Powerball Frenzy ~ $550 million or more

[octoburn]

I can't help but imagine the reactions if it turns out that the winning ticket belongs to an illegal or a group of illegals.

[ivanbalt]

Maybe then people won't waste their money on lotteries.

[prepfan]

Maybe then people won't waste their money on lotteries.

$2.00 really isn't that much of a waste.

Sure, the chance of the large return on the 'wasted' $2, is extremely remote, but there is that chance.

"people" waste nearly an equivalent amount in gasoline driving all around (and idling) for Christmas shopping; or looking at the lights; or having another beer at a Ravens game; or 'subscribing' to post on a BBS that employs a pay wall; or so many other activities that don't provide even the remotest of chances for return.

[jtowne-swim]

Not sure what one has to do with another. You have a better odds getting elected POTUS than winning the Power Ball!

[cprenegade]

I can't help but imagine the reactions if it turns out that the winning ticket belongs to an illegal or a group of illegals.

If that were to be true, the money should be witheld. You certainly should be a legal citizen of the United States to win a lottery that is sponsored by governments of the United States. I wonder if you have to show proof of citizenship to collect a lottery winning. If not, you should. I would think one would have to supply a social security number for tax purposes in order to collect such winnings. If it was an illegal, they would have no way to provide that, unless it was a stolen SS #.

[jtowne-swim]

If that were to be true, the money should be witheld. You certainly should be a legal citizen of the United States to win a lottery that is sponsored by governments of the United States. I wonder if you have to show proof of citizenship to collect a lottery winning. If not, you should. I would think one would have to supply a social security number for tax purposes in order to collect such winnings. If it was an illegal, they would have no way to provide that, unless it was a stolen SS #.

proof of citizenship or legal presence? can someone on a green card play. If that is true shouldn't you need to show it when you buy the ticket?

[ivanbalt]

$2.00 really isn't that much of a waste.

Sure, the chance of the large return on the 'wasted' $2, is extremely remote, but there is that chance.

"people" waste nearly an equivalent amount in gasoline driving all around (and idling) for Christmas shopping; or looking at the lights; or having another beer at a Ravens game; or 'subscribing' to post on a BBS that employs a pay wall; or so many other activities that don't provide even the remotest of chances for return.

I wish I could only waste $2 on another beer at a game.

My point was that a lot of people regularly spend their money on "hopes and dreams" aka lottery with no return when they could save/invest for something in the future.

I'm not talking about the casual player.

[Downunder]

If that were to be true, the money should be witheld. You certainly should be a legal citizen of the United States to win a lottery that is sponsored by governments of the United States. I wonder if you have to show proof of citizenship to collect a lottery winning. If not, you should. I would think one would have to supply a social security number for tax purposes in order to collect such winnings. If it was an illegal, they would have no way to provide that, unless it was a stolen SS #.

I'm sure you don't have to be a citizen, the rules usually state a legal resident. I do wonder what would happen if a tourist from another country won....... I tried to do a google search but can't open the links at work.

[yuca]

I'm sure you don't have to be a citizen, the rules usually state a legal resident. I do wonder what would happen if a tourist from another country won....... I tried to do a google search but can't open the links at work.

I Googled it and it seems like there's nothing to keep a tourist from playing the lottery and keeping the winnings. The earnings would likely have to be taxed by both the country in which the prize was earned and the tourist's country of origin.

Now if an illegal alien wins, that's a good question. Unless the lottery is only open to legal residents, the illegal alien could just take the money and simply self-deport. Or stay buy themselves really good lawyers.

It would suck, but there's not much else we could do other than make sure the rules don't allow illegal aliens to play/win.

[Downunder]

I Googled it and it seems like there's nothing to keep a tourist from playing the lottery and keeping the winnings. The earnings would likely have to be taxed by both the country in which the prize was earned and the tourist's country of origin.

Now if an illegal alien wins, that's a good question. Unless the lottery is only open to legal residents, the illegal alien could just take the money and simply self-deport. Or stay buy themselves really good lawyers.

It would suck, but there's not much else we could do other than make sure the rules don't allow illegal aliens to play/win.

Australia doesn't tax on winnings, so Aussies would just have to pay tax here

In Australia if you won the $500 million you would get a cheque for $500 million, you then would be taxed on interest earned on that money.