United States
Member #12,416
March 13, 2005
564 Posts
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I'm a new member.......and so happy to find there are more 'LOTTONUTS' like me out there........does anyone belong to a lottery pool? This looks like the perfect group to start one..anyone have any ideas? We could do it together better than we can do it alone don't you think?????????? Best of luck.....glad I found ya!
USA United States
Member #8,242
October 29, 2004
1,133 Posts
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I'm a new member.......and so happy to find there are more 'LOTTONUTS' like me out there........does anyone belong to a lottery pool? This looks like the perfect group to start one..anyone have any ideas? We could do it together better than we can do it alone don't you think?????????? Best of luck.....glad I found ya!
A long and winding road United States
Member #17,083
June 10, 2005
6,680 Posts Online
This is for the powerball game.
The lottery pool I partake in is thru work. There is only four of us out of 11 persons who play it faithfully. we just slush our money together . We dont roll our winnings over but rather allow one of the four persons to get a free play for that week. If we win $100 or above then we divy it out equally. Most of the time though we just hit around $20.00 per week. So why not let one of the players be a winner :)
Our main company has a larger group of players (23 in all) . I'm not too keen on splitting the big jackpot 23 ways, especially with taxes the way they are.
Our little group fairs just as well as the larger group when it comes to weekly winnings. :)
We've already picked out our name for the group when we go to claim the BIG prize. :)
Megaball is probably the only one I play on my own. Md is the nearest state for me to get them and most of my co-workers dont trust out of state lotterys ( what do they think powerball is??). Perhaps it has to do with the extra tax we'd have to pay if we won from MD...
USA United States
Member #8,242
October 29, 2004
1,133 Posts
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I believe any/all problems stem from not having a detailed-enough contract. I would pretty much have any scenario possible included in that contract. No one gets away with jackshyt!
Canada
Member #2,673
November 2, 2003
497 Posts
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I am interested in joining a group or helping organize a group. I have some ideas on an optimal strategy that would not be much work.
Here is a rough outline. If there is some interest, I can formally document the rules and have members sign-up.
The group is called The 500 Group. We buy Mega Millions tickets when the jackpot reaches 500 million. This gives us some time to organize and launch the group. Each member picks their 5 numbers and buys 46 tickets covering all the Mega Ball numbers. No money has to change hands prior to the draw.
Each member keeps all prize money for all prize levels except the jackpot. The jackpot is split evenly among members.
The net cost per member is $44 since each member will win a minimum of $2.
More details would be documented and agreed upon by each member to make the group rules ironclad. I thought I would stop here just to see if there is enough interest to proceed. Please only respond to this note if you are interested. I have already heard all the negative comments about lottery groups and do not need to hear them again.
If interested, please also indicate the maximum number of members to allow to join. Given we will only buy when the jackpot is $500 million, I would go for a maximum of 100 members ($5 million each). The maximum number of members is probably a redundant question since I do not believe we would get that many to join.
New Mexico United States
Member #12,305
March 10, 2005
2,984 Posts
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I wouldn't mind taking a look at a sort of 'exchange pool' scenario..... someone in an MM wants to play PB, I buy the tickets they want for them, given them the same number of numbers I'd like them to buy for me for MM, whatever. We each drops the physical tickets into the US Mail to one another prior to the draws.
Something of that sort.... doesn't have to involve trusting strangers.
Baton Rouge, LA United States
Member #4,602
May 7, 2004
1,192 Posts
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Lottery pools should be formed with friends, neighbors, co-workers and relatives you know and trust or else you're just asking for extra problems.
I've heard there can be problems in that situation as well. People can change when there is alot of money involved.
My opinion is for a lottery pool, all the rules should be agreed upon in advance and written down. When things are written down if someone does want to make trouble, what was written down can be referred back to. When people are discussing something, there can be a misunderstanding when an agreement is reached so putting it in writing is the way to go to make it clear to all involved.
I'm presently in a Powerball partnership with a coworker of mine. We each put up $2 every payday and play a ticket for the next 4 drawings. Even though we have known each other and worked together for several years, and are good friends, we made an agreement and wrote it down to be sure what was to be done in the event of a win was understood.
Our agreement isn't an elaborate contract or anything like that, it's less than a page, but it spells out the imporant stuff. We agreed to split our prizes and expenses incurred(i.e. lawyers, accountants, etc.) 50/50 if we hit the jackpot. Another important part of our agreement is if we do get a winning ticket and something happens to one of us before the money is collected, what is to be done with the money. If something happens to me, she is to give my share to my wife and if something happens to her, I have to arrange to set up her share as trust funds for her 3 children. She's a single parents and seeing her kids well provided for is important to her.
In other words, it doesn't matter who you partner with, as long as you have an agreement on how everything is to be handled agreed upon by everyone and in writing. If others are added to the pool later, give them a copy of the rules and have them sign it just to be on the safe side. I also think if the membership wants to change the rules, everyone should agree upon it and again, write it out and sign it. By doing this, problems should be eliminated or at least reduced.
Baton Rouge, LA United States
Member #4,602
May 7, 2004
1,192 Posts
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I wouldn't mind taking a look at a sort of 'exchange pool' scenario..... someone in an MM wants to play PB, I buy the tickets they want for them, given them the same number of numbers I'd like them to buy for me for MM, whatever. We each drops the physical tickets into the US Mail to one another prior to the draws.
Something of that sort.... doesn't have to involve trusting strangers.
Jack
Not a good idea. Mailing lottery tickets in the U.S. is against the law.
Poway CA (San Diego County) United States
Member #3,489
January 25, 2004
14,120 Posts
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It has to be done locally (nothing through the mail). This was discussed just recently and I quoted from the U.S. Postal Service manual and cited the U.S. code sections that pertain to this. I could tell by some of the responses that many people don't care if they are committing a felony or not, so if you don't, then go ahead. The postal inspectors may be too busy to catch you!!
But I suggest you not drum up business here on Lottery Post.