NJ man sued over $38.5M lottery ticket

Comment #55

Iesha Kelly — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:51:00 GMT

Won't happen. What a shameful post Sky made. Talk about scam-tastic.

Comment #54

mcginnin56 — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 17:44:50 GMT

Hi sky,

Must say I am very impressed with your credentials. Is there a way I could get in on these millions of dollars? I would be very happy to send you

whatever seed money you require to make this happen. Where can I wire this money to you immediately? Besides my routing and check account

numbers, is there anything else you require? Thank you so much for this great opportunity for over night wealth.

Comment #53

CDanaT — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:42:31 GMT

Ridge,,,,,,you know deep down, you wanna. ..Kudos for taking the high road......besides he could be a supporter of Americo Lopes and trying to help him recoup the 20 million that he just lost ...never know

Comment #52

maringoman — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:38:37 GMT

hahaha this guy's funny but I'll play his numbers just for the heck of it. But he is talking of megamillions and powerball as if they're one and the same thing. How do I go about that one? hmmm

Comment #51

rdgrnr — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:05:49 GMT

i am the only one on earth knowing how to predict numbers fo any lotto or keno with accuracy. take it or leave it.

Uhh... I think I'll leave it.

I'd probably get tired of winning constantly.

Thanks anyway.

Comment #50

OldSchoolPa — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:42:18 GMT

Just the usual Nigerian or Chinese scam email from time to time...automatic delete! I can imagine if Dateline came to Illinois, he would uncover quite a few Patel type scams since Illinois is home to a large number of immigrants of both the legal and illegal backgrounds and Ilinnois requires SSN verification before you can claim a prize at the lottery HQ.

Comment #49

winwi5 — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:49:22 GMT

You know it is possible this guy won the lottery and purchased seperate tickets I have done this before pooled with other people, however purchased my own set of tickets. What this guy can do for proof is if the store have a survelliance camera of him purchasing the 10-12 tickets for the group and then purchasing his tickets seperate then their attorneys want really have and argument.

Comment #48

RJOh — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:41:58 GMT

You seem to be confusing PB and MM as if they are the same game. There are similar but have different matrices. Before you start predicting any game read its rules. If you still want to impress anyone with your prediction skill post some prediction on the prediction board. Good luck.

Comment #47

NightStalker — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:27:34 GMT

Would you please email me the winning numbers for the Ohio Classic Lotto for Saturday 3-17-12 and/or the winning numbers for the Mega Millions for Friday 3-16-12.

If I hit the full jackpot, I would be more than happy to give you 5% after taxes.

Thanks

Comment #46

skypekaitas6 — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:03:29 GMT

who ever the judge is, based on the fact his other members and himself at one time or other all got together with the hope to win, and the present winner too has this zeal, now if they have not paid in for the pool fine, still he has to take half of the sum and divide with all the tickets played, and allcoate the winning. now if there are 10 co-workers he takes half and divides the coworkers telling them clearly buddy you did not pay for the pool, yet we all wanted to win some day, i won on my l... [ More ]

Comment #45

skypekaitas6 — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:55:22 GMT

i have posted numbers and remarks too, i aslo have other sets of numbers, and my past winning records, you want to win you cant if not playing.. i am doing this for the winner who accoding to me ought to share with other members who payed him in the past to win lotto. i am the only one on earth knowing how to predict numbers fo any lotto or keno with accuracy. take it or leave it. i have done in the past these feats.

Comment #44

skypekaitas6 — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:43:24 GMT

Any way the Mega millions is so lucrative, about 15 years ago I was responsible or I was behind about 30,000 pakistan nationals playing the same numbers on a lotto betting site paying maximum of 100,000 pounds for every winner, and the bet company sent the scotland yard to denmark to talk to me for giving the numbers and why i let so many people have so much money, this was not fraud, and i was begged by scotland yard not to give money or winning numbers to muslim countires to protect UK and USA... [ More ]

Comment #43

NightStalker — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:05:59 GMT

I think what HaveABall was asking is have you ever had anyone sign their name to the roster, but not contribute the stated donation amount in order to participate since you said the envelope is unmanned which prevents corroboration or verification that each signed person actually contributed the stated amount.

This has not come up yet. It certainly could. Not exactly sure how I would handle it. I'd probably just cover the $2 myself.

most lottery pools operate on a share basis meaning a p... [ More ]

Comment #42

CDanaT — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:51:57 GMT

Well OldSchoolPa....ya think this is legit and we should all invest ???...mights well put me in a dress, bend me over the kitchen table and call me Hazel......With that said..., haven't seen any scams lately down here(but we are due), what about up your way

Comment #41

OldSchoolPa — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:44:49 GMT

Uhhhhh NO way

Comment #40

OldSchoolPa — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:39:53 GMT

I think what HaveABall was asking is have you ever had anyone sign their name to the roster, but not contribute the stated donation amount in order to participate since you said the envelope is unmanned which prevents corroboration or verification that each signed person actually contributed the stated amount. So think about this: most lottery pools operate on a share basis meaning a person could be a part of the pool if they meet the minimum contribution amount, but one who contributes a multip... [ More ]

Comment #39

skypekaitas6 — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:33:33 GMT

I am winning for certain any lottery on this earth with my heartbreaking intelligence. I have many members come and go, and till today for the last 30 years I have won over 800 million DKK (about 150 million US). In all I have roughly collected 30 million US over these years to win the amount on most lotteries and keno games I won multiple times.

My way of dividing the amount is simple. I dont make any copies etc of tickets or persons pooling get nothing from me, other than my word of mouth.

Comment #38

NightStalker — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:31:11 GMT

But if I were in a pool, I would have to concern myself with making sure all pool tickets are present, documented, with documentation disseminated to all pool participants prior to the drawing, and that all pool participants have signed pool agreement delineating pool participation is only valid IF you have contributed established wager amount and signed the roster by applicable deadline. All of this hassle makes me think many law firms do not allow or encourage such arrangements within their fi... [ More ]

Comment #37

OldSchoolPa — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:23:39 GMT

And if I worked somewhere were there was a lottery pool, I would avoid participating in it even though they stand as good a chance as I of winning. Sure, it would suck to be that guy looking in from the outside should they win. But the fact that I have never witnessed a lottery pool do due diligence in claiming the prize makes me averse to such arrangements. Lottery pools usually come out for a press conference a few days or weeks after the win whereas an individual can discreetly claim on his/h... [ More ]

Comment #36

NightStalker — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:23:26 GMT

Never has there been more money than signatures, except when we have won a small amount. Most we've won was $7 on the last drawing. I do not make copies of the backs of the tickets. I also keep all the envelopes from the prior drawings, just in case anyone wants to check them.

We haven't been doing it for that long, just since the first part of February, so no major issues have come up.

Comment #35

OldSchoolPa — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:52:55 GMT

Man, this is too much work! Playing the lottery is supposed to be fun and pools just seem to sap the fun out of it. I bet Mrs. White had more fun winning than, say those NY Costco pool winners. I definitely know that guy from CA who won while visiting NY had more fun than that Chubb insurance pool.

Here's the thing I enjoy about playing the lottery as an individual:

I buy my ticket(s), dream about what my life would be like if one of my tickets match the numbers drawn and nowhere in my... [ More ]

Comment #34

RJOh — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:21:39 GMT

People joining a pool of co-workers and friends expect a lot more for free than those syndicates in the UK are charging for. Those syndicates expect to be paid a lot more than the actual cost of the tickets and they aren't a friend you can expect to cover for you if you are a little late or short with money.

Comment #33

RL-RANDOMLOGIC — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 06:24:10 GMT

Greed at it's finest.

RL

Comment #32

HaveABall — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 05:10:11 GMT

It sounds as though this lottery pool is too large. How often do you collect more signatures than monies due in your unmanned envelope?

The article, above, indicates that not only should each player receive a copy of the front of lottery tickets but also the BACK side of tickets ... I don't know of any machines that do that easily, what a hassle before each drawing, multiple times per week

Comment #31

HaveABall — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 05:02:55 GMT

Because some people don't care. Also, many people know that karma doesn't exist.

Comment #30

maringoman — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 04:08:04 GMT

I used to be a believer that pooling money together would be a great idea because many people are able to buy a whole lot more tickets than an individual but not any more. I think the only pool I'd join would have to be like those that are done over in the UK, complete with syndicate rules and agreements and signatures and run professionally by a manager. But maybe not. Many people win by themselves and I think its much easier that way.

Comment #29

NightStalker — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:30:09 GMT

Thanks for the reply! I have tried to remove the responsibility of collecting money from myself and putting the onus on everyone else because if they want to get in, they will make the effort to get the $2 in for the drawing. It's getting to be a bit of a joke because now some get in because they don't want to be the only idiot left working . It has raised the moral some around the office.

Comment #28

NightStalker — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:27:10 GMT

Thanks for the kind words! I didn't want there to be any possible confusion. I send emails out to everyone in the office announcing the next drawing and emails only to the ones that got in after I get the tickets, that way no one can say they didn't know about it.

Comment #27

dallascowboyfan — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 02:31:49 GMT

let me get that for you.....

Comment #26

mcginnin56 — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:02:41 GMT

All drinks are on the house! (no tipping allowed

Comment #25

rad242 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 23:58:03 GMT

The VERDICT is in! Jury says SHARE THE WIN

Comment #24

VenomV12 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:39:00 GMT

I like your methodology, it is very well done and well thought out. A template for any lottery pools anyone wants to start.

Comment #23

VenomV12 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:37:58 GMT

I like your methododology, it is very well done and well thought out.

Comment #22

PoeticJustice32 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:18:54 GMT

I always thought about joining a pool, but this case is making me think otherwise. Unless you are the one running it, you really have to put your trust into people. That guy seems like he was willing to reall jip 5 people out of their fair share of the money. How can someone who just got sooo lucky by winning the lotto want to bring such bad karma back to them by doing something like that

Comment #21

haymaker — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:00:30 GMT

Not in a pool at this time,

and have no desire to be in one since joining LP but,

Your system sounds like one the best i've heard of,

and buying your personel ticket on a different day,

at a different place makes it cut and dry.

Comment #20

OldSchoolPa — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:49:01 GMT

Pools are only good for swimming

Comment #19

NightStalker — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:42:20 GMT

I run the lottery pool at my place of employment. I have a 9x12 envelope that stays on the file holder on my office door. Everyone puts in their own money and then signs the envelope. I buy the tickets the day of the drawing, scan them, and then send everyone an email with the scanned copy of the tickets. Then the tickets get locked in a safe.

If we win money that is more than the group put in for tickets, it is divided up. Anything less goes back in for the next drawing. Also, the winnings t... [ More ]

Comment #18

WesternRedDoug — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:30:52 GMT

Yep. I always let out a big sigh when I read that a lawyer has experience in lottery cases.

Comment #17

RJOh — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:24:58 GMT

Trust but verify. Had they verified their combinations before the drawings instead of just trusting a co-worker to tell them the results after the drawings, this mess could have been avoided.

Players who buy tickets for themselves and a pool should insist on this policy because some people join a pool thinking if anyone in the pool ever wins a case can be made for them sharing with the pool even if their winning ticket wasn't bought for the pool.

Comment #16

time*treat — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:51:25 GMT

I'll bet his former co-workers would like to offer him some foot surgery right about now.

All they need is the winning ticket and records of any tickets bought right before and right after (which the lottery should have). If it's the 6th ticket in a string of 12 ... busted

Comment #15

rdgrnr — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:28:21 GMT

I betcha the lawyers hit the jackpot too.

Comment #14

mcginnin56 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:09:12 GMT

No I'm serious. Just give me the money up front. When the winning ticket comes up I'll be long gone in touch with you, too give you your share

Comment #13

dallascowboyfan — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:54:20 GMT

Yep

Comment #12

dallascowboyfan — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:53:01 GMT

LOL.....

Comment #11

Littleoldlady — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:32:26 GMT

A lottery pool is fine if rules are made and followed to the letter. One rule for sure -all participants must get copies of the tickets BEFORE the draw and everyone must pay everytime.

Comment #10

LottoGuyBC — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:40:55 GMT

a reason to say NO to the lottery pool from work

Comment #9

CDanaT — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:24:19 GMT

I would have to lean towards establishing a set of rules and guidelines with signatures for participation and sharing of the moneys won...or have only 1 friend you could 110% trust..or as some have suggested, stay away from the pool altogether.

Trust but Verify

Comment #8

sully16 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:49:27 GMT

Yep, I agree.

Comment #7

Cletu$2 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:36:57 GMT

You never know what a jury will do!The best thing to do is NOT to be a member of a lottery pool.You can take all sorts of precautions and have all sorts of documentation but you will be at the mercy of a jury.Lottery pools are BAD NEWS

Comment #6

rooster8786 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:25:12 GMT

The NY Post is reporting Mr. Lopes lost and must fork over $4M to each of his former co-workers.

Comment #5

mcginnin56 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:54:29 GMT

Anybody wanna start a lottery pool

Comment #4

dpoly1 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:06:46 GMT

When I win on Friday ............ it will just be for my little family ........... $94,510,000 after 35% Federal Taxes ...........

about $108,750,000 wire transfer from the Pennsylvania Lottery ............. of course I will mitigate the other 10% tax obligation with some charitable contributions ......................

Going Green the right way .............. every good Bentley deserves a lottery winner

Comment #3

dpoly1 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:43:09 GMT

The empirical reason to NEVER play the lottery with a pool!

LAWYERS!

I am going to win my jackpot by myself ..... no lottery pools ............

Comment #2

rad242 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:27:36 GMT

Stay away from LOTTERY POOLS It's a recipe for disaster and someone always DROWNS.

If you insist, buy together. If that isn't feasible have the team leader scan the tickets and e-mail them along with the receipt and some notation in the body of the e-mail acknowledging that these number were pruchased on behalf of a,b,c who are current members of the xyz pool having agreed to share equally any winnings from x drawing...etc, etc

Comment #1

Grovel — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:20:21 GMT

I would have had him text me the numbers before each drawing so I would have proof.

NJ man sued over $38.5M lottery ticket

Lottery Post — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:12:53 GMT

A trail is underway in the case of a New Jersey construction worker who is being sued by his former co-workers after cashing in a $38.5 million lottery ticket.

Americo Lopes and five co-workers participated in a weekly lottery pool starting in 2007 where they worked at Berto Construction, according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger.

Each participant contributed $2 to the pool and Lopes would buy the tickets. Lopes also played the lottery independently from the pool.

On November 10, 2009, tw... [ More ]