To my fellow LP members

Reply #31

ayenowitall — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 11:18:08 GMT

I have to agree with Todd. I see nothing wrong with CASH Only expressing his points of view, but we should all try to maintain the respect and decency afforded by proper board etiquette. It's just not nice to constantly make irrelevant posts about annuities and the NY lottery in threads about other matters. It disrupts the continuity and development of ideas about the subject matters at hand.

As fja suggested, I don't think anyone would object if CASH Only were to create and update an ongoing... [ More ]

Reply #30

Todd — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 17:34:04 GMT

You don't listen to anything I say, and I've said it dozens of times now.

I don't like how you are a troll on the forums. You and other people don't seem to know what a troll is. It's not an ogre. It's somebody who goes into various threads and posts things that they know will start fights, or is purposely off-topic.

A troll is someone who purposely does things that he/she knows will upset people.

The rules of the forum are simple. You cannot post content in a thread that changes... [ More ]

Reply #29

Todd — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 17:25:16 GMT

That's ridiculous. Maybe if you have an opinion about me you should direct it to me, instead of directing it to another member.

By the way, I speak for the dozens of people who e-mail me weekly about the annoying non-stop, repetitive posts made by Cash Only. To imply that I am biased somehow is ignorant. Maybe you should try reading the forums before throwing accusations about me.

You should take your own advice and post your negativity in private.

Reply #28

konane — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:22:22 GMT

Sounds like the most complained about lotteries on LP are a microcosm of larger problems in government which sorely need to be cleaned up, revised, even restructured. However, so long as politicians bring home the right brand of bacon to their constituents while dipping their hands deeply into special interest pockets it will remain same-old/same-old.

Reply #27

Coin Toss — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:10:55 GMT

CASH Only

You said, The NY Lottery has a new director (hired by the outgoing governor; will Spitzer replace him?). He needs to listen to lottery players like me, and push the NY legislature to make changes in the lottery that he cannot make himself. He cannot be a puppet like the current director.

This is true, but there's a bigger problem and that is simply all the other lottery players. It doesn't matter who a states'ottery director is, as long as the money keeps coming in, which it d... [ More ]

Reply #26

DoubleDown — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 15:13:07 GMT

CASH,

Direct your vent to the NY Lottery Director- put your energy into it like you have done with your posts here and eventually you might see a change in their philosophy.

I agree with your assessment of the NY Lottery- I'm glad I play in GA and SC...

Good luck

DD

Reply #25

CASH Only — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 15:05:12 GMT

Maybe Todd is less symphathetic towards me now as he used to be simply because (as a New Jersey resident who probably does not visit NY state often) he does not see firsthand as I do how crooked the NY Lottery is for a state that does not use computerized drawings save for Quick Draw.

New Jersey Pick-6 Lotto is a very good game. It has the usual 50% payout vs NY Lotto's ridiculously low 38%-40%. When Todd plays Pick-6, he does not have to choose cash or annuity UNLESS he wins. Mega Millions i... [ More ]

Reply #24

fja — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 14:23:55 GMT

Bartista Express writes: But jim695, do you know what's so disheartening to me? It's the fact the owner (chief bottle washer) of this community has decided to tell CashOnly not to mention anything about what he has been saying all this time ever again, if he wishes to be taken seriously ever again! Please correct me if I'm wrong. I thought our chief bottle washer was supposed to be unbiased? And if so, from what I just read, that seems not to be the case at the present moment!

Maybe ou... [ More ]

Reply #23

Raven62 — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 13:49:46 GMT

Following your motto: "Shoot First, Ask Questions Later (if still alive

Reply #22

BaristaExpress — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 05:42:46 GMT

But jim695, do you know what's so disheartening to me? It's the fact the owner (chief bottle washer) of this community has decided to tell CashOnly not to mention anything about what he has been saying all this time ever again, if he wishes to be taken seriously ever again! Please correct me if I'm wrong. I thought our chief bottle washer was supposed to be unbiased? And if so, from what I just read, that seems not to be the case at the present moment!

Maybe our chief bottle washer should h... [ More ]

Reply #21

CASH Only — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 00:13:39 GMT

GA and New Jersey allow annuity choosers to change their minds. But NY and Texas do not. If you choose annuity in NY or Texas, you're SOL.

Reply #20

CA LotteryGuy — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 00:08:01 GMT

rdc137.... both New Jersey and Georgia offer pre-selection, i.e. you make a selection of cash or annuity when purchasing your ticket.

The USA MEGA site says Georgia is 60 days from the claim date and New Jersy is 60 days from the drawing date for selecting cash or annuity option. Do you know if once you claim your winnings are you offered the chance to change your option, if within the time limit in either of these states

Reply #19

rdc137 — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 23:36:56 GMT

Georgia and New Jersey also require pre-selection.

Reply #18

Littleoldlady — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:57:48 GMT

Sorry, I like annuities.. checks coming the mail which actually means I have to manage my money..not let it manage me.

Reply #17

CASH Only — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:50:37 GMT

Of course Ohio will still have MM. In fact, MM is better than Ohio Classic Lotto (just as MM is better than Lot O'Play) because the cash value of the MM annuity floats, while the percentage of Ohio Classic Lotto will be 50%. Ohio stiffs lump-sum winners of in-state games, but not MM cash value winners.

Reply #16

Surge — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:43:34 GMT

Oh, I forgot OH was Mega Millions now. I was referring to when OH had Super Lotto.

Will Ohio still be a part of the Mega Millions game when we get the Lotto Classic in January

Reply #15

CA LotteryGuy — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 19:31:47 GMT

Surge...the rule in Ohio is you have 60 days from the date of your claim to choose cash or annuity. There are two Mega Million states (Texas and New York) that say you must choose cash or annuity at time of purchase.

Good information on this topic is on the USA Mega Web Site under Mega Millions FAQ and the question After I buy a ticket, can it be changed from annuity to a cash option?

What caused the different ways states treat this situation was an IRS ruling a few years back that all... [ More ]

Reply #14

Surge — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 18:29:12 GMT

I do agree with you CASH, there should be at the very least an option of a lump sum cash payout. I believe OH used to be the same way, someone correct me if I'm wrong. Not too long ago in Ohio you had to specify at the time of the ticket purchase whether or not you wanted the cash option , and that option was printed on the ticket. If you didn't specify then you would be locked into an annuity if the jackpot was won. Again, someone correct me if I'm wrong, this is just what I remember.... [ More ]

Reply #13

konane — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 17:03:00 GMT

Yes, I know there are several different kinds of annuities and Clark Howard's reference was about those a person purchases, not what the lottery buys.

Annuity payments by lotteries are considered stable and guaranteed by many..... but payments from pension plans workers paid into were once considered stable and guaranteed also, but are now either disappearing or being negotiated downward.

For some of us at least the carrot on a stick which annuities represent is not appealing whatsoever,... [ More ]

Reply #12

CA LotteryGuy — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 16:39:34 GMT

konane the annuity Clark Howard is referring to is a variable annuity, far different from the annuity that the lottery utilizes. The variable annuity Mr. Howard refers to is a controversial investment on its own.

The lottery purchases government securities, typically zero coupon bonds from the US Treasury. For example, for Mega Millions the lottery would purchase 25 separate bonds. The bonds mature one at a time over the next 25 years at or near the anniversary date of the winning lotte... [ More ]

Reply #11

konane — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 15:11:49 GMT

As I've posted before there is a highly respected consumer advocate, Clark Howard, who holds a dim view about purchasing annuities due to heavy commissions and heavy taxation when selling them.

May 18, 2005 -- The time to buy an annuity is NEVER!

http://clarkhoward.com/shownotes/category/6/23/

As far as CASH Only's posts if I don't want to read them, I simply don't. However there needs to be a voice somewhere against lotteries trending away from cash jackpots toward annuity only... [ More ]

Reply #10

CASH Only — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 14:43:12 GMT

Very good point. All lottery players who live in or visit NY should push for a minimum 50% payout in NY Lotto, and an end to annuity-only scratch games (including cash options on lifetime payouts.) There are 19 million alone who live in NY state, so I cannot make the NY Lottery change by myself.

Reply #9

Surge — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 21:42:43 GMT

Ongoing rants should be directed towards the NY lottery, or wherever the source is. Ranting to members doesn't do anything except reinforce one's own opinion, which we clearly comprehend. The problem can't be solved here on LP, so why continue with the same opinion over and over again

Reply #8

jim695 — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 18:49:56 GMT

Two cents is plenty, Jimiam. What's important is that you've contributed something to this thread, which indicates that you have at least a passing interest in the topic. You managed to make your thoughts known and told us why you feel the way you do. And you did it without attacking anyone.

Each of us will have his or her share of bad days, but we can no longer afford to direct our anger at one another. Over the years, we've seen the membership of LotteryPost.com grow steadily, as I'm sure i... [ More ]

Reply #7

Jimiam — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 02:19:29 GMT

Well, Yeah, I, myself tend to get hot under the collar when I think about certain issues. For example, our friendly american govt an irs. I have figured out that you can scream till ya can't scream no more and people just don't care; just so they get their beer and lazyboy chair in the evening.So, I tend to shy away from those topics that get me flustered. As far as posts that I don't like or agree with, I just IGNORE that post and go to next one. In other words, I,myself, respect the right of p... [ More ]

Reply #6

jim695 — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 01:45:35 GMT

Nearly 50,000 members are proud to call LotteryPost.com their home; technically, we now comprise an army. Is there one among our numbers who isn't at least remotely acquainted with Cash Only's position on annuity payments?

Probably not; he was making his views very clear even before I joined up: He doesn't like annuity payments, and he believes games which don't offer a cash option are inherently unfair.

Now, you all know how much I hate posting an opinion that might be unpopular or, Hea... [ More ]

Reply #5

guesser — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 23:10:16 GMT

Only problem being that you are preaching to the choir.

Reply #4

CASH Only — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 21:03:09 GMT

I like discussing MUSL Hot Lotto, but now realize it's of limited interest since the game no longer uses balls. But I'd still like to see more states join HL, as well as HL reverting to ball draws.

Reply #3

Bryan — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 18:57:50 GMT

Fja,

I agree with what you are saying, but when I saw that ugly gnome calling someone else a troll, I lost it...

You gotta love this place,

Bryan

Reply #2

Todd — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 18:54:01 GMT

I completely agree. You seem to have lost your grip on reality and have become nothing but a troll. There is nobody here, guest or member, who has not seen your 10,000 posts about the NY Lotto and the biased comments about unlucky this or that.

If you ever wanted to be taken seriously again, you will take my advice and do not mention the word unlucky or annuity or cash or NY Lottery again.

You seem to have absolutely no joy in playing the lottery, so what exactly brings you her... [ More ]

Reply #1

fja — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 18:41:21 GMT

Your point has been made (albeit with me it was 10,000 post ago).....your obsession with the payouts have turned your comments into an infomercial that I skip almost all of the time.....you have become a troll type member looking to rag on anyone with a different point of view,,,,it is a shame because I know you can offer more. You have a blog that you started,,,,post it there, argue your point there, use the forums for ideas and suggestions,,,,don't preach to me about the games, I know what th... [ More ]

To my fellow LP members

CASH Only — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 17:56:09 GMT

I'm sorry that I sound obsessive in my posts when it comes to certain issues. But I feel somebody has to complain about annuity-only lottery games (be it lifetime or over x number of years,) and, for those like myself who live or visit NY state, the terrible payout percentage in NY Lotto.

Lottery players like myself should push lotteries to offer lump-sum payouts or cash options in ALL games, and likewise a minimum 50% payout for all betting options.

I'm convinced that the lack of a cash o... [ More ]