Which scenario would you prefer??

Reply #23

DC81 — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:41:57 GMT

I'd need to know what all the laws are in Michigan before making a decision, but seeing as I'd be moving out of this state ASAP, the sooner I would get the money the better. I could always take care of the other things once I get to my destination... Which with my luck would probably lead to my having an accident and death while on the way.

It'd be nice if Michigan just allowed a flat out anonymity option.

EDIT: Wait... They do! Unless what I'm looking at is out... [ More ]

Reply #22

dphillips — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:18:37 GMT

rundown99, I would prefer #1 because I want to be in charge of claiming my prize -- and not have an attorney to set up a blind trust.

Reply #21

LottoAce — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:51:04 GMT

Well, Stated,

I have noted from experience that most of the lottery winners draw way too much attention to themselfs...

like the guy in UK who won 6 million and became some what of a media freak.. (he's now broke)

or the 33 million winner who went crazy, went broke, and then stated, winning the lottery was the worst thing that ever happened to me ...then committed suicide.

or the West Va man who won 366 million dollar jackpot, after a 6 year frenzy of lawsuits, and stripc... [ More ]

Reply #20

guesser — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 05:50:28 GMT

I will say I don't care, I'd love to be able to say I will cross that road when I get to it....

And I still don't understand the obsession of being 'secret' - I know two PB winners, and NEITHER of them are bugged by anybody.

You win the lottery, and just keep on doing what you are doing (albeit retired now), you will be fine.

But if you win the lottery and decide to make a spectacle of yourself, that's when you got problems.

Reply #19

tntea — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 02:53:42 GMT

I pick 1.. Why give to the lawyer

Reply #18

justxploring — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:24:30 GMT

The scenario I prefer is

WINNING

anonymous, not anonymous, Lotto, Powerball, Mega, annual payments, lump sum. We all talk about how, when which way...but I just want to win a jackpot and then worry about the rest.

(However, my answer is #1

Reply #17

Stack47 — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:53:02 GMT

A group did something like that in Virginia a few years ago when the $27 million jackpot amount exceeded the 7 million possibilities in their 6/44 Lotto game. The group only had enough time to buy 5 million combinations but got lucky and had the winning combo covered. Even if the lotteries hadn't changed the rules to prevent a group from tying up terminals, the idea that somebody could obtain the 88 million play slips in Ohio (where they could form a trust and remain anonymous) and have enough t... [ More ]

Reply #16

OldSchoolPa — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:14:54 GMT

TexasDreams, I agree with your signature quote...which is why I like the current market conditions

Reply #15

TexasDreams — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:24:43 GMT

#2, because the beneficiary has control over who is the trustee in any trust. The liability protection a blind trust or any trust, compounded by adding a spendthrift clause makes the assets totally invulnerable to lawsuits or any other judgments, just remember that Jack Whittaker person, I personally feel had he used some sort a good thinking Jack would have better protection, I mean Jack was sued by a pole dancer for sexual harassment, and lost! Also, most trust's have there own tax identificat... [ More ]

Reply #14

JackpotWanna — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:46:14 GMT

I voted #1 and move to a private island.

Reply #13

OldSchoolPa — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:48:42 GMT

I would say option 2 because no matter what state I lived in and I happened to win a jackpot prize, I would utilize the services of a team of lawyers. Of course, I would be present at the claiming, so I would not worry about any shinanigans taking place. Truthfully, I am not so concerned about remaining anonymous as I would be about setting up the appropriate structures to protect my wealth. I would move into more upscale living accommodations and drive nicer cars.

Reply #12

OldSchoolPa — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:43:35 GMT

Here's a method of play that would guarantee you winning either the MM or PB jackpots....buy 177 million tickets!!! Cover all possible number combinations. Otherwise, just buy a dollar or 10 dollars worth of QPs and hope for the best.

Reply #11

Stack47 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:30:32 GMT

My preference is to find a method of play that gives me the best chances of winning a jackpot. It's nice to know that I can remain anonymous in Ohio but it's useless information if the numbers I picked for Mega Millions are drawn in a Powerball game.

The Ohio Lottery has a slogan Odds are you'll have fun but I don't see any fun in looking for a hiding place and not being able to spend my winnings fearing somebody might notice.

Smart lottery winners form trust to claim their winnings.... [ More ]

Reply #10

sweetbitterkiss — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:16:51 GMT

i have to say number 1

Reply #9

hearsetrax — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:28:50 GMT

Reply #8

Coin Toss — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:49:11 GMT

#1, because if 2 your jackpot and your attorney may very well go to Switzerland!

(A lot of lawyer jokes come to mind here, such as Danny De Vito in War of the Roses:

What do you call 300 lawyers on the bottom of the ocean?

A good start.

Reply #7

pacattack05 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:36:42 GMT

I picked 4.

Reply #6

manofmany — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:33:37 GMT

I'm pretty educated when it comes to financial decisions and whatnot, so I would certainly rather claim it myself rather than paying a lawyer to do anything.

Reply #5

MaddMike51 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:54:45 GMT

Since I don't live in a state that allows anonymity,I would consult an attorney and have him/her explain my options in detail so I could make a better informed decision.

Reply #4

ThatScaryChick — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:38:49 GMT

I guess I would rather pick the check up myself then have an attorney do it. I would want the control.

Reply #3

rundown99 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:35:47 GMT

Thanks for the responses, but what made you reach that decision? Either way, you would be anonymous, but is either option better than the other? Why or why not

Reply #2

ThatScaryChick — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:33:17 GMT

I would probably just choose number one.

Reply #1

emilyg — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:30:53 GMT

Which scenario would you prefer??

rundown99 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:26:49 GMT

#1. Winning the jackpot in an anonymous state where you can claim the ticket yourself (such as DE, ND, KS, MD, SC)

OR

#2. Winning the jackpot in an anonymous state where you need an attorney to claim the prize for you (such as LA, NH, OH, OK).

After all, you would be anonymous both ways, but don't forget that although no one at the lottery headquarters will see you if your attorney claimed the prize, the attorney would have control over the prize and you wouldn't have discre... [ More ]