$550 Million Powerball Tonight! WWYD?

[Liam]

First off...I'd buy my dream guitar..a vintage '57 Gibson Black Beauty custom 3 pickups, gold hardware
Then...buy a nice ranch, and put a football field in the backyard.
Car...'65 Mustang...cherry red, all leather interior.
Cowboys season tickets.

And I GUESS make sure all my family and friends are well taken care of. I DON'T mean fb friends. LOL

[Liam]

LMFAO...nice touch.

[AR]

What I would do:

-Sign the ticket
-Contact the local lottery officials (in my state you can remain anonymous)
-Call a respected attorney, accountant, and financial manager
-TELL NO ONE I WON

What I will do:

-Get no numbers and tear up the ticket knowing I had fun dreaming about it all day.

[Liam]

What I would do:

-Sign the ticket
-Contact the local lottery officials (in my state you can remain anonymous)
-Call a respected attorney, accountant, and financial manager
-TELL NO ONE I WON

What I will do:

-Get no numbers and tear up the ticket knowing I had fun dreaming about it all day.

Sucks that you mentioned what we're all REALLY gonna do.

[Archetype]

Give each close family member $2,000,000 and then disappear somewhere in Eastern Europe.

[tater1977]

First ..get a new phone number..
Pay off the bills...
Remodel the house..
Buy me my new mustang..
Pay off close family & friends (that stood by thru thick & thin)...
...certain bills...
Do a lot more traveling...
& adopt a couple more puppies...


& Can't forget getting Andrew a new puter...

[Everett]

Give some to andrew and save the rest for an overnighter

[Liam]

Can't believe I forgot to add this....HOOKERS.

[pinkfloyd1973]

First get an accountant, a financial advisor and a lawyer, then:

-Split up a certain amount for each niece, nephew and great-niece(s) and great-nephews for a college fund

-Set up a college fund, and a trust fund for my son for when he turns 25 (about 9 1/2 years from now)

-Take care of my parents

-Take care of all of my sisters and brothers

And then I would set aside whatever's left for myself and invest some of it for the future and continue on with my normal life as if I didn't win the lottery (i.e. work and go to school and finish getting my degree)

[mmberry301]

First get an accountant, a financial advisor and a lawyer, then:

-Split up a certain amount for each niece, nephew and great-niece(s) and great-nephews for a college fund

-Set up a college fund, and a trust fund for my son for when he turns 25 (about 9 1/2 years from now)

-Take care of my parents

-Take care of all of my sisters and brothers

And then I would set aside whatever's left for myself and invest some of it for the future and continue on with my normal life as if I didn't win the lottery (i.e. work and go to school and finish getting my degree)

This pretty much sums it up for me...

I've got 20 tickets in hand tonight...

I do confess I'd move to Hawaii.....and stay there

Best Wishes to whomever wins...

[mmberry301]

Can't believe I forgot to add this....HOOKERS.

Secretly writing this down.... (scribble scribble)

[tater1977]

Can't believe I forgot to add this....HOOKERS.

Secretly writing this down.... (scribble scribble)

Can't believe I'm typing this ...."Don't Stop Believen"

[Everett]

First get an accountant, a financial advisor and a lawyer, then:

-Split up a certain amount for each niece, nephew and great-niece(s) and great-nephews for a college fund

-Set up a college fund, and a trust fund for my son for when he turns 25 (about 9 1/2 years from now)

-Take care of my parents

-Take care of all of my sisters and brothers

And then I would set aside whatever's left for myself and invest some of it for the future and continue on with my normal life as if I didn't win the lottery (i.e. work and go to school and finish getting my degree)

You'd give some to me too right?

[pinkfloyd1973]

First get an accountant, a financial advisor and a lawyer, then:

-Split up a certain amount for each niece, nephew and great-niece(s) and great-nephews for a college fund

-Set up a college fund, and a trust fund for my son for when he turns 25 (about 9 1/2 years from now)

-Take care of my parents

-Take care of all of my sisters and brothers

And then I would set aside whatever's left for myself and invest some of it for the future and continue on with my normal life as if I didn't win the lottery (i.e. work and go to school and finish getting my degree)

You'd give some to me too right?

Not this time around...I won $7

[steveo777]

If this thing gets to 1 billion dollars, it will cross the "too big to fail" threshold, IE., it doesn't matter how much of a financially inept dumb ass the winner is, they still couldn't go broke. (probably not true, but fun to think)

Update: Winning tickets have been sold in Arizona and Missouri. Lucky bastards!

[Jonny B]

Unfortunately, the state of Maine doesn't have anonymous laws, so I'd probably be in for a rough ride if I had won it.

It would depend on if my greedy or generous side came through.

My generous side would split the money amongst closest family and friends, maybe even a few other co-workers who were down on their luck, knowing I could never ever spend it all by myself.

The greedy side of me would be more than capable of spending a half billion. It would be just enough money purchase all the property from the owners of a developed lake, tear all the houses down, and fence it in as private property. The view of a lake is relaxing to me, but the noise of huge boats and skidoos ruins the mood.

[The Sushi Hunter]

These type of lotteries are fixed. The only time it's not fixed is when all the possible combinations have been played. Tickets are bought using a computer system. They control what numbers are issued in regards to quick picks. Ever wonder why the machines cut off selling tickets 15 minutes before the draw? Because they need that time to figure out which number combinations have not been played and set up the ball machine accordingly. If all numbers are played by people who choose their own numbers and not by quick pick, then the winning numbers that come up is lagit. If you think what I'm saying is complete bullshit, fine, have the game raided upon the numbers being drawn and examine the powerball machine and all the balls. Check to see if all balls are the same size and weight and check to see if all numbers, and one of each, are present and accounted for in the machine. Until they do that, I'm sticking to my guns that this is fixed. If it wasn't fixed, too many people would be winning and they'd actually lose money. It's not a coincidence as to why this powerball lottery hit half a Billion. They know the larger the pot, the deeper people will dig into their life savings for the chance.

You want to lose your money, play the lottery. You want to lose a buttload of money, follow the numbers and play accordingly to what numbers have and have not come up. Guaranteed, you'll lose a fuckload of your money. For example, if you notice that say....the number 5 for the mega number hasn't come up in a few months, play it and play it often and in greater quantities. You'll be playing the mega number 5 until hell freezes over and have lost thousands (depending on how many you play each draw) before the 5 comes up. This mega number was added to the mix simply because it's how the lottery reaches out and "baits" the big gamblers. The average Joe Blow won't pay attention to what the mega numbers of the past draws are and will simply just play a simple quick pick or their own numbers. The lottery doesn't target these small time players. To the small time players this game is "fun". But it's the big rollers who pay attention to the mega numbers and who are the major contributors of the money that the lottery targets.

But hey, you can't dream of winning unless you buy tickets. Basically your only buying the dream of winning.....people.

[conversationpc]

I've played the lottery a few times in the past but no longer. It's really amazing the amount of problems that folks who win the lottery go through and it's just not worth it to me. That being said, more people from Indiana have won the lottery than any other state, so I think this state's luck has run out.

[steveo777]

These type of lotteries are fixed. The only time it's not fixed is when all the possible combinations have been played. Tickets are bought using a computer system. They control what numbers are issued in regards to quick picks. Ever wonder why the machines cut off selling tickets 15 minutes before the draw? Because they need that time to figure out which number combinations have not been played and set up the ball machine accordingly. If all numbers are played by people who choose their own numbers and not by quick pick, then the winning numbers that come up is lagit. If you think what I'm saying is complete bullshit, fine, have the game raided upon the numbers being drawn and examine the powerball machine and all the balls. Check to see if all balls are the same size and weight and check to see if all numbers, and one of each, are present and accounted for in the machine. Until they do that, I'm sticking to my guns that this is fixed. If it wasn't fixed, too many people would be winning and they'd actually lose money. It's not a coincidence as to why this powerball lottery hit half a Billion. They know the larger the pot, the deeper people will dig into their life savings for the chance.

You want to lose your money, play the lottery. You want to lose a buttload of money, follow the numbers and play accordingly to what numbers have and have not come up. Guaranteed, you'll lose a fuckload of your money. For example, if you notice that say....the number 5 for the mega number hasn't come up in a few months, play it and play it often and in greater quantities. You'll be playing the mega number 5 until hell freezes over and have lost thousands (depending on how many you play each draw) before the 5 comes up. This mega number was added to the mix simply because it's how the lottery reaches out and "baits" the big gamblers. The average Joe Blow won't pay attention to what the mega numbers of the past draws are and will simply just play a simple quick pick or their own numbers. The lottery doesn't target these small time players. To the small time players this game is "fun". But it's the big rollers who pay attention to the mega numbers and who are the major contributors of the money that the lottery targets.

But hey, you can't dream of winning unless you buy tickets. Basically your only buying the dream of winning.....people.

Hey, go sit that guy down that won and explain it to him. I'm sure he'll understand your concern.

It's moon shot and most of those who understand this throw in their buck or two donation every once in awhile. People who spend hundreds, even thousands are sickos. And, yes, it's rigged because YOU didn't win it. You can also choose your own numbers....doesn't have to be a computer pick.

[The Sushi Hunter]

Hey, go sit that guy down that won and explain it to him. I'm sure he'll understand your concern.

It's moon shot and most of those who understand this throw in their buck or two donation every once in awhile. People who spend hundreds, even thousands are sickos. And, yes, it's rigged because YOU didn't win it. You can also choose your own numbers....doesn't have to be a computer pick.

Well like I said, if all the numbers are picked, then it's legit. They had no other choice but to award a winner because all the number combinations were used by both quick pick and personally chosen.

I've been somewhat intregued with it since about 92' since I used to have co-workers who would claim they won thousands here and thousands there within only a few months between wins. However I've also known people who have spent tons of money and won nothing at all.

So recently I started to analyze the numbers drawn since day one of the Ca state Lottery. Right around 3000 draws in total since it started in late 86'. I was living in Japan during the first few years that the Ca lottery was activated. It was interesting to me learning that at first, there was only one drawing per week. I think it was on Saturdays. But then sometime down the line, it went to two times per week, Saturdays and Wednesdays. I found a website that offers all number combinations that have been drawn on every Ca super lottery since day one. I collected all these number combinations along with the date they were drawn and entered them into an excel data spreadsheet. Using the spreadsheet I then sorted them by numbers and by dates. One of the first things I noticed was frequency, for example, when you look at the odds of getting four out of five and not the mega, they say its something like 7,585 to 1 odds that you will get 4 out of 5 and not the mega number. Yet there have been times where the same four numbers were drawn within a relatively short period of time.

So if it was lagit, wouldn't the odds apply on both sides, apply to players and the drawing itself? According to the proven frequency of every number drawn, the odds don't apply to the numbers being drawn.

As for the co-workers I had in the early 90's that claimed they won thousands this month and another few dozen thousands a few months later, that's pretty much proven bs.

[Liam]

http://www.theonion.com/articles/powerb ... upt,30553/

[The Sushi Hunter]

The Onion? Come on. I do love the fact that the other day the Chinese ran with that bogus Onion article about North Korean Leader, lets just call him Balls On Chin. All the Korean chicks are dripping with excitement over him. That shit was funny, the Chinese probably feel pretty stupid now though.

[Liam]

The Onion's hilarious.

[The Sushi Hunter]

Every time I hear of multi-million dollar lotteries going unclaimed where the winner has weeks, if not only days to claim the prize, first thing that comes to mind is, the winner is just waiting for the divorce to be finalized before dissappearing into the sunset with the winnings never to be seen or heard from by the inlaws ever again.

Or we have this little gem of a lottery story:


http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/11/28/3 ... f-fla.html

[The Sushi Hunter]

http://www.theonion.com/articles/powerball-winners-already-divorced-bankrupt,30553/

According to sources, while Debra McInery, 56, of Dearborn, MO and Chris Linden, 32, of Fountain Hills, AZ were elated upon winning the record-breaking lottery prize, both quickly blew through the roughly $192 million lump sum they each received, spending it on various failed business investments, reckless gambling habits, and costly divorce proceedings

All within less than 24 hours? Yeah, right.

Sort of reminds me of that movie with, I think, Richard Pryor in it, where he has to spend all this money in a certain amount of time to get more money. What was that movie called?

[The Sushi Hunter]

But the union electrician says he'll be back at work on Monday -- after he hires a tax adviser and a financial planner.

LOL, only until the first morning he wakes up and doesn't feel like getting up and going to work.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11 ... prize?lite

[Jonny B]

These type of lotteries are fixed. The only time it's not fixed is when all the possible combinations have been played. Tickets are bought using a computer system. They control what numbers are issued in regards to quick picks. Ever wonder why the machines cut off selling tickets 15 minutes before the draw? Because they need that time to figure out which number combinations have not been played and set up the ball machine accordingly. If all numbers are played by people who choose their own numbers and not by quick pick, then the winning numbers that come up is lagit. If you think what I'm saying is complete bullshit, fine, have the game raided upon the numbers being drawn and examine the powerball machine and all the balls. Check to see if all balls are the same size and weight and check to see if all numbers, and one of each, are present and accounted for in the machine. Until they do that, I'm sticking to my guns that this is fixed. If it wasn't fixed, too many people would be winning and they'd actually lose money. It's not a coincidence as to why this powerball lottery hit half a Billion. They know the larger the pot, the deeper people will dig into their life savings for the chance.

You want to lose your money, play the lottery. You want to lose a buttload of money, follow the numbers and play accordingly to what numbers have and have not come up. Guaranteed, you'll lose a fuckload of your money. For example, if you notice that say....the number 5 for the mega number hasn't come up in a few months, play it and play it often and in greater quantities. You'll be playing the mega number 5 until hell freezes over and have lost thousands (depending on how many you play each draw) before the 5 comes up. This mega number was added to the mix simply because it's how the lottery reaches out and "baits" the big gamblers. The average Joe Blow won't pay attention to what the mega numbers of the past draws are and will simply just play a simple quick pick or their own numbers. The lottery doesn't target these small time players. To the small time players this game is "fun". But it's the big rollers who pay attention to the mega numbers and who are the major contributors of the money that the lottery targets.

But hey, you can't dream of winning unless you buy tickets. Basically your only buying the dream of winning.....people.

I have a story that supports your claim.

When I turned 18, the local lottery had reached an all-time high (I think it was $18 million. This was before Maine had the Powerball, so this was pretty damn high.) My folks blew a ton on quick picks. I looked through them and noticed there were 6 numbers that none of the quick picks had chosen...I played those numbers and 4 out of 6 came up. I won $40. I never won that much ever again.

So, I've suspected it for the longest time. I know the game is rigged. But when the jackpot is high and I know all the combinations will likely be exhausted, it only makes sense to waste a buck or two. It won't hurt the budget once every 8 weeks.

[Liam]

http://www.theonion.com/articles/powerball-winners-already-divorced-bankrupt,30553/

According to sources, while Debra McInery, 56, of Dearborn, MO and Chris Linden, 32, of Fountain Hills, AZ were elated upon winning the record-breaking lottery prize, both quickly blew through the roughly $192 million lump sum they each received, spending it on various failed business investments, reckless gambling habits, and costly divorce proceedings

All within less than 24 hours? Yeah, right.

I think someone's taking the ONION a bit too seriously. C'MON MAN.

[Rick]

I remember when they were trying to start the state lottery here in Texas. To get the yes votes they needed, they said the money would go toward pay increases for teachers, police officers and firemen. Once it was instituted, they reported that the money would go into the general fund. Lying bastards. The only time I've ever bought a lottery ticket was to give as a gift at a gift exchange for Christmas because it was suggested by the host of the Christmas party as a good gift.

[jestor92]

1. Pay off school loans that I can't pay off now due to lack of job.
2. Get married
3. Buy a house in a nice secluded area away from a big city and in Pittsburgh, PA
4. Assign money to relatives and close friends.
5. Buy a motor home and travel around North America.
6. Start my own radio station.
7. Hire KISS to perform for me as long as they let me select the setlist.
8. Invest money into a savings account (won't touch the stock market because it's to much of a hit and miss).
9. Invest in season tickets to every Pittsburgh Pirate, Penguin, and Steeler game.
10. Travel over seas.