Oregon lottery kept my $1500 winning ticketPrev TopicNext Topic

• HowdyDoody2

  

  Portland
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  May 19, 2026
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  May 19, 2026, 8:11 am

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  Hi my name is Howard Drummond. A few months ago I won a jackpot at Jake's tavern on se Milwaukee Ave in Portland Oregon. I won it on the second machine from the door on a game called "huff n puff" during the bonus it gave me the major jackpot it payed $1500 and printed out a ticket right away. My friend Tim spreager was with me when I won. I didn't have a car so getting down to Wilsonville wasn't easy, so a friend of mine Shelby I owed him some money and told him that I won and showed him the ticket and he offered to take it with he and his friend to Wilsonville and cash it and bring the remainder of my winnings back to me. He was concerned with paying tax on the ticket so I mentioned that you tell them the ticket wasn't yours but you are cashing it in for a friend. And so marked on the claim form that it wasn't his ticket, being honest. I had cashed several tickets in the past at the pawn shop and knew nothing about the newly adopted rule of not being able to do that and so it was a shock when he told me that they kept my winning lottery ticket. He game me.a number to call. Shelie from the Oregon lottery so I phoned her. She said that it was no longer allowed to have someone else cash lottery tickets aside from the winner. I didn't know it doesn't say it on the claim for (maybe in small print?" It doesn't say it on the actual ticket. How could it be that they expect everyone to know this new way to cash tickets. I know when Im at a retailer and if a friend is going up to the bar as I'm playing I hand them my ticket to cash in EVERYBODY DOES!  It doesn't have a message on the vp machine it's just not made noticable for a rule of this magnatude. After explaining to her what and why he was cashing my ticket I then explained has anyone contacted them about a missing ticket? Of course not I won it. Then I explained the establishment that I won it at, the machine location the game I was playing what happens in the bonus along with what I was wearing for camera proof and I also had my friend Tim as a witness. She then said it had to go to security of the Oregon lottery to determine if it was my ticket and with all the evidence I felt confident it would be okay. But they informed me today that my claim was denied due to the new rule. Now #1 if that is the case why even have an investigation? Why drag me through the stress of not knowing what's going to happen? I really need that money it's a lot to me and my family and for them to just tell me "sorry but no" I am just dumbfounded as to how and why they would deny it. So I am asking for a reconsideration , a second opinion maybe. I won the ticket legitimately. I'm sorry that I didn't know the new rule, but we never tried to lie about it. We being Shelby and myself were straight forward with the truth it wasn't his ticket it was mine. The evidence is clear. I really need this money. I hope you can help me with this matter. Thank you in advance.

  Sincerely,

  Howard 
• lottobrain

  

  Delaware
  United States
  Member #10,074
  January 1, 2005
  1,615 Posts
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  May 19, 2026, 10:50 am

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  I don't know of any help anyone here could give you. Looks like you need to find a way to get to the lottery office to make your case. Since you need money for your family, stay away from the video lottery establishments. That is a quick way to spend a lot of money quickly.
• LottoBux

  

  25

  Ontario
  Canada
  Member #109,236
  April 9, 2011
  61,309 Posts
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  May 19, 2026, 12:23 pm

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  In response to HowdyDoody2

  Quote: Originally posted by HowdyDoody2 on May 19, 2026

  Hi my name is Howard Drummond. A few months ago I won a jackpot at Jake's tavern on se Milwaukee Ave in Portland Oregon. I won it on the second machine from the door on a game called "huff n puff" during the bonus it gave me the major jackpot it payed $1500 and printed out a ticket right away. My friend Tim spreager was with me when I won. I didn't have a car so getting down to Wilsonville wasn't easy, so a friend of mine Shelby I owed him some money and told him that I won and showed him the ticket and he offered to take it with he and his friend to Wilsonville and cash it and bring the remainder of my winnings back to me. He was concerned with paying tax on the ticket so I mentioned that you tell them the ticket wasn't yours but you are cashing it in for a friend. And so marked on the claim form that it wasn't his ticket, being honest. I had cashed several tickets in the past at the pawn shop and knew nothing about the newly adopted rule of not being able to do that and so it was a shock when he told me that they kept my winning lottery ticket. He game me.a number to call. Shelie from the Oregon lottery so I phoned her. She said that it was no longer allowed to have someone else cash lottery tickets aside from the winner. I didn't know it doesn't say it on the claim for (maybe in small print?" It doesn't say it on the actual ticket. How could it be that they expect everyone to know this new way to cash tickets. I know when Im at a retailer and if a friend is going up to the bar as I'm playing I hand them my ticket to cash in EVERYBODY DOES!  It doesn't have a message on the vp machine it's just not made noticable for a rule of this magnatude. After explaining to her what and why he was cashing my ticket I then explained has anyone contacted them about a missing ticket? Of course not I won it. Then I explained the establishment that I won it at, the machine location the game I was playing what happens in the bonus along with what I was wearing for camera proof and I also had my friend Tim as a witness. She then said it had to go to security of the Oregon lottery to determine if it was my ticket and with all the evidence I felt confident it would be okay. But they informed me today that my claim was denied due to the new rule. Now #1 if that is the case why even have an investigation? Why drag me through the stress of not knowing what's going to happen? I really need that money it's a lot to me and my family and for them to just tell me "sorry but no" I am just dumbfounded as to how and why they would deny it. So I am asking for a reconsideration , a second opinion maybe. I won the ticket legitimately. I'm sorry that I didn't know the new rule, but we never tried to lie about it. We being Shelby and myself were straight forward with the truth it wasn't his ticket it was mine. The evidence is clear. I really need this money. I hope you can help me with this matter. Thank you in advance.

  Sincerely,

  Howard 

  Why didn't you just ask Shelby to drive you there along with his friend?

  This way you could have explained what they wanted to hear re/the tax etc

   

                       
  
• jimjwright

  

  iOS Developer

  Crested Butte, CO
  United States
  Member #69,861
  January 18, 2009
  1,865 Posts
  Online
  May 19, 2026, 4:17 pm

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  I heard this for 2026

  Starting January 1, 2026, the federal jackpot tax reporting threshold increases from $1,200 to $2,000

  I assume this applies since the huff n puff I have played in casinos is a video slot machine.

  So should not be reported via W-2G.  I guess it's up to you on whether you report the earned income.  It might be an interesting poll if the $500 Pick 3 Winners report as income.  I would expect most people if they itemize deductions would show a gambling loss for the year so it would not matter.

  There is also new rule for 2026 that you can only deduct 90% of your gambling losses against your winnings.  So if you break even  you have a 10% phantom income you have to pay taxes on.
• HowdyDoody2

  

  Portland
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  Member #261,174
  May 19, 2026
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  May 19, 2026, 5:39 pm

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  It has nothing to do with taxes. They are keeping my ticket because my friend had taken it to wilsonville to cash it in. They say that I wasn't allowed to do that and they are keeping my winnings.
• Brock Lee

  

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  May 4, 2023
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  May 19, 2026, 7:22 pm

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  In response to lottobrain

  Quote: Originally posted by lottobrain on May 19, 2026

  I don't know of any help anyone here could give you. Looks like you need to find a way to get to the lottery office to make your case. Since you need money for your family, stay away from the video lottery establishments. That is a quick way to spend a lot of money quickly.

  

  "don't believe everything you read on the internet." -- abraham lincoln

  "abraham lincoln is a liar." -- william shakespeare
• grwurston

  

  100

  Same digits. Different games.

  United States
  Member #90,245
  April 24, 2010
  16,843 Posts
  Online
  May 19, 2026, 8:02 pm

  ▲▼
  In response to HowdyDoody2

  Quote: Originally posted by HowdyDoody2 on May 19, 2026

  Hi my name is Howard Drummond. A few months ago I won a jackpot at Jake's tavern on se Milwaukee Ave in Portland Oregon. I won it on the second machine from the door on a game called "huff n puff" during the bonus it gave me the major jackpot it payed $1500 and printed out a ticket right away. My friend Tim spreager was with me when I won. I didn't have a car so getting down to Wilsonville wasn't easy, so a friend of mine Shelby I owed him some money and told him that I won and showed him the ticket and he offered to take it with he and his friend to Wilsonville and cash it and bring the remainder of my winnings back to me. He was concerned with paying tax on the ticket so I mentioned that you tell them the ticket wasn't yours but you are cashing it in for a friend. And so marked on the claim form that it wasn't his ticket, being honest. I had cashed several tickets in the past at the pawn shop and knew nothing about the newly adopted rule of not being able to do that and so it was a shock when he told me that they kept my winning lottery ticket. He game me.a number to call. Shelie from the Oregon lottery so I phoned her. She said that it was no longer allowed to have someone else cash lottery tickets aside from the winner. I didn't know it doesn't say it on the claim for (maybe in small print?" It doesn't say it on the actual ticket. How could it be that they expect everyone to know this new way to cash tickets. I know when Im at a retailer and if a friend is going up to the bar as I'm playing I hand them my ticket to cash in EVERYBODY DOES!  It doesn't have a message on the vp machine it's just not made noticable for a rule of this magnatude. After explaining to her what and why he was cashing my ticket I then explained has anyone contacted them about a missing ticket? Of course not I won it. Then I explained the establishment that I won it at, the machine location the game I was playing what happens in the bonus along with what I was wearing for camera proof and I also had my friend Tim as a witness. She then said it had to go to security of the Oregon lottery to determine if it was my ticket and with all the evidence I felt confident it would be okay. But they informed me today that my claim was denied due to the new rule. Now #1 if that is the case why even have an investigation? Why drag me through the stress of not knowing what's going to happen? I really need that money it's a lot to me and my family and for them to just tell me "sorry but no" I am just dumbfounded as to how and why they would deny it. So I am asking for a reconsideration , a second opinion maybe. I won the ticket legitimately. I'm sorry that I didn't know the new rule, but we never tried to lie about it. We being Shelby and myself were straight forward with the truth it wasn't his ticket it was mine. The evidence is clear. I really need this money. I hope you can help me with this matter. Thank you in advance.

  Sincerely,

  Howard 

  Why didn't you just go with them and cash it yourself and then pay back your friend the money you owed him?

  

  List Pick 3 singles by low sums, high sums. Separate each sum row by consecutive pair and non consecutive pair combos. These 3 pair groups. 14 17 47, 25 28 58, 36 39 69 are in 63 combos. 54 combos do not have them. Which sums do the 3 pair groups appear and not appear? Look at root sum groups 147, 258, 369. Play accordingly.
• PGoodman

  

  Oregon
  us
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  May 21, 2026
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  May 21, 2026, 10:57 am

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  Thanks for sharing Howard.  Did the Lottery take the ticket or do you still have it?  It seems they have no reason to not cash the ticket if you drive to Salem.  They followed the new rule, but if you show up as required you should get paid.
• Lotto Motto

  

  Miami Florida
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  In response to grwurston

  Quote: Originally posted by grwurston on May 19, 2026

  Why didn't you just go with them and cash it yourself and then pay back your friend the money you owed him?

  He was probably too busy to go so far away to cash the ticket with them. Seems like he lives in a different City then the place he needed to cash in his winnings so he asked a friend who lives in that city to cash it for him and was expecting the friend to use a peer to peer service like Zelle or Venmo to send him his winnings.
• HowdyDoody2

  

  Portland
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  May 19, 2026
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  Yesterday, 8:04 am

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  The lottery took the ticket.
• Lotto Motto

  

  Miami Florida
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  March 16, 2025
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  Yesterday, 11:01 am

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  In response to HowdyDoody2

  Quote: Originally posted by HowdyDoody2 on Jun 2, 2026

  The lottery took the ticket.

  Is there a way you can threaten legal action against them? I could see them being ready to give you your $1,500  if you imply that you're willing to  spend more than $1,500 on Lawyers to go after them for your $1,500, lol.
• grwurston

  

  100

  Same digits. Different games.

  United States
  Member #90,245
  April 24, 2010
  16,843 Posts
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  Yesterday, 6:34 pm

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  In response to Lotto Motto

  Quote: Originally posted by Lotto Motto on Jun 2, 2026

  He was probably too busy to go so far away to cash the ticket with them. Seems like he lives in a different City then the place he needed to cash in his winnings so he asked a friend who lives in that city to cash it for him and was expecting the friend to use a peer to peer service like Zelle or Venmo to send him his winnings.

  According to the Oregon lottery website there are plenty of options for cashing a ticket.

  https://www.oregonlottery.org/claim-a-prize/

  The new rule details and why they changed it.

  You can check your ticket claims statushttps://www.koin.com/news/oregon/oregon-lottery-adopts-new-rules-on-winner-anonymity-discounting/

  You van check your ticket claim staus.

  https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB3115

  

  List Pick 3 singles by low sums, high sums. Separate each sum row by consecutive pair and non consecutive pair combos. These 3 pair groups. 14 17 47, 25 28 58, 36 39 69 are in 63 combos. 54 combos do not have them. Which sums do the 3 pair groups appear and not appear? Look at root sum groups 147, 258, 369. Play accordingly.
• grwurston

  

  100

  Same digits. Different games.

  United States
  Member #90,245
  April 24, 2010
  16,843 Posts
  Online
  Yesterday, 6:59 pm

  ▲▼
  In response to grwurston

  Quote: Originally posted by grwurston on Jun 2, 2026

  According to the Oregon lottery website there are plenty of options for cashing a ticket.

  https://www.oregonlottery.org/claim-a-prize/

  The new rule details and why they changed it.

  You can check your ticket claims statushttps://www.koin.com/news/oregon/oregon-lottery-adopts-new-rules-on-winner-anonymity-discounting/

  You van check your ticket claim staus.

  https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB3115

  https://www.oregonlottery.org/winner-anonymity/

  Coming Soon: The Prize Payment Status page will be updated to include a claim lookup tool. By entering your name and other claim details, your prize payment status will be displayed as “In-Process”, “Mailed”, or “Additional Documents Needed” if required to process your claim. Prize payment status updates in real-time and will display the date mailed. 

  

  List Pick 3 singles by low sums, high sums. Separate each sum row by consecutive pair and non consecutive pair combos. These 3 pair groups. 14 17 47, 25 28 58, 36 39 69 are in 63 combos. 54 combos do not have them. Which sums do the 3 pair groups appear and not appear? Look at root sum groups 147, 258, 369. Play accordingly.
• HowdyDoody2

  

  Portland
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  Member #261,174
  May 19, 2026
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  Today, 2:28 am

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  Look I'm not here to have you think that you know me enough to be advising me on what I should or shouldn't be doing. Not that I need to explain in anymore detail to you the situation but I play vp about 10 to 12 times per year. Yes $1500 would be very useful for my family as it would be for most families. But just for my own piece of mind I have never nor would I ever use money to gamble instead of using it for something my family needs. The oregon lottery is acting like I done something wrong and it's ridiculous for them to recoke my winnings on a rule that isn't addressed anywhere , not even in their list of ways for a winner to cash in a winning ticket about having to do it yourself. I'm suing them ...I think anyone iny position would.
• Lotto Motto

  

  Miami Florida
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  March 16, 2025
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  Today, 3:23 am

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  In response to HowdyDoody2

  Quote: Originally posted by HowdyDoody2 on Jun 3, 2026

  Look I'm not here to have you think that you know me enough to be advising me on what I should or shouldn't be doing. Not that I need to explain in anymore detail to you the situation but I play vp about 10 to 12 times per year. Yes $1500 would be very useful for my family as it would be for most families. But just for my own piece of mind I have never nor would I ever use money to gamble instead of using it for something my family needs. The oregon lottery is acting like I done something wrong and it's ridiculous for them to recoke my winnings on a rule that isn't addressed anywhere , not even in their list of ways for a winner to cash in a winning ticket about having to do it yourself. I'm suing them ...I think anyone iny position would.

  In one of my previous responses to you I said you should threaten them with a lawsuit. They will most likely give you your $1,500 if you imply that you are willing to spend more money suing them than the $1,500 they withheld from you.