In group lottery wins, splitting the spoils tough

Comment #38

dallascowboyfan — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 08:46:59 GMT

Comment #37

maximumfun — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:16:05 GMT

most rules 'listings' I have read tend to fall into that catagory.

Comment #36

CDanaT — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:44:07 GMT

Thanks Max..........kept it easy, worked for us..Course never had it battle tested in court... but it was simple to set up and maintain.

Comment #35

CDanaT — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:38:45 GMT

We had a small group, kept it simple..If we won something small dollar-wise, it went towards purchasing extra tickets for the next draw, of course free tickets were a standard and marked on the sheet (wfpd) win from previous draw. If we won over $50 then we split it. Anything where we had to go to a local office/Hdqtrs in Tallahassee to collect, then we all made the trip at the same time, signed the appropriate lottery forms........ If someone was out sick or on vacation then they didn't play.Th... [ More ]

Comment #34

rdgrnr — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 02:31:25 GMT

I see only one flaw in your theory - it's stupid.

Comment #33

maximumfun — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 02:03:22 GMT

CDanaT - very nice idea. I have never heard of a pool run this way.

Comment #32

Coin Toss — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:16:55 GMT

MississippiMudd,

You should be OK with three people.

When the Mirage first opened there was a guy running tickets for a very large pool. He'd make trips to Nipton and took a steno pad with him full of people's names and numbers to play.

He was in that little lotto place in Nipton one time and some Nervada Gaming Commission agents busted him. I don't know how they had any authority in California but they quoted some Nevada law that makes it illegal to be a lottery agent running tickets f... [ More ]

Comment #31

haymaker — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:36:34 GMT

CDanaT i never heard of a pool run this way, very interesting and simple,

was there anything written out/ signed other than initializing the ticket

Comment #30

MississippiMudd — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:22:19 GMT

I play in a pool -- there are 3 of us. We buy tickets 10 weeks in advance and use numbers we have picked and all have copies of the ticket. The only reason for the pool is that we have to drive to California to buy tickets. Small wins go to the one who drives to get the tickets for gas. We have been doing this for 17 or 18 years. I do not anticipate any problems when we do win -- it is only a matter of time.

Our numbers did come up recently for Mega Millions. They just weren't all on the same... [ More ]

Comment #29

CDanaT — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:54:33 GMT

N.S. You sir are a more trusting/giving sole than I am.......Running my pool down here, I made people buy their ticket, bring it to work and initial it in front of me, then I made copies of all tickets and distributed them to the participants. You didn't bring in the ticket before the night of the drawing, you were on your own. That way everyone knew who gave and who was in if we won.....kudos to your generosity sir

Comment #28

NightStalker — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:36:08 GMT

I don't disagree with you at all on that. It hasn't come up yet. I have worked with most of these people for several years and I feel confident that it won't come up. If it does, I will probably cover the $2 and send out an email letting them know that it was short and that if it happens again, the pool will come to an end.

Comment #27

Cletu$2 — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:20:05 GMT

If the envelope is on your door ,what is to keep someone from signing it and NOT putting any money in but saying they did put money in?You seem to be trusting everyone to be honest.I think that is a major flaw in your thinking.People are not always honest.

Comment #26

NightStalker — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:28:48 GMT

Here is a copy of the rules that I send out on every email announcing the next drawing.

1. Whether we play the Powerball or Mega Millions, the entry fee is $2. Powerball is drawn on Wednesday and Saturday night. Mega Millions is drawn on Tuesday and Friday night.

The envelope for money will be on my door.

2. Write down the amount you put in ($2,$4,$6,etc) and your name or identifying number

3. Anyone paying ahead will be notified via email that the money was collected... [ More ]

Comment #25

Coin Toss — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:10:46 GMT

It seems that most of the problems with pools is someone straying from the pool , that is playing a ticket independently, rather any rules were written up beforehand or not.

I understand what has been said about not wanting to be the only one in a work group that didn't go in, but I still think any form of gambling should be solo.

Comment #24

RedStang — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 05:19:15 GMT

We know who plays all the time. If their not around we always put them in anyways and make sure their names are on the copys.

Comment #23

aquariuslottery — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 05:16:42 GMT

I agree with you. I also ran a pool in my workplace. 10 people, contributing money to the pool every month. Before they could join they had to sign a set of rules regarding the pool operation. Additionally, at the monthly contribution they also had to sign separately that they are in the pool for that month. Thus memberships in the pool could fluctuate but there was never any question who was in for any given month. Never had any problem with this system.

Remember folks, when it comes to cour... [ More ]

Comment #22

KY Floyd — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 04:27:24 GMT

How hard is it to write up a set of rules that anticipate the problems, and have every member sign? All of the disputes I can remember fit into a very short list of things that are easy to anticipate and easy to cover in the rules.

People who aren't smart enough to manage that should probably avoid pools, but far more people collect a big check as a result of playing in a pool than playing on their own. Despite the occasional lawsuit there are also plenty of pools that win and then quietly di... [ More ]

Comment #21

Piaceri — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:30:14 GMT

Stoopid office pool won $4 on Friday's MM, so 'leader' says she'll buy 2 PB for Wed draw. I just remembered it... and no ticket copies. Dammit.

The only reason I put my $2 in was that there are only 25 people in the office... everyone joined + 3 work from home employees. For $2 I wasn't going to be the only one that HAD to show up for work on Monday....

yes, i got my own tickets.

Comment #20

mightwin — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 22:51:49 GMT

Ive said it before, keep it simple buy your own tickets

Comment #19

maringoman — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:43:36 GMT

I am in a work pool only because I would hate to be the shmuck that didn't want to join coworkers in a work pool and they won big like that guy from Albany NY last year here https://www.lotterypost.com/news/229659 I also play on my own.

My reasons are simple. Even if there was a dispute that one person played in former games and didnt play in the game that won the jackpot and so the judge ruled in their favor and ordered that they be included in the share I would still walk away with more mon... [ More ]

Comment #18

mcginnin56 — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:48:17 GMT

Ahhh.....we live for drama. Pray for it!...........breathe it!............need it!........

Comment #17

Lucky SOB — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:32:20 GMT

too much drama

Comment #16

rad242 — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:11:52 GMT

Option 2

Buy your own tickets.

Wow seems so easy. Cant be real

Comment #15

cbr$ — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:43:29 GMT

I was a part of a office pool years ago it had a lot of rules and guide lines. $ 5.00 per person per name.each week. If you had a wife , a husband, a child or a significance other . You could add another five dollar for their name. We had a sign in sheet, a bulletin board, and a xerox machine. all money for any draw had to be in three day prior to the drawing before 11am , there was all advance sheets maked someone going on vacation have to pay before you left for vacation. we send one or two pe... [ More ]

Comment #14

time*treat — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:22:55 GMT

This. Not only are the protocals tested, but the people, too.

Comment #13

hearsetrax — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:24:56 GMT

Comment #12

rad242 — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:06:08 GMT

Have you guys ever won a JACKPOT? Your system and protocols and paperwork are never truly TESTED until you win

Comment #11

AmoWin — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:51:42 GMT

Any problems with or among anyone would be a clear sign that something wasn't communicated - in writing. I made many lotto pools at my last job, and there were never any questions. And actually, I had made several pools, one for each of 2 or 3 departments. And yes, I was in several pools at any time.

So, put it in writing, AND make some sort of clause that includes something to the effect of:

this pool is only for people who fully understand the terms of this communal lotto, and who signi... [ More ]

Comment #10

dk1421 — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:37:05 GMT

Awesome rhyme!!! Pure poetry!

I would play in a pool if my work had one. I mean, it's another chance at winning!

Last week I bought 3 tickets for 2 co-workers as a pool. However, I had one come with me to the store. I bought the 3 tickets, marked them with a K in front of her, then bought my own tickets. Yet, the only other time I did this, again I had one of the two with me when I bought them and again marked it with a K - but did NOT buy any tickets for myself. I would buy again at the... [ More ]

Comment #9

CDanaT — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:56:54 GMT

GOLDEN RULE: Pools WITHOUT RULES are for fools.

In the beginning,Lottery Pool intentions are great.

Give me your money for the drawing, but don't be late !

Its a buck a ticket,don't worry cause we can quick-pick it.

Our best friend will buy them for us cause he's first-rate.

No copies of tickets bought,,,, need to be made.

Because we are all friends and our trust will never fade

The jackpot millions have created dreams by the Gazillions

We trust our friend to buy th... [ More ]

Comment #8

dpoly1 — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:48:55 GMT

If you really want to be in a pool ........... purchase one after you win by yourself

Comment #7

rock_nc — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:45:05 GMT

I had a lottery pool at work,we played the lottery when it was called the big game. We had members to go to Virginia to purchase our tickets every Wednesday,for the Fridays draw. When it came to SC we started to play POWERBALL there in SC. Now when POWERBALL got here in NC,we started to play here in NC. So you might say we have been playing close to 9 years,We had members to drop out,got new members to join. I always got them to read the rules,then sign the rule sheet,also gave them a copy of th... [ More ]

Comment #6

rad242 — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:12:53 GMT

Plain and simple! The only sound advice is not participate in one. I am sure with rules people find loopholes. Someone didn't contriobute to a particular drawing when the pool won? What would that person have done if there was no win? Pay his/her way in retroactively? Hmmm...

Well some of us are determined to be SUCKERS FOR PUNISHMENT

Comment #5

Cletu$2 — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:50:32 GMT

Pools are for fools

Comment #4

jackpotismine — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:32:34 GMT

Joining a pool is great ONLY if it's done right. If you watched the 20/20 special, the woman from the state lottery outline what is the way to run a pool. Check it out. If you have a disorganized pool, the results are disastrous

Comment #3

maximumfun — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:30:49 GMT

My true advice, honestly, would be don't do a pool, Shane said.

The fact that he gave the modifier 'true' to the word advice makes me wonder about his advice when he doesnt 'modify' it. Yuck. Lawyers are interesting creatures no matter how you cut it.

This story highlights why I do NOT do lottery-pools

Comment #2

mcginnin56 — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:19:55 GMT

Never join a pool! Unless you want to get Once you hit that jackpot, then buy yourself a pool, or two

Comment #1

dallascowboyfan — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:14:15 GMT

If you are in a pool it is very important that you document EVERTHING

In group lottery wins, splitting the spoils tough

Lottery Post — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:10:29 GMT

Every once in a while a lottery jackpot becomes so huge that people can't help but band together in the hope of increasing their odds, pooling their money for a wad of tickets and promising to evenly split the spoils. Seems like a good idea until lightning strikes and the group wins.

Then the future involves not only luxury, but also lawsuits. Numerous group winners have been sued by people claiming to have pitched in for the ticket, creating messy fights over what money will be left once the... [ More ]