth, if I win no more RFD

Shaner

Mar 29th, 2012, 08:53 PM

You guys would really trust someone else to buy your tickets? Say the ticket is a winner, good luck trying to get it from the purchaser.

No clue what the US lotteries are like, but up here, the OLG takes it seriously when multiple people claim the same winning ticket, and an investigation is conducted before the money is released. It's not as easy as just disappearing, if it was, lotto groups wouldn't exist.

deltone

Mar 29th, 2012, 08:55 PM

I bought $22 worth today. $20 quick pick and $2 with my own choices. It wasn't even busy at the counter but there were a fair number of people buying tickets.

sandikosh

Mar 29th, 2012, 09:53 PM

If there is no wiinners, I'm heading across the border!

BornRuff

Mar 29th, 2012, 10:01 PM

No clue what the US lotteries are like, but up here, the OLG takes it seriously when multiple people claim the same winning ticket, and an investigation is conducted before the money is released. It's not as easy as just disappearing, if it was, lotto groups wouldn't exist.

The investigations they run into these things always seem quite convoluted and unscientific. I believe that they do their best to work these things out, but people do get screwed in the end.

Mario38

Mar 29th, 2012, 10:30 PM

Group T25 is now full and not accepting any new members. Group T26 and Group T27 still have shares available. Cost to join Group T26 is $1 per share and Group T27 is $5 per share.

Good luck.

Mario38

Mar 30th, 2012, 12:42 AM

The deadline for joining a Mega Millions group is noon Eastern time on Friday.

Good luck.

Mario38

Mar 30th, 2012, 12:21 PM

The big Mega Millions jackpot is all over the news in the US. I am surprised not to see at least one story in the Canadian press.

Good luck.

tighty whities

Mar 30th, 2012, 12:25 PM

it's at $640mln now

Mario38

Mar 30th, 2012, 12:27 PM

The big Mega Millions jackpot is all over the news in the US. I am surprised not to see at least one story in the Canadian press.

Good luck.

Correction. Just saw a story in the National Post. The story will now probably be carried by all major outlets.

Good luck.

y2jversion1

Mar 30th, 2012, 12:30 PM

it's at $640mln now

Holy shiettt!

Mario38

Mar 30th, 2012, 12:31 PM

it's at $640mln now

Thanks for the heads up.

This is a funny catch 22. When the jackpot was first announced just under $500 million, sales were predicted to be high but not so high to dramatically reduce the payout (expected value). Now with sales through the roof, the payout will be lower because of the relatively good probability of multiple winners.

Oh well, still fun to play.

Good luck.

yao416

Mar 30th, 2012, 12:32 PM

In before over 9000million

r1lee

Mar 30th, 2012, 04:58 PM

Lotteries are a tax on Stupidity.

Believe me - You will NOT win anything

tell that to the previous winners.

Abel4Life

Mar 30th, 2012, 05:37 PM

I'm also taking a shot at this :).

MaximDude

Mar 31st, 2012, 06:06 AM

Someone won in Maryland. :(

sandikosh

Mar 31st, 2012, 07:22 AM

Someone won in Maryland. :(

There goes my excuse to shop across the border.

projectmoonlightcafe

Mar 31st, 2012, 08:14 AM

3 winning tickets, Maryland, Illinois, and Kansas

Mario38

Mar 31st, 2012, 07:03 PM

Our groups won a total of $99 in the Mega Millions draw.

Good luck.

DearSummer

Mar 31st, 2012, 07:06 PM

Our groups won a total of $99 in the Mega Millions draw.

Good luck.

Is that a gross revenue number or net profit? "Won" isn't the right word imo if it's gross revenue.

Mario38

Mar 31st, 2012, 07:14 PM

Is that a gross revenue number or net profit? "Won" isn't the right word imo if it's gross revenue.

Won is not the right word?

OK, let me explain it this way. Take the tickets to the store. Hand them to the clerk. The clerk checks them using the lottery terminal. The clerk hands me $99.

We won $99.

Good luck.

DearSummer

Mar 31st, 2012, 07:24 PM

Won is not the right word?

OK, let me explain it this way. Take the tickets to the store. Hand them to the clerk. The clerk checks them using the lottery terminal. The clerk hands me $99.

We won $99.

Good luck.

I'll play along. How much did the tickets cost?

The other day I "earned" $1,000 by selling an investment I bought for $1 million and sold for $1,000. ;) Then again, maybe I lost $999,000?

Mario38

Mar 31st, 2012, 07:41 PM

I'll play along. How much did the tickets cost?

The other day I "earned" $1,000 by selling an investment I bought for $1 million and sold for $1,000. ;) Then again, maybe I lost $999,000?

There is terminology common with the stock market and there is terminology common with gambling and lotteries. You know this. You are just taking a long winded approach while trying to make a point.

But that is OK. I will play along.

What did you do last night?

"Went out and drank three beers."

No you didn't, you lost $18. What did you do after?

"Went out for dinner"

No you didn't, you lost $30!

Good luck with that view of life!

DearSummer

Mar 31st, 2012, 07:45 PM

There is terminology common with the stock market and there is terminology common with gambling and lotteries. You know this. You are just taking a long winded approach while trying to make a point.

But that is OK. I will play along.

What did you do last night?

"Went out and drank three beers."

No you didn't, you lost $18. What did you do after?

"Went out for dinner"

No you didn't, you lost $30!

Good luck with that view of life!

...

So how much did the tickets cost?

Shaner

Mar 31st, 2012, 08:07 PM

...

So how much did the tickets cost?

You're incredibly annoying. If you have nothing to add to this thread, stick to your pro-capitalism and anti-public service threads, because people reading this thread don't care one bit about your thoughts on lottery winnings.

Words like net and gross aren't used when talking about lottery winnings, but you knew that already. I'm starting to think you're just trolling.

BornRuff

Mar 31st, 2012, 08:24 PM

Our groups won a total of $99 in the Mega Millions draw.

Good luck.

Is that including the money that you already spent on more tickets in anticipation that picking every mega number would net at least 2 bucks per 46 tickets?

That money is probably just going to cover the initial cost of buying those extra tickets right, so it probably shouldn't be included in winnings, right?

BornRuff

Mar 31st, 2012, 08:31 PM

You're incredibly annoying. If you have nothing to add to this thread, stick to your pro-capitalism and anti-public service threads, because people reading this thread don't care one bit about your thoughts on lottery winnings.

Words like net and gross aren't used when talking about lottery winnings, but you knew that already. I'm starting to think you're just trolling.

I think with the nature of group play like this, it makes sense to state the winnings in terms of how many tickets were bought. Winning 99 bucks after buying 10 tickets is a lot different than 99 bucks after buying 1000 tickets.

Talking in terms of how much people won per share, or how many people split that 99 bucks, is a lot more informative. Sure, you can say lotteries are about fun, but the fun is about winning money.

Tornado F2

Mar 31st, 2012, 10:17 PM

bman77

Apr 1st, 2012, 12:45 AM

Tornado F2

Apr 1st, 2012, 12:53 AM

Finally someone gets it, I never understand why my mom feels the need to buy a ticket every week or two.

It's just another addiction, like smoking, that our governments are far too willing to cash in on rather than combatting. It's another tax on the poor and foolish really.

I do pick up a ticket once in a blue moon, when the prize gets sufficiently interesting, but I know it's not going to result in anything. Sadly a lot of people keep on buying more and more tickets, as they get increasingly desperate, seemingly in the belief that they'll win "next time".

Cas77

Apr 1st, 2012, 03:22 AM

It's just another addiction, like smoking, that our governments are far too willing to cash in on rather than combatting. It's another tax on the poor and foolish really.

...and if they didn't someone else would. I'd rather them subsidize my healthcare, my roads, etc...rather than having that money get pocketed by organized crime and natives with contraband tobacco.

Shaner

Apr 1st, 2012, 08:23 AM

The winnings are the prize money received minus the ticket purchase cost. If negative, that's actually a loss. Spend $10M to "win" $1M and you've actually lost $9M. It's very simple really.

Lotteries are far too random and unpredictable for me. I prefer something with a degree of skill or predictability, so I can increase my odds over a typical thoughtless gambler. And as I stated earlier, I think these lotteries would be far better, if less exciting, if they offered multiple smaller (though still significant) prizes rather than just one insanely-huge prize. Win such a huge amount and watch it create its own problems.

They're far too random and unpredictable for me too, but for $3 per week (or $5 per week the odd time the Lottmax jackpot hits $50 million), I'll play the mindless game. I bet on sports a lot, and I play poker a lot. I dislike games of chance, but like I said, for $5 a week to win $50 million, it's worth it. It's such a small amount of money that I don't even notice it anyway.

By the way, money doesn't create problems, people who don't have their heads screwed on straight create problems once they get money. For every lottery winner who had their life fall apart, there's at least 1 lottery winner who now has a better life because of it. I know a guy who won the lottery twice (not huge amounts, but still...) and he blew it all both times. I know another guy who won $250,000 (group play). He used to money to quit his job, go back to school so he could get a much better job. The money is gone, but he has a better life as a result.

Shaner

Apr 1st, 2012, 08:28 AM

It's just another addiction, like smoking, that our governments are far too willing to cash in on rather than combatting. It's another tax on the poor and foolish really.

I do pick up a ticket once in a blue moon, when the prize gets sufficiently interesting, but I know it's not going to result in anything. Sadly a lot of people keep on buying more and more tickets, as they get increasingly desperate, seemingly in the belief that they'll win "next time".

It's not an addiction for most of us. I like to play because for an insignificant amount of money, I can win a huge amount of money. I only play when the jackpots are large and I only ever buy one ticket. I know I'm very unlikely to play, but again, it's such an insignificant amount of money, that it's worth it.

I personally prefer sports betting and poker, but you can't get rich for a $3 bet in those games.

Shaner

Apr 1st, 2012, 08:30 AM

Finally someone gets it, I never understand why my mom feels the need to buy a ticket every week or two.

Why not? Even if she pocketed that money and saved it, what would she have after 30 years? She'd have a pretty small amount of money considering she's been saving it for 30 years. Most of us play because although very unlikely, it's possible to win millions for a $3 bet. I can afford to throw away $3 a week. If I couldn't, I wouldn't play the lottery.

gh05t

Apr 1st, 2012, 10:09 AM

45ED

Apr 1st, 2012, 10:31 AM

I like Maryland's law where the winner could remain anonymous unlike many other states and in Canada where you cannot.

Off course under the current anonymity laws you make a lot of new friends you never knew you had.

Family members you have had rivalries with in the past, all of a sudden decide to bury the hatchet.

Coincidentally these new found which was once lost folk all seem to require loans or be in debt.

It means in places like Canada you are outed so you become the target of disingenuous people hounding you.

Not sure how OLG does it (if at all), but Loto Quebec gives winners two weeks of anonymity in order to allow them a chance to get things in order - seek professional/legal advice (-sors), change numbers, set up accounts, book a trip out of the country, etc..

Mario38

Apr 1st, 2012, 12:45 PM

The final tally for the historic Mega Millions jackpot was $656 million.

Good luck.

Tornado F2

Apr 1st, 2012, 02:29 PM

They're far too random and unpredictable for me too, but for $3 per week (or $5 per week the odd time the Lottmax jackpot hits $50 million), I'll play the mindless game. I bet on sports a lot, and I play poker a lot. I dislike games of chance, but like I said, for $5 a week to win $50 million, it's worth it. It's such a small amount of money that I don't even notice it anyway.

By the way, money doesn't create problems, people who don't have their heads screwed on straight create problems once they get money. For every lottery winner who had their life fall apart, there's at least 1 lottery winner who now has a better life because of it. I know a guy who won the lottery twice (not huge amounts, but still...) and he blew it all both times. I know another guy who won $250,000 (group play). He used to money to quit his job, go back to school so he could get a much better job. The money is gone, but he has a better life as a result.

That's why I'd like to see a lot more smaller, yet significant, prizes - that people can use to improve their life, rather than gut it completely.

As you say, the price of each ticket isn't really an issue. But far too many people obviously still throw away large amounts of money without really improving their still-astronomical odds. And as addicted as some of the players are, our governments are becoming far too dependent on gambling too. I suppose it can be a harmless entertainment for most, but it's a very real problem for others.

My reference to winning the lottery creating its own problems was directed at these mega prizes. When the entire world knows/thinks you've got a fortune in the bank there's likely an endless stream of claimants wanting to get their hands on some of it, from relatives and charities (who I'd help) to potential kidnappers and other low-lifes. Just look at all the security Beckham needs to buy each year to protect his family.

Tornado F2

Apr 1st, 2012, 02:43 PM

...and if they didn't someone else would. I'd rather them subsidize my healthcare, my roads, etc...rather than having that money get pocketed by organized crime and natives with contraband tobacco.

A different set of organised criminals get our money this way. Just look at the huge payoffs some of the bureaucrats get when their incompetence is finally revealed. And all the wasteful projects - a billion dollars here, a billion dollars there, it's only taxpayers' money. I wish the government would be as responsible with our money as most of us have to be.

Mario38

Apr 1st, 2012, 07:21 PM

That's why I'd like to see a lot more smaller, yet significant, prizes - that people can use to improve their life, rather than gut it completely.

A lot of players claim they would rather see many medium sized prizes rather than huge jackpots. So would I. But history continues to demonstrate that lottery sales go through the roof when there are huge jackpots. Also, huge jackpots draw new players to the games - something lottery company executives love to see.

The only way to get what you want is to play in a group when there are huge jackpots. Your share of the jackpot is the medium sized win you want and the odds of winning in a group are essentially the same as if the lottery offered many draws for medium sized prizes rather than a huge single prize.

Everyone's definition of what constitutes a good medium size jackpot varies. That is why I offer the option of buying a different number of shares in a group to give players the ability to win a share of the jackpot they consider the right amount for them.

The Lotto Max game has an interesting variation. If gives the relatively large jackpots but caps them at $50 million. And then it gives players both the large jackpot and the extra multiple medium sized prizes of $1 million. It is a well designed compromise.

Good luck.

BornRuff

Apr 1st, 2012, 08:19 PM

A lot of players claim they would rather see many medium sized prizes rather than huge jackpots. So would I. But history continues to demonstrate that lottery sales go through the roof when there are huge jackpots. Also, huge jackpots draw new players to the games - something lottery company executives love to see.

The only way to get what you want is to play in a group when there are huge jackpots. Your share of the jackpot is the medium sized win you want and the odds of winning in a group are essentially the same as if the lottery offered many draws for medium sized prizes rather than a huge single prize.

Everyone's definition of what constitutes a good medium size jackpot varies. That is why I offer the option of buying a different number of shares in a group to give players the ability to win a share of the jackpot they consider the right amount for them.

The Lotto Max game has an interesting variation. If gives the relatively large jackpots but caps them at $50 million. And then it gives players both the large jackpot and the extra multiple medium sized prizes of $1 million. It is a well designed compromise.

Good luck.

Can you confirm how much of the 99 dollars won in the last draw was money you already spent on more tickets expecting at least 2 bucks back from every 46 tickets purchased?

Mario38

Apr 1st, 2012, 09:02 PM

Can you confirm how much of the 99 dollars won in the last draw was money you already spent on more tickets expecting at least 2 bucks back from every 46 tickets purchased?

We did not use the strategy of buying every Mega ball to guarantee a win of $2 for every $46 spent. All the tickets were quick picks. I did not want to burden the ticket buyers with the strategy given they already had to deal with lineups.

Good luck.

BornRuff

Apr 1st, 2012, 09:10 PM

We did not use the strategy of buying every Mega ball to guarantee a win of $2 for every $46 spent. All the tickets were quick picks. I did not want to burden the ticket buyers with the strategy given they already had to deal with lineups.

Good luck.

Lol, cool. That did seem like an incredibly laborious way to make 2 bucks.

Mario38

Apr 1st, 2012, 09:14 PM

Lol, cool. That did seem like an incredibly laborious way to make 2 bucks.

The point of the strategy is not to make $2 but to take advantage of a great buying opportunity and buy more tickets than money collected. It only takes about 5 minutes to fill out the required 10 play slips. The problem is more at retail and getting a clerk to properly process the same 10 slips multiple times.

Good luck.

anyasok

Apr 2nd, 2012, 10:08 AM

Shaner

Apr 2nd, 2012, 10:59 AM

http://gizmodo.com/5897926/celebrities-athletes-and-rich-people-please-stop-buying-mega-millions-lottery-tickets

I can't believe people who already won the lottery through capitalistic achievements are still vying to add to their wealth...

I would agree if they were buying tickets for an $8 million lotto 649 draw, but that mega millions draw was over $600 million. That's much more money than most celebs will ever have. That truly is a ridiculous amount of money, even for a celeb. I don't blame them one bit. Who wouldn't want a chance to win $640 million?

anyasok

Apr 2nd, 2012, 11:16 AM

Mario38

Apr 2nd, 2012, 12:33 PM

Well, I will comfort myself with the thought that Bill Gates and other billionaires did not bother becuase its just a drop in the bucket for them - I guess that proves your hypothesis right there :)

If would not surprise me if Bill Gates bought some tickets. Unlike most people, Bill Gates is running an organization that could leverage that kind of money to very good use. Even though he has lots of money, the kind of things he is trying to accomplish with his charitable foundation has such lofty goals, even he does not have enough money to achieve all of them.

Good luck.

rob444

Apr 2nd, 2012, 12:42 PM

If would not surprise me if Bill Gates bought some tickets. Unlike most people, Bill Gates is running an organization that could leverage that kind of money to very good use. Even though he has lots of money, the kind of things he is trying to accomplish with his charitable foundation has such lofty goals, even he does not have enough money to achieve all of them.

Good luck.

Bill Gates is a very smart man. And usually smart businessmen know better than to play the lottery which is almost the same as throwing away your money. Not to mention all the taxes US citizens need to pay on the winnings. Gates wouldnt flush his money down the toilet on tickets, he would rather actually put that money to good use.

Plus his net worth today is around $61 Billion so i dont think he really needs it. He could invest $500 Mil on something in a heartbeat if he wanted. :)

DearSummer

Apr 2nd, 2012, 12:46 PM

ji2o0k

Apr 2nd, 2012, 01:46 PM

Mo money, mo problems:

Mega Millions winner won’t share with colleagues at McDonald’s: Reports

One of the winning tickets of the Mega Millions lottery has prompted a feud between workers at a Maryland McDonald’s, one newspaper is reporting.

Workers pooled five bucks each to buy tickets, but the employee who holds the $105 million slip of paper claims she bought it separately — and she has no plans to share, according to the New YorkPost. Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1155309--mega-millions-winner-won-t-share-with-colleagues-at-mcdonald-s-reports?bn=1

Mario38

Apr 2nd, 2012, 09:36 PM

Mo money, mo problems:
Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1155309--mega-millions-winner-won-t-share-with-colleagues-at-mcdonald-s-reports?bn=1

It is looking like the story about the McDonalds workers winning was a hoax.

Good luck.

Tornado F2

Apr 2nd, 2012, 09:39 PM

I would agree if they were buying tickets for an $8 million lotto 649 draw, but that mega millions draw was over $600 million. That's much more money than most celebs will ever have. That truly is a ridiculous amount of money, even for a celeb. I don't blame them one bit. Who wouldn't want a chance to win $640 million?

Speaking of "celebs" and their money, I read that James Cameron's personal submersible for his descent to the deepest part of the ocean cost a comparatively "bargain" $8M. Not bad when you look at the price of mass-produced aircraft these days, for example. And he can no doubt sell it to the CIA/highest bidder for a lot more if anybody wants a closer look at some previously-inaccessible Cold War wrecks still sitting on the bottom of the ocean. (Possibly still containing multiple nukes). Pretty gutsy gamble if he tested it out himself though.

http://futurepredictions.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/james-cameron-submarine-mariana-trench-at-surface_48968_990x557-620x348.jpg