The Cash Fever!

The Powerball is up again. The junk food media is going to drive the poor out to play!

Update: The estimated jackpot was $567 million and the winning tickets were sold in Texas, North Carolina and Puerto Rico. This is a first for the U.S. autonomous territory since joining Powerball in October 2014.

You got the fever?

What type of fever you might ask? 

It's lottery fever! 

The Powerball is up again, ahem! I mean its passed over a half a billion dollars and it can go up without notice. So are you game?

I stated this back in 2013. That the chances are 1:176 by odds. That means you are playing nearly a half of the U.S. population. You are one of 176 million others who are willing to shelve out.

With the huge jackpot such as this Powerball drawing, many Americans are dreaming of a life away from the job. A dream to take a vacation to a place they've always wanted to go.

The impact of being a millionaire comes with a price. You could blow money fast in a few years. Believe me there have been many Americans who lavish in luxury only to be broke in less than 10 years.

Of course, if you're the lucky one. You already know that many friends and family members will be on your case. You will be bothered by almost everyone in the junk food media.

Believe me I am a single man and I bet you my former friends, former girlfriends and family members I don't speak to will come out of the woodwork. They'll act like everything is cool and I am all giving!

Say if you're in the group pool. If you're in the pool and your group won, that one person who didn't play will try to sue the group for a portion of the earnings.

Hey, if you're a single person (not married), you'll be getting requests from suitors. Of course, if you're separated from your spouse or have children, expect the domestic family courts to take a lump out of your winnings.

The IRS and state taxes will be paid immediately upon the victory.

It may take up to a year before you collect the first lump sum of payment. Each winning Mega Millions and Powerball ticket carries a lump sum cash payment option.

The Powerball ticket cost $2 per unit. The Powerball ticket may include a PowerPlay multiplier and each unit cost $3 per unit. You can play up to 10 "lines", for up to 10 "draws" and up to 10 tickets. 

In each game, players select five numbers from a set of 59 white balls and one number from 35 red Powerballs. The number chosen from the red Powerballs may be the same as one of the numbers chosen from the white balls. Players can select their own numbers and/or have the terminal randomly select the numbers (called "quick pick" or "easy pick" among other names, depending on the state). In each drawing, winning numbers are selected using two ball machines, one containing the white balls and the other containing the red Powerballs. 

For the winning numbers, five balls (the white ball numbers) are drawn from the first machine and one (the Powerball number) from the second machine. Games matching at least three white balls and/or the red Powerball win.

Powerball is played in 44 states including the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Like always, you're expected to hear the junk food media talk about the "jackpot" being at record amounts and how they aim the cameras at shoppers purchasing. Each customer saying that if they win....they would change their lives.

Be careful what you play. You are responsible for whatever unit comes out! Be clear in explaining what type of unit you requesting. 

Powerball and Mega Millions are tickets that can not be canceled. You are responsible for whatever unit comes out. Your state lottery commission and the licensed retailer are not responsible for lost, stolen, damaged or altered tickets.

You have to be at least 18 years old to play these games.

Get your tickets.

Best advice for all who win the lottery, is keep a cool head.

The first thing you do is write your name down on the back of the winning ticket. Say if you lose the jackpot ticket! If you have forgotten to sign the ticket and it gets lost, then it's your word against the winner's.

Second, make sure you cancel out your Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or any other social networking website your on. That's the next thing that happens when you're a winner.

Third, you cancel your phone numbers and limit your email intake. Obviously you'll be swamped with phone numbers and well wishers asking if you're willing to shelve out a little cash. Trial lawyers, charity groups, the junk food media and scammers will take advantage of you. Some charity groups will not often bother you, but there are some that pose as legitimate but in reality a scam. 

Fourth, hire a qualified lottery attorney. Make sure you have a qualified attorney who specializes in handling large sums of money. Don't assume every attorney is well respected in handling your financial earnings.

Fifth, don't quit a job until you are sure you've won the lottery. Don't rush to judgment about being a lottery winner. Sometimes a person who wins the lottery never expects it to happen so don't sit around the house hoping the day will come you'll be the millionaire. Don't burn bridges with your job. You may end up back at it if you decide to go back into the workforce.

Sixth, pay off debts to college loans, house, billings, and credit cards. Don't let these issues ruin your credit score or chances at buying better things.

Seventh, invest your money in a trust fund if you have children or family members you can trust if you should die. Make a will or entrust. Make sure you know that you have a family member or a trusted friend who will take care of the winnings once you pass away.

Eighth, have fun with your earnings. Don't blow it on things that obviously will attract negative attention. Yeah, this is a gateway to putting in other venues. Some may blow their money at casinos, horsetracks, fantasy football and online poker. Granted that you are given the right to do whatever you want with your earnings, but seriously are going to get a gold stature of your image? Are willing to have five chefs, a butler, housekeeper, nanny, and chauffeur on the payroll? You going to buy a $100,000 vehicle! 

Ninth, be humble. Cause money will change a person when they're rich. Don't expect your life to be "normal" when you win the lottery. Cause it's not going to be normal. It could a great experience or the worst thing.

Lastly, The Have-Nots Will Always Try To Make You Feel Guilty About Winning. Ignore Them And Be Happy About Your Success.

Okay, let's go back to John Oliver and his take on the lottery.