Actually,I'm one of those people that reads what is written on the page...not what is written between the lines.If someone writes that he thinks a $17,000,000 jackpot is boring,I believe that he thinks a $17,000,000 jackpot is boring.I don't know why I'm that way,but I am.

Ah, so you're a literal person.  Did not realize that.  So you're really, truly wondering if I'm THE Bill Gates?

I'm not.  I don't have his money.  OR his penis.

Sorry, guess I better make it clearer than that since you aren't able to read between the lines.  I'm a woman.

Whatever!

"Lord, I should just go back to lurking."

 I hear ya!

I agree.  I wonder why you are asking me this question & quoted me.   Maybe you misunderstood what I wrote or I wasn't clear.  I said  "Personally, I would try my best to keep it quiet until I make plans & move, but not everyone feels the same way." See this thread where I was giving advice to a new member.

http://www.lotterypost.com/thread/176555/1053254

I wrote:

Imagine driving home knowing you have a $100 million ticket in your hand.   Also, if you are one of the few lucky people who win a jackpot, you might want to keep the news private until you've caught your breath and made some plans.  We're all different, but I'd be paranoid if everyone at the supermarket heard someone yell "That lady has a $10 million ticket!"  I'd be looking in my rear view mirror all the way home! 

Anyway, whether or not we think it's crazy, many jackpot winners go to the store where they purchased their tickets and get them validated.

In Oregon you have to go back to the store where you bought the ticket for big winners - over $600.00.  No other store will be able to validate the ticket.  Smaller amounts can be paid out by any store that sells lottery tickets. If you take a big winner ticket to a different store when the clerk checks it on the machine they get some weird message back that apparently says something like (not real sure here cuz I've never seen the actual message they get ... just have seen the consequences) "it's a winner alright but they didn't buy the ticket at this store so tell em it's no good and try to just throw it away so we don't have to pay out on it".  That happened to me once ... I insisted on getting the ticket back, went to the store where I bought it, and it was a good one ... worth about $1200.

So you take it back to the store you bought it at, having first checked the numbers yourself at home and made sure it really is a big winner, and quietly get it validated.  If you know the clerks - or even if you don't - ask them nicely to keep quiet about your big win until after you leave the store.  Tuck the ticket and validation receipt carefully into your bra or some other very secure place.... walk out of the store calmly without running. Wait til you get home behind locked doors to do your yelling and whooping.     

When California first legalized a state-owned lottery, in order to overcome the vehement opposition to what is considered legalized gambling, the state enacted the provision that all payouts for all games were to be pari-mutuel. Pari-mutuel payouts guarantee that the state will receive a set percentage of the total amount wagered - it's a no-lose proposition. When MegaMillions came, the payouts for the lower-tier prizes were also made pari-mutuel, based on the sales within the state alone.

You hear about other states where, for instance, when the Pick 3 number is a popular one like 777, the total payout is more than what was wagered on the game for that day. The state publicizes this and cries all the way to the poorhouse. A likely story, since it seldom happens and nothing is ever said about the long-term gross profits, which are always close to the calculated payout percentage. Pari-mutuel payouts eliminate this, meaning California doesn't have to maintain a daily float to cover incidents like that.

NJ has the same pari-mutuel payouts.  Somehow I've never come out on the upside of that equation myself.  (Getting more than the avg. payout -- always less.)  I think pari-mutuel payouts for Pick 3 and Pick 4 stink.

As an interesting addition to your comments about California's lower-tier prizes, all of the states payout the lower-tier prizes from the ticket sales within that state.  Not just California.

The only prize funds shared are those for the jackpot, which is a straight percentage of sales.  Everything else (except for joint operating expenses) stays within the state.

California was approved with pari-mutuel prizes just because they are such a big state, so the Mega Millions states were willing to compromise.  If a state like Alaska wanted to join, I doubt they would make the same exception.

However, I would wager that they would make the exception foor Florida, if they came calling.

Just so everyone knows... It wasn't me either. I've just been quiet the last coupld days.

Now we've had a April Fools (which was also his birthday) winner and a Friday the 13th winner I wonder if it was their birthday also. Now what "special day" will the next Michigan winner hit on? Will it also be their birthday? If so that'll rule me out because there's nothing special about my birthday.