Most people think that once they have purchased their lottery ticket(s), that's it. No more work. Think again.
As there is a chance - albeit a very slim one - that you could be holding the ticket to your million-dollar dream, it is absolutely critical that you take certain steps to protect yourself, in a number of areas.
Keep It Safe
In most cases, the fine-print on your lottery ticket will advise you that it is the bearer (and not necessarily the purchaser) who is entitled to claim any prizes owed on it.
My suggestion is - photocopy your ticket, and keep the original in a safe place well away from the copy. Use this copy to check your numbers. You could also write your name on the original, and add the words 'ticket owner' if you wish as an extra precaution. This way, if your ticket is somehow destroyed (e.g. leaving it in a sunny position, the ink on thermal paper will soon fade), you will have a stronger chance of being able to prove that the winning ticket is actually yours.
And if you share the cost of a ticket with a syndicate (or group of people), you are well advised to photocopy it and give everyone a copy.
Check Your Numbers - Twice!
First, always check that the numbers printed on your tickets are those you intended to play. It's no use complaining after the Draw has been conducted that the lottery agent's computer printed the wrong numbers (they DO make errors on rare occasions), even if you could furnish the original coupon.
Second, always, always, ALWAYS check your numbers against the winning numbers SEVERAL times. Every year, millions of dollars go unclaimed by lotteries all over the world because people are too lazy to check their tickets. Some research indicates that as much as 10% of all prizes go unclaimed! Incredibly, even jackpots worth tens of millions of dollars go unclaimed!!
Rules vary, but in most cases, your right to claim a prize will expire 6 to 12 months after the Draw was conducted. These unclaimed prizes are not wasted - they are often dedicated to good causes - but wouldn't you rather pocket the money?
If you are inclined to be lazy, then I urge you to register as a frequent player, and present your "card" or membership key every time you purchase your lottery tickets. In most cases, state and national lotteries will inform you automatically some weeks after the Draw has been conducted that you have an unclaimed prize.
Minors Can't Win
Again, rules vary with each lottery, but generally speaking, minors (people younger than the "legal" age) are not permitted to (a) purchase a lottery ticket, or (b) claim a lottery prize.
So, if you think it's a good idea to give a young person a lottery ticket as a gift - be sure to collect the prize dividends on their behalf, lest the ticket is ruled invalid because it is held (or worse, presented at the lottery agency) by a minor.
Formalise Your Syndicate
If you play your favourite lottery with a group of people, I urge you to follow these sensible guidelines (even if you think you don't need to):
* Form a syndicate with friends or co-workers, rather than with family members;
* Develop a written agreement describing all of the conditions of entry (e.g. cost per week, division of prizes, etc), signed by every member;
* Distribute a copy of the group's lottery ticket(s) to every member; and
* Always re-negotiate the agreement whenever one or more people depart or join the group.
You Have To Be In It To Win It
If you are ever tempted to follow through on those scurrilous internet lottery prize notifications that clog your inbox - DON'T.
Think about it - how can you claim a prize in a lottery that you never entered (much less, knew about)? You will never be able to claim a prize in a lottery that you didn't enter, so don't waste your time trying.
So, be careful out there. If you follow these simple, yet important guidelines, you will avoid a lot of potential problems and embarrassment if and when you DO win.
To learn more about how to win lotto prizes (almost) every week, go to winlottofrequently.com
© Mark Collard, WinLottoFrequently. All rights reserved.
