Wednesday, August 12, 2026

The Cash Fever!

Even in tough times, millions still play the lottery and go to casinos.

Okay, first one of the year. 

The Cash Fever. I describe my honest opinion of the lottery and casinos. 

How many Americans are spending their lives away on a risk for a reward?

It really must be bad for the casinos and gaming industry. I am not talking much about it. Ohio has seven racinos and four casinos. I used to work for two of them.

Many professional gamblers are angry over the One Big Beautiful Act's tax changes on casino earnings. It depreciates the value of wins and taxes slightly more from those who gamble as a workable income. 

Since I was let go, I stopped gambling and also tightened my wallet. I work at a non union company that doesn't pay enough and I feel like it is starting to affect my health. I am experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome, high stress, sciatica, restlessness and the fear that company offered health insurance will not cover any medical expenses. 

I haven't taken an actual vacation since 2016.

I used to work at a local casino in the area. I was let go after a banned gambler got in and offered her a player's card. I let my guard down and it cost me big time. I am working at a job that is tolerable but not acceptable. I am frustrated with the status quo and the lack of opportunities in the area. 

I am sick and tired of wars, Israel, white men leading our country and the noise.

Capitalism is on the decline.

The odds of winning either the Powerball or Mega Millions is 1 to 303 million. You have a better chance at just minding your business than winning multi-state lotteries.

Say, I haven't gambled in years. I am not even being tempted to do so. Like most Americans, those struggling cannot have the luxury of gambling. It is out of the question.

I just want you to know that Powerball rolled jackpot will be at least high by draw time.

Still, if I decide to pay the lottery and win.... siranora.

If you are willing to risk a few dollars, maybe you could become a billionaire.

With these polarizing times, maybe if you do win, you could leave the United States and find a tax haven in a green notice country or territory.

Things to get out the way.....

In about 23 states and Puerto Rico, you can remain anonymous. But if you are willing to show yourself to the public, here we go.....

You have til 10pm to purchase a Powerball ticket on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Do want to you want to be a millionaire or billionaire?

In my state of Ohio, sports betting is legal. You can legally bet on sporting events for chance of earning a huge payout. The state has issued licenses to the four casinos and seven racinos. 

Sports betting is also available at many bars, clubs and convenience stores that have legal betting stations.

I am wondering, are you willing to pony up at least $2 or $5 to play a multi-state lottery game for a chance at winning over $1 billion?

Played in 45 states, the District of Columbia and two U.S. territories, Powerball is a coordinated by the State Lottery Association (MUSL), a nonprofit organization formed by an agreement with lobbyists and U.S. corporations. From its inaugural drawing on April 19, 1992, until August 21, 2021, Powerball drawings were held twice a week (Wednesday and Saturday); a third weekly drawing (held Mondays) was added on August 23, 2021. Drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evening at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time, at Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee.

Mega Millions is drawn at 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday and Friday evenings, including holidays. Mega Millions is administered by a consortium of its 12 original lotteries; the drawings are held at the studios of WSB-TV in Atlanta, Georgia, supervised by the Georgia Lottery. Played in 45 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. Virgin Islands with Puerto Rico being added in the near future, Mega Millions is independent from MUSL but does have an agreement with the consortium of states that operated the similar Mega Millions lottery, which allowed MUSL members to sell Mega Millions tickets and consortium members to sell Powerball tickets. 

Many who are often playing are not rich. I will take the posts of X user Andrew Lokenauth (@FluentInFinance). In Dec. 2024, he made almost similar advice to what you should do if you become an instant billionaire.

Most who often play are either a family member, co-worker or friend who has a gambling addiction.

So here's the public service announcement.

Most lotteries and casinos offer help for problem gambling. I want to acknowledge this.

The National Council on Problem Gambling operates the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network (1-800-522-4700). The network is a single national access point to local resources for those seeking help for a gambling problem. 

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 988, or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential. Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency. Learn more on the Lifeline’s website or the Crisis Text Line’s website.

You can get help if you, a loved one or friend is dealing with drug abuse.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

It is a difficult thing to tell a family member, friend, co-worker or a player of a gambling venue. But if see something, say something. It may save a life.

The signs of problem gambling include:

  • The person constantly borrowing money from friends, family, loan facilities or banks.
  • The person is always taking more out to chase the jackpot (or clout).
  • The person loses track of time or misses appointments due to gambling.
  • The person is running late on paying bills or dues.
  • The person feels like "playing it back" is the only way to win.
  • The person is getting agitated over wins and losses.
  • The person is using alcohol or drugs to ease stress. 
  • The person damages property at casinos or lottery retailers.
  • The person deliberately asks others to claim prizes to avoid paying child support, spousal support or owed taxes.
  • The person uses false ID, false social security numbers or gives wrong information to avoid taxes or has known status as a banned guest or voluntarily excluded player (self-prevention/restricted gambler).
  • The person is restless and feel the only way to relax is to gamble.
  • The person is jeopardizing relationships, their jobs and their social life in order to gamble.
  • The person repeatedly lies about wins and loses.
  • The person is trying to curb problem gambling but never achieves the goal.
  • The person has trouble adjusting to increases in lottery prices and rule changes.
  • The person usually holds up lines in businesses due to inconsistent demands or repetitive calls of plays and bets.
  • The person often uses phone apps to purchase lottery tickets and sports bets without consideration of funds.
  • The person is upset when family members, friends or frequent winners win jackpots or prizes.

These are the hard truths about problem gambling. You know someone or have a problem. That's why it's important to know your limits when you gamble. 

Folks, the multi-state Powerball will now have three active drawings. The original jackpot drawings were on Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59pm. Now the drawings will be on Monday nights as well.

It will try to increase the opportunity for players who avoided playing during the pandemic.

Rules on how to play lottery. Note: Many lottery venues are no longer taking verbal requests due to the coronavirus and the possibility of eliminating long wait times due to excessive ticket requests.

  • Make sure you have money on hand. The operator is required to take money before issuing a ticket. Make sure you have your numbers placed on either a betting card, your lottery app or a previous ticket. Most operators will help you plug numbers in through the terminal or place an automatic bet for you. However in the case of long lines or possible errors, it would be best to be prepared for the transaction. Some states do offer debit and credit transactions. Make sure you get your information from your local lottery commission. You cannot cancel Powerball or Mega Millions tickets. They are property of your state (or territory's) lottery commission. Any alteration, distortion or underage playing will void the games.
  • In most states, the required age to play the lottery is 18 years old (21 in some states) or older. Do not let anyone under the playing age purchase a ticket or lottery game. The operator could lose their license or you will forfeit your prize if the regional lottery operator determined that an underage player was the winner.
  • If you purchase Powerball and Mega Millions from another state (or territory) and you won, understand that it is not a winner in your home state. You must return to the state (or territory) where you purchased the ticket. The Mega Millions is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Powerball is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. If you're a traveler and won the lottery in the state of purchase, you have to return to the state to claim your prize. Every state has their own rules and regulations so don't think "it's all the same." It's not. It's a licensed property of the state gaming commission. 
  • Whenever a lottery retailer handles a jackpot ticket, ask the cashier to make sure you hear the "winner" sound. Most machines will make a noise if you're a winner. There are also ticket verifying stations located near a lottery terminal. Make sure before you hand a ticket to a cashier, you are sure you won a jackpot. Ask for a claims form and/or a validation claim voucher. If you are claiming jackpots that are under $500 or less at a licensed lottery operator, check your tickets at a lottery scanner first before handing the ticket off to the clerk. Make sure the cashier confirms the ticket. Tickets over $500 or more may have to go to a local lottery office in a regional jurisdiction. Lottery operators have vendor licenses and tickets are printed by a large set of numbers. If any allegations of fraud or cheating do occur, the lottery can subpoena the operator for the records of purchase and video surveillance of the person who purchased the ticket.
  • Mega Millions tickets are $5 per unit. The multiplier is included regardless of how many tickets are purchased. Powerball tickets are $2 with an additional $1 for the multiplier. Mega Millions minimum jackpots start at $50 million. Powerball minimum jackpots start at $20 million.
  • You can view the results of Mega Millions and Powerball on your local television station at 10:59pm. Mega Millions is drawn on Tuesday and Friday. Powerball is drawn on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. You can also get your state's lottery results on websites, the lottery commission apps on the Apple Store and Google Play. You can view results on social media. 
  • You can self-validate tickets under $500 through your phone so it can make it "touchless" contact. You can also get winnings under $500 installed in your bank account or through a credit card. Some fees do apply for distribution of cards and bank deposits.
  • You have at least 90 days to a year to claim a Mega Millions or Powerball jackpot. Some states have a period of time to claim your prize. If you fail to claim the prize upon its final claim day, it will go back to the state. The lottery operator will collect a reward for selling the winning ticket. Do not wait till the last minute to claim a jackpot prize. The lottery commission does have the right to forfeit or cancel any prizes presented.
  • Do not quit your job until you're certain you won the lottery. At the end of the day, some people get bored with their lives and may want to return to the workforce. Don't burn bridges with your employer. You may have to return back to the employer one day.
  • Inflation and the coronavirus have changed the world. Many companies have risen prices on food, supplies, rent and utilities. Lottery paper has become very scarce in some retailers. Please understand that it is not a retailer's fault they are out of lottery paper or the machine is down. Please have patience and an understanding of a lottery retailer's resources.
  • Do not believe the news reports about a winner coming forward immediately after the announcement of a winning ticket being sold. If the winner was smart, they would wait until the media moves on to the latest controversy. When you see a person appear in public 24 hours after a win, it is a publicity stunt or a grift. Many winners do not appear until they are in the presence of lottery officials, security and lawyers.

You know I've often posted about what I would do if I won the lottery. It is not legal advise so you don't have to take my word for it. I am just expressing what I am going to do if I win the lottery.

I will first write my name on the lottery ticket. If I choose to not write my name on the ticket, I will prepare a trust fund. I will always make sure that if I ever lose that ticket, my name is on it and it cannot be claimed by someone who is the person who wrote on the back of it.

I will also make sure I take a picture of the ticket. It will be a good thing to take a picture if you want to prove to your state's lottery commission that you were the one who purchased the ticket. I mean it would be smart to take pictures of your lottery tickets. Say if you have a group purchase of lottery tickets and you purchase one for yourself or your family member. You won't have to obligate to the group pool's tickets if you show that you bought one for yourself. Because it will be a legal matter if you purchase the group tickets but failed to disclose you purchased one for yourself. Even though you won on your own separate ticket, it's best to let the group know that you purchased a solo ticket to prevent them from believing you've stolen money or violated the group's contract.

If I do win the lottery, I will immediately pay off all my debts. The car loans, child support, spousal support, medical bills, phone bills, mortgage, court fees and bank loans will be paid in full. Before I even collect my lottery winnings, I want to be caught up on everything. Many states will offset lottery winnings due to a person owning state debt, child support, spousal support and court fees. If you know that you owe, pay it off.

I will immediately close my social media and change my phone number. If you're a winner of the lottery, the junk food media, your family, your friends, your acquaintances, your co-workers, your former lovers, your community, charity groups, scammers and the state will know you. I am going to cancel my Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat and social dating apps. I am very clear about my movements and I chose to not be public about it. When I was younger and naive, I would have shown my face to the public. But alas, I've gotten older and I am not the same as I was when I was younger. People are willing to rob and sometimes kill if you reveal yourself as a lottery winner.

I will also get a trust fund prepared, a will and a trusted member of family to hold my winnings. Yeah, it would be nice to establish a trust fund for family members if you do die. I mean life is full of uncertainty. Winning the lottery has higher odds than catching the coronavirus or being struck . On point, 1 out of 15 people are infected with the coronavirus and people have died from it. You win the lottery one day and the next day you caught the coronavirus. You got to remind yourself, you can't take it when you're gone. So it's best to establish a will to distribute your lottery winning to either family, charity and those who you feel deserve it. It will be written and notarized by an attorney or a bank. If you do establish a trust fund you could hire a financial advisor or a family member to oversee your earnings. Make sure that financial advisor is licensed and trusted by the Better Business Bureau. It also must be routine to study on how lottery winners adapt to money. Cause you're going into a bigger tax bracket and taxes vary in many states.

Now that I have my lottery winnings, I will now take the opportunity to buy things that are rational. I would purchase a vehicle, get a home, put some in an investment and prepare for a vacation. Of course, vacations are no longer the norm in the age of COVID-19. Trump's return has made Americans more cautious about traveling overseas. The United States support for Israel also made it more difficult for Americans to travel. So I would be smart to be prepared to be tested or vaccinated for the coronavirus before I take a vacation. I will not take a personal phone or tablet with me. Always use a pay as go phone or a tablet with strong VPNs. Some countries and the United States will check your electronics without consent. Many countries have banned Americans entry to their countries out of fear of being in support of Israel. Some travelers maybe carrying a serious illness like the coronavirus or not be vaccinated. With the rise of serious diseases and Trump's failure to take control of the matter, world leaders don't trust the American leadership in handling a global pandemic. Expensive vehicles include more insurance rates. More homes require use of electricity or water resources. Overseas vacations are nice but you must check with the State Department if you travel to countries that could pose danger to you as an American. Think rational about your winnings. Because at the end of the day, you can blow millions in a matter of five years.

A problem gambler. 

You might also want to make sure you're not playing lottery on company work time if you work at gas stations, restaurants, casinos, bars and pool halls. You might also want to make sure that you don't scratch the tickets first then pay for them last. I used to work at a gas station and a former co-worker often took lottery tickets, scratch them off and then pay for them after they were scratched.

Taking lottery tickets without purchase is not only theft but a felony in some states if the vendor decides to press charges. 

Not only the lottery vendor could lose their license (if they look the other way), they lose the bonus from the sold winning ticket and they could be audited by the lottery commission. The worker will be forbidden from playing lottery if convicted. And yes, family members or friends who try to buy on behalf of a banned player could be criminally charged.

Be humble about winning the lottery. You will not live a normal life. You could hopefully use the lottery winnings for a long time of success or squander it away within five years and end up miserable. Do not worry about the have-nots! Enjoy the winnings with pride and caution. Your success shouldn't be a punishment. If you do take the opportunity to win the lottery make yourself aware of the surroundings. 

This is not a joke.

This my opinion and I stand by what I say!

The downside of problem gambling.

Offset was shot by Lil Tjay in Florida. The two had a dispute over Offset owing him money after the latter borrowed a rack. Lil Tjay survived a shooting only to shoot Offset in a minor dispute that could have been settled through court. Although the court would rule it a gift, Tjay would at least put it on record that Offset's gambling cost him his family.

Offset has divorced rapper Cardi B. He owes child support to his six children. 

Another Florida incident.

A former United States Postal Service employee from Broward County is facing multiple felony charges after investigators say she stole a winning Florida Lottery ticket from the mail and fraudulently claimed a $2,600 prize.

According to the Florida Lottery, the case stemmed from a joint investigation by the agency’s Division of Security and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.

Investigators said the investigation began after a Florida Lottery player reported that a winning Pick 4 ticket she mailed through the U.S. Postal Service never arrived at its intended destination.

According to an arrest report, the winning ticket was purchased at a Publix store in Tampa and was worth $2,600. Because the prize exceeded the $599 maximum payout that can be claimed at a lottery retailer, the terminal instructed that the ticket be returned to the player, investigators said.

They said the winner later mailed the ticket to a relative in Fort Lauderdale to help pay for another person’s funeral expenses, but the ticket was never successfully delivered.

A Florida Lottery inspector determined the ticket was instead redeemed June 19 at the Florida Lottery’s Miami District Office by 28-year-old Lakaysha Kenya Lockhart. Investigators later identified Lockhart as a USPS letter carrier assigned to the Oakland Park post office.

United States Postal Service ain't paying enough. Woman resorts to theft to survive.

According to her arrest report, Lockhart, who has listed addresses in Lauderhill and Hollywood, “was not known to, approved or authorized by the ticket owner” to redeem the winning ticket.

Authorities said Florida Lottery special agents and USPS OIG investigators conducted a joint operation that led to Lockhart’s arrest on July 23. They said Lockhart admitted after her arrest to stealing the winning lottery ticket and redeeming it at the Miami District office.

“Our players deserve confidence that every Lottery prize is protected through strong security measures and diligent oversight,” Florida Lottery Secretary Reginald D. Dixon said in a statement. “I commend our Division of Security for their outstanding investigative work and thank our partners at the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office for their collaboration in protecting the integrity of Florida Lottery games and bringing this case to a successful resolution.”

Jail records show Lockhart is facing one count of grand theft, dealing in stolen property, filing a false claim for payment, and two counts of unlawful use of a two-way communications device and mail theft.

Florida Lottery officials said that because the offenses occurred in multiple judicial circuits, the cases will be prosecuted separately.

Lockhart was not listed as an inmate in Broward County jail records as of Friday morning.

A USPS spokesperson told Local 10 News that Lockhart joined the agency on April 21, 2025, and remains employed by USPS but is currently off duty.

The suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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