Money Talks, Bullsh*t Walks!

Going home broke. Woman sues casino for their error.

One woman in New York is suing a casino after they refuse to payout a nearly $43 million jackpot.

Katrina Bookman thought she had it made. Bookman and her friends go to Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens to play some of the games.

She would play on the Sphinx machine and it hit. It made her night. She took a picture with the prize totalling $42,949,672.76.

Everyone came to the scene. Security detail, casino managers and the director were in attendance.

They escorted her off the floor and was told to come back for the decision.

"I said what did I win? [The manager said], 'You didn't win nothing,'" Bookman recalled.

Well it turns out that the machine made an error. What she actually won $2.25. The New York Lottery and Gaming commission that there was an error in the machine. The jackpot's maximum amount is $6,500 and the prize was voided.

They said that she will be refunded her $2.25 and a free steak dinner.

When Katrina Bookman saw the jackpot she freaked out. The casino saw the jackpot and they refuse to pay out.

Bookman said that she will sue the casino for the maximum payout.

"They win and the house doesn't want to pay out. To me that's unfair," said Bookman's attorney Alan Pika. "The machine takes your money when you lose. It ought to pay it when you win."

The casino acknowledged the machine had an error, it was immediately pulled and fixed soon after.

The casino also said there are notices posted around machines and players should read instruction before playing.

Bookman was hoping to use the money to pay for her son's future business and donate a portion to charity. The lawsuit is pending.

I used to work at a racino in Ohio and I have a bit of knowledge on this one. Many casinos have devices called video lottery terminals (VLT). Most players often refer to them as slot machines.

These machines offer a player a chance at winning a jackpot if they play a minimum or maximum amount of winnings if they hit the right combination. Malfunctions do occur on many games. If that does happen it void all winnings. A tilt or malfunction label is placed on the side of video lottery terminals. They are visible to the player.

Now if the possibility of a jackpot occurs where the player does win more than the maximum amount of the game, the casino does reserve the right to forfeit or cancel the jackpot.

The Feds Raid "Food Stamp" Millionaire!

Ohio authorities end the food stamp lifestyle of a millionaire.

Conservatives are going bananas over an Ohio man whose home was raided this week after an investigation determined he swindled from charities and the state's safety net. 

He boasted that his companies developed multi-million dollar properties from Ohio to the tax haven of St. Lucia. It's funny that the well-off do take advantage of the government as well. 

Ali Pascal Mahvi lives in Russell Township, Geauga County, Ohio. For nearly two years, his family was given $300 a month in food stamps. They also got assistance in paying their gas and electric bills. 

They also got Medicaid. 

The feds and Ohio authorities said that this was an act to steal from the state and those in need. 

Millionaire played the system like a fox. Ohio and the feds stopped it.

Detectives looking into Mahvi's books. They found that he's got nearly $20 million in earnings and living the life of luxury. He has a home worth $800K, a horse barn, a set of luxury cars, overseas bank accounts and good amount of excuses to why he's not a "bad guy". 

A $4 million Swiss bank account and he's paying a monthly mortgage of $4,600. The Mahvi family had claimed nothing and it raised red flags.

He lives in the suburbs of Cleveland living on the lifestyle. 

He is an American man of Iranian descent. Of course, you got a two-fer. A man with a funny name who took advantage of an issue conservatives long complained about. A man who steals from the safety net. 

The Cash Fever!

Back up again and I am guessing Americans will shelve a little bit of money for a chance at being a billionaire.

It's happened again! The lottery is back up again.

The Multi-State Lottery Association is happy to announce that the Mega Millions jackpot is over half a billion. The $1 game is played on Tuesday and Fridays.

The matrix is 1:75 with the Mega Ball 1:15. Out of 75 numbers and 15 Mega Balls, you can become an instant millionaire (or billionaire).

You can also have an opportunity to make the amount bigger if you chose the Multiplier. The Multiplier can be an "X" amount ball you can win up to 5 times the amount for a ticket if you select the Multiplier option.

A Mega Million matrix chart (courtesy of the Oklahoma Lottery Commission).

I won't tell you what the current jackpot is. It will go up without notice and based on ticket sales, it will probably reach $1 billion by draw time. It will bring attention to stores where lines are long, the purchase of ticket sales could be over $500 and people predicting what they'll do with that amount of money.

Check it, if you are playing remember the rules of the game. You must be 18 years old or older to play in the state that offer lottery games. Some states may require you to be 21 years old or older.

You are responsible for your Multi-State Lottery Game purchase. Mega Millions, Powerball and MUSL games cannot be canceled. So if the cashier or you make a mistake in the purchase, you are responsible for paying for it.

You must write your name on the back of the lottery game. I always recommend you take a picture of the ticket(s) purchased. If you happen to win the ticket, you can go to the regional lottery commission to acknowledge that you're in possession of the winning ticket. The state lottery commission can determine where you purchased your ticket. The lottery retailer identification number is printed on any ticket sold at a participating location.

If you lose your ticket at least you have evidence in case a thief would cash in your winnings. Some states classify a stolen ticket as a felony grand theft that could be punishable up to no less than 10 years.

If you purchase a ticket in a neighboring state, you must return to the state you purchased the ticket.

Example: I went into an Ohio retailer to purchase a Mega Millions ticket and headed home. I found out that I won $500 dollars. I went into my local gas station in Kansas to cash my ticket and the clerk said that he can't do it because it's not the Kansas Lottery approved ticket. Now I have to either mail the ticket or head back to Ohio to claim my prize.

If you win the Mega Millions, make sure you have a clear head. The rush will get you. This will change your life. You can be rich in one minute, poor in less than 10 years. You must confirm that you have the ticket by going to your state lottery's website or the official Mega Millions website.

You can also get a smart app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.  Your state's lottery offers a way to beat the long lines. You can plug your numbers on the app and get the code to print the game through either a terminal or a vending machine.

It also gives you options on how to check a winning ticket.

Cancel your social media and limit your phone and email intakes. Don't post on Facebook you hit the lottery because it's a giveaway for a person to find your location and rob you of your properties.

In some states you can be anonymous when claiming a huge prize.

You must also hire a qualified lottery attorney who specializes in handling large sums, will in testament, power of attorney and financial handling of assets.

Do not get eager to spend on stupid trends or expensive items. Use the winnings to pay off debts, child support, spousal support, college loans, car loans, home loans, apartment bills, credit cards, and fines issued by a state. Keep your own savings in tact just in case you might lose a majority of your winnings due to a debt.

Understand that the lottery will change you. You will become more cautious about the people around you. You might win new friends or requests for marriage (if you're single).

Have fun and play responsibly. If you have a gambling problem, there are agencies sponsored by the state's lottery commission that could help you find ways to curb the need to win!

Read my honest opinions on the lottery here. If you have any ideas or solutions post them in the comments section.

The Unlucky 7: Botched Robbery Of Lottery Winner Turned To Murder!

Craigory Burch, Jr. was murdered by people who he thought were his friends.

The Georgia law enforcement agencies are investigating the death of a lottery winner. Seven individuals broke into the home of the man and his family. They would end up attacking the family and killing the man.

Now they're being served in the death of Craigory Burch, Jr.

The Atlanta area man won nearly $500,000 in the state lottery. He was a struggling father of three and had worked a few jobs before luck struck him. He and his girlfriend Jasmine Hendricks were grateful to the community.

He was celebrating the Christmas holiday by donating gifts to charity. Someone got wind of the man's good fortunes. They decided to master a plan to extort money from Craigory.

So seven people would end up breaking into his home. Some were armed with firearms.

Investigators believe three masked people broke into a home under the cover of late-night darkness on Jan. 20. Authorities believe they aimed to rob Burch of his lottery winnings, WALB reported.

The Unlucky Seven.

The suspects were identified as Rosalyn Swain, 22; Keyona Dyous, 24; Earnest Holcomb, 27; Wayan Jordan, 17; Dabrentis Overstreen, 19; Nathaniel Baker, 28; and Anjavell Johnson, 21, according to WFXL.

Ben Hill County Sheriff Bobby McLemore told the news station more arrests were expected but the attack appeared to be targeted and not random.

All seven suspects were charged with malice murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, WALB reported.

Burch's friends said he worked as a forklift operator and used some of his lottery winnings to buy Christmas presents for those in need. Jasmine told WALB he pleaded with his attackers before they fatally shot him.

"When they came in, he said, 'Don't do it, bro. Don't do it in front of my kids. Please don't do it in front of my kids and old lady. Please don't do that, bro. Please don't,'" Hendricks said.

Six of the suspects were being held in Ben Hill County Jail Monday. The remaining suspect was in custody in Colquitt County, according to WALB.

The suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

World News Today send our condolences to the Craigory Brunch.

The Cash Fever Cured!

If you're not the winner from California, you're probably returning back to work.

You're going to work a few dollars short. The winner(s) of the $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot will have to take a lifetime off. Trust me, the winner of the Powerball will likely have to disappear.

Chino Hill, CA is the first confirmed location for the country's historical jackpot.

The jackpot is huge.

So as we wait for the winner of the jackpot ticket to come forth, many others have their bets on at least getting some of their money back.

So far, the clerk at 7-Eleven in Chino Hills will have a huge bonus for selling the ticket. Probably the company itself will get the bragging rights.

Oh thank heaven for 7-Eleven.

Okay, here's the winning Powerball numbers.

4-8-19-27-34 | PB 10 (2X)

Congratulations to the winners of Powerball.

Powerball and Mega Millions are played in 44 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Wednesday and Saturday at 11pm (EST) is when the Powerball is played. It cost $2.00. The PowerPlay option is $1 and can be played for a multiplier. The closing bet time is 10pm (EST).

YOU MUST BE 18 YEARS OR OLDER TO PLAY MULTI-STATE LOTTERY ASSOCIATION GAMES.

YOU CANNOT CANCEL POWERBALL, MEGA MILLIONS OR ANY MULTI-STATE LOTTERY ASSOCIATION GAMES. 

Tidbits!

Trump's staff throws out a woman who did a silent protest.

I've been down with the stomach flu and I'm getting some needed rest. While I was resting I found out some things while I was in the bed.

I realized that food to settle your stomach includes water, Gatorade, crackers, soup and apple sauce.

Also I heard that it could take up to 10 days before you can actually feel better.

I ate a sandwich from my job and I guess it was the thing that got me.

But as I am resting, I want to get a few tidbits out the way.

Donald Trump threw out a Muslim woman at one of his events. She was doing a silent protest and the supporters of the presidential candidate were shouting racial slurs at her.

Ted Cruz, the Texas senator running for president will not support a special force to remove immigrants living here without documentation. He also did a document drop. He showed his legal birth certificate. The racist right isn't too keen on Cruz. Even though, Cruz share a portion of their views, they're not hip to a Canadian-born American lawmaker running for president.

John McCain, the Arizona senator and failed 2008 presidential candidate may have the toughest primary fight ahead of him. An insurgent candidate is leading in early polls.

Powerball has went into historical feats. The Multi-State Lottery Association Game is $1.3 billion for Wednesday night's drawing. It's going to be one of the largest jackpots in U.S. history. The game is played in 44 states, DC, the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Sean Penn is facing questioning from the U.S. and Mexican authorities. He managed to score a talk with the world's most dangerous drug lord. El Chapo was busted over the weekend and it was revealed that his interview with Penn gave the law the break they needed.

Tonya Couch, the mother of Ethan Couch is heading to Texas to face criminal charges for harboring a federal fugitive. She is being held on $1 million get out free card. She could face up to 10 years for this charge. She is innocent until proven guilty. Ethan Couch is still in Mexico facing an extradition hearing.

The Cash Fever Spreads!

Saturday's Powerball jackpot is the largest in U.S. history. 

I am so going to spend a couple of bucks on Powerball. The Multi-State Lottery Association announced the largest jackpot in the United States history is being held on Saturday.

The jackpot as of 1/7/2016 is $700 million. It will likely be $1 billion by draw time. So I can't give you an actual jackpot amount.

You chances of winning this jackpot is 1:292 million.

If I would win a record jackpot like this.............I don't know!

I would keep a cool head. I would not panic. I would write my name on the ticket and make sure that I have everything taken care of before I present my ticket to the regional lottery commission office.

This type of jackpot is by far the country's largest in history. Based on lottery sales, the Powerball jackpot will surge up. So don't be surprised that the 44 participating states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands will see a huge spike in sales.

I work in retail. Trust me, I will have a huge headache dealing with lottery players.

Okay, click on my previous post on the advice I have for you. Use the information at your discretion.

Good luck to those who play the Powerball and Mega Millions.

You must be 18 years old (or 21 in some states) to play any lottery games.

Powerball drawings are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The closing bets are at 10pm on the night of the drawing. All drawings for the Powerball are held at 10:59pm.

Mega Millions drawings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays. The closing bets are at 10:45pm on the night of the drawing. All drawings for Mega Millions are held at 10:59pm.

The minimum Powerball jackpot starts at $40 million. The minimum Mega Millions jackpot starts at $15 million.

The Powerball tickets use the 5/69 and 1/26 matrix. Each ticket cost $2.00. You must pick 5 numbers from 1 to 69 and the Powerball from 1 to 26. These numbers can be written down or automatically picked. Make sure you play your numbers correctly.

You cannot cancel any Multi-State Lottery Association games.

Most lottery professionals say that automatic picks are often the most likely tickets that contain winning jackpots.

Given the Powerplay option for a $1 you can multiply your jackpot. In California, the Powerplay option is not given.

The Cash Fever!

As of 1/7/2016, the jackpot is nearly $1 billion. The drawing is on Saturday.

In the new year, the American public got a dose of the lottery fever. With jackpots totaling over $200 million, many Americans rush to the local lottery retailer in their state to purchase a handful of tickets hoping that they could change their lives forever.

Powerball is up once again. On Wednesday night, the drawing and the possibility of a winning ticket.

Tonight's estimated jackpot is $450 million (as of 1/6/16). It's noted that the jackpot will increase with the rise in ticket sales. So I'll just cut to the chase, it will likely be over $500 million by draw time.

Many folks will be making the decision to play. 

The game uses a 5/69 (white balls) + 1/26 (Powerballs) matrix from which winning numbers are chosen. Each play costs $2, or, with the Power Play option, $3.

The game is played in 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Advice on playing the lottery!

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

1) You must be over the age of 18 (or 21 in some states) to play the lottery. You cannot allow any person under the playing age purchase any lottery game. 

2) If you purchase any lottery game in a state that sales Powerball (47), Mega Millions (47), Lucky for Life (17), Monopoly Millionaires' Club (16), Hot Lotto (15), Cash4Life (5), MegaHits (5), Wild Card (4), 2by2 (3), Tri-State Lottery (3) and All or Nothing (2): You must claim the prize in the state that you purchased the ticket. You can't go into a South Carolina Education Lottery retailer saying you've purchased a ticket from the Florida Lottery.

Older and poorer Americans often play the lottery. The lottery makes $5 billion in sales revenue a month.

3) Most of the Multi-State Lottery Association Games cannot be canceled. So be extremely careful in picking games. Powerball plays on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59pm (EST). Powerball draws close at 10pm (EST) on the night of the drawing. Some states have drawings close early. The cost of playing a Powerball ticket is $2. The ticket comes with the Power Play (except in California). The Power Play cost $1 dollar. There is a set prize amount for Power Play addition. You can earn up to $1 million (if you score 5 out of 5 without the Powerball). If you have the Powerplay you can multiply your winnings. I know that your risk is 1:345. So that means the odds of winning is one in 345 million.

4) Make sure you 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. I've added this. Make sure you take a picture of the ticket to provide to your state's lottery commission. Say you lose the ticket and you happened to not write your name on it, you're out of luck. If you have a picture of the ticket, you have a police report if it is lost. Make sure that whenever a lottery retailer is to handle 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. Also for tickets that may be over a certain amount (i.e. amounts over $2,500), you might have to go to the lottery's regional offices. The offices are located in metropolitan areas. There are also apps on your iPhone, Android, and smart devices. You can avoid the lines, by going to iTunes or the Google Play store to get a free app for your local state's lottery. Never put your trust in a cashier who doesn't have experience in handling jackpots or validations of high value tickets.

5) If you're bragging about you're winnings, that's fine. But you best believe that you should cancel out your Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or any other social networking website you're on. That's the next thing that happens when you're a winner. There's too many opportunists willing to swarm your social media with requests. 

6) You should 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, home security companies, 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. 

7) You should 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.

Fox's Family Guy. Peter Griffin spends almost everything to win a jackpot.

8) Please, 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.

9) You might as well get the little things out the way. You should 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.

10) Make an investment in your money. Put 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.

11) Yeah, it's a huge change in your life. And you're going to have major things to accomplish. Go ahead and have fun with your earnings. Don't blow it on things that obviously will attract negative attention. Yeah, the lottery 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 statue 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! Wow! Do whatever you want with your money, but be careful with it. 

12) You know that money will change you. You might become stingy with the winnings. You should be humble. Cause money will change a person when they're rich. Don't expect your live 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.

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

Rules Of Disengagement!

Steak out!

I almost want to say it's staged.

There was this asshat who ran up on family loading groceries into their vehicle. He decides to confront the family because they used a food stamp card to purchase food. What got him livid was the fact that one of them was using his money to purchase lottery tickets.

In the 2 minute YouTube video, you clearly hear the man confront them for using food stamps and purchasing lottery.

They get into a verbal tirade.

The guy stops his vehicle and jumps out. He confronts the woman who is allegedly pregnant smoking and then sees a steak inside the shopping cart. He picks it up an ultimately declares that 

"Steak is for fucking taxpayers"!

Man films couple after he caught them purchasing food with EBT. One of the person filmed was playing with lottery tickets.

Now would you want someone coming up on you yelling and then reach into your grocery cart?

I seriously believe it's a staged act to generate click bait. Because if this guy was bold enough to do this, he should get the cuffs and a night in the county lockup. 

The safety net includes social security, disability, food stamps, farm aid, Medicare, Medicaid, and welfare. Don't forget there's veteran's assistance, disaster relief, student aid, and victim's claims.

The middle class, lower class and those who are too poor are the core of the safety net.

The rise in energy, rent, insurance, food and gas, people are turning to food stamps, food banks and government assistance to keep themselves from landing in the homeless shelter.

Without a safety net, these people will rob and kill those who have the luxuries of having food in the refrigerator or in the pantry. They would steal fuel, water, bread, baby formula, diapers and meat to keep feeding their families. And yet, these Republicans and their conservative allies are thinking the poor are the reasons for the economic recession. Perhaps those who complain about the poor, should walk a day in that person's shoes!

The Republican Party and its allies in the conservative movement are heartless when it comes to the lower and middle class. In their warped minds, the lower class and those who are too poor are stealing from the taxpayers by accepting food stamps, welfare and necessaries.

Quarterbacking A Quick Rich Scheme!

Major scandal involving two of the country's fantasy sports companies.

FanDuel and DraftKings are incredibly popular. Gamblers take the chance on winning big $$$$$$ picking their favorite football teams and the score stats.

Talk radio agitators were promote these websites. I can tell you that annoying conservative agitator was actively encouraging his gullible audience to engage in these websites. I believe that old fart Limbaugh was promoting this as well.

Well there's a scandal brewing with these gaming sites.

One of the rivals was getting the low down on player stats. Ethan Haskell who worked at DraftKings took in over a quarter of a million running the numbers over at FanDuel.

DraftKings techie Ethan Haskell got death threats and worldwide condemnation after he accidentally leaked information that he profited from rival FanDuel. 

That insider data gave him an opportunity to make himself rich. And with them riches, he actually got reckless. He accidentally leaked information to his friends. Them friends told the junk food media about it and now there's a scandal.

The New York Times reports that this scandal is huge. The two major fantasy companies were forced to release statements defending their businesses’ integrity after what amounted to allegations of insider trading, that employees were placing bets using information not generally available to the public.

Haskell clammed up and blocked access to his social media accounts in fear of death threats and potential incrimination. Now his mistake has caught wind over at Congress. Some are calling for regulations on fantasy sports.

He might be called upon the Congress to testify to why he got insider information.

The industry has its roots in informal fantasy games that began years ago with groups of fans playing against one another for fun over the course of a season. They assembled hypothetical teams and scored points based on how players did in actual games.

But in recent years, companies, led by DraftKings and FanDuel, have set up online daily and weekly games based on a similar concept in which fans pay an entry fee to a website — from 25 cents to $1,000 — to play dozens if not hundreds of opponents, with prize pools that can pay $2 million to the winner. Critics have complained that the setup is hardly different from Las Vegas-style gambling that is normally banned in the sports world.

Well here another reason to why Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity are destroying talk radio.

These two were on talk radio endorsing products that may end up being scams. They were proudly endorsing these companies.

FanDuel and DraftKings is gambling. You are wasting your money online betting on the unpredictable NFL and NCAA-I College football games.

I am not a statistician but I bet you that 80% of Americans over 18 year old have played a game of chance for money. If I am not proven right, then I lose a reader. Regardless, I won't lose a cent.

Americans involved in DraftKings and FanDuel are likely to gamble their life savings on fantasy sports, casinos, lottery and bingo.

Marie Holmes: I Gotta Be Humble, My Kids Are The Winners!

The winner of Powerball comes forward. She shows her ticket to the junk food media. Notice that most lottery experts believe that "quick picks" are the way to winning. The winning numbers are located on line D.

The record Powerball jackpot winner steps forwards to claim her share. She is actually putting her face out there to explain her struggles and the miracle of being a single mom and now a jackpot winner.

Marie Holmes of North Carolina was one of the three winners who claims the $567 million jackpot.

The 26 year old mother of four came forth to explain why she wanted to go public.

She along with winners from Texas and the autonomous territory of Puerto Rico share this. With taxes each would walk away with an estimated $130 million.

She had an opportunity to talk to the junk food media about the day she purchased that winning ticket.

Life is good for Marie Holmes.

If you look slightly towards the ticket. The lottery commissions will tell ya that "machine pick" tickets are the ones that you could find the jackpots in. Of course, you're playing against 176 million others who are willing to shelve up to $300 to play a $2 unit of Powerball or $1 unit of Mega Millions.

The Shallotte woman vows to not let the winnings "change her". She said that she will devote some of her earnings to a local church and give her family a vacation.

The Daily Mail reports that Marie used to work at McDonald's and Walmart before quitting to take care of her children.

Her four children, Brayden, Charisma, Andrea and Ebony, are aged from nine months to seven years old. Brayden is believed to suffer from cerebral palsy.

Holmes sacrificed her education to care for her four children and took minimum wage jobs to provide for her family.

With little or no help from the fathers of her four young children, she has struggled financially for most of her adult life.

Holmes has also seen her own father repeatedly jailed and her favorite cousin shot and left paralyzed after a home invasion.

Family members describe Holmes as a loving mother who always put her children first.

"Marie is very grounded and she will know what to do with all that money," said her uncle William Bryant.

Be careful, the Have-Nots will come.

"I'm sure she will want to buy a new home for herself and her kids, but I can't see any extravagant purchases. She's a nice girl who loves her family and loves her church."

In 2012, state officials who run Powerball and Mega Millions changed ticket prices and lowered the odds of winning jackpots in hopes the moves would increase the number of huge prizes and draw more players.

The new rules worked, causing jackpots to repeatedly climb to record levels. More than half of the top 10 U.S. jackpots have been reached in the past couple of years.

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.

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. Do not share earnings with people who owe you money.

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! You want to own an island! Do you want your "friends" who often borrow money from you to handle your earnings?

Ninth, be humble. Cause money will change a person when they're rich. Don't expect your live 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.

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.

Detroit Mom Got A Lucky Break!

If today was yesterday, a single mother would never believe this day would come. Michigan woman won the Mega Millions.

Being a single parent is a 24/7 business. There's no breaks and no vacations. Without a dutiful partner in parenting, the mother or father must handle duties of their child.

Most of the time, the parent will do as best as they can to support their child. It's a part of the daily routine in the United States. 

The racist right can't stomach the single parent home. They attack single parents with multiple children as "parasites" dependent on the gubmint.

The racist right believe that women who have multiple children with different fathers are likely to be stuck on welfare, food stamps, and dependency.

Kelsey Zachow isn't one of those type of people. She worked two jobs. She took care of her child and boyfriend's child. She is a nursing assistant and part time bartender.

Her biggest break came when she would go to the local store and purchase a Mega Millions ticket on a day that most consider unlucky.

Zachow, a 24-year-old mother in Detroit had been working two jobs to pay the bills. Last month, on what has typically been seen as an unlucky day, Friday 13, Zachow bought what would end up being the winning ticket to the Mega Millions lottery, ABC15 reported. The mom who walked away with the $66 million jackpot says that she values her family's security foremost, and will begin her spending spree by setting up college funds for her son and her boyfriend's daughter.

"I have always wanted an electric blue Ford Mustang, and one day I will get one, but helping my family live comfortably comes first for me," Zachow said at a press conference, according to the New York Daily News.

The Huffington Post reports that the young mother had been working as a medical assistant and part-time bartender, the outlet reported. Because her boyfriend has been laid off for almost a year, Zachow has had to support him, as well as their children.

Though Zachow routinely bought lottery tickets every week, she didn't expect the big winnings, and hadn't even checked whether she won until more than a week after she purchased the ticket. She says she screamed as she ran to tell her boyfriend.

"My boyfriend thought I got in a car accident, or hit someone on the street," she said of her reaction to winning, according to the Macomb Daily.

While the 24-year-old will use the funds to provide a comfortable life for her family for now, Zachow also hopes to use her newfound wealth for other noble causes in the future.

"I always wanted to open a no-kill animal shelter of some sort but right now it’s taking care of the little one," she told the Macomb Daily, referring to her 7-month-old son.

Well wishes to Ms. Zachow.

In most states, the Powerball and Mega Millions are played. In 43 states with the District of Columbia and U.S. Virgin Islands, the two multi-state lotteries are often played when the prizes reaches over $200 million respectively.

The Mega Millions is once again rising to record setting amounts. So I am guessing by game time it will be over $700 million by draw time.

Are you game?

I know that your risk is 1:345. So that means the odds of winning is one in 345 million.

If you're not aware of the game, it's pretty simple. The Mega Millions is a multi-state game that covers 45 states including the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The cost of playing a Mega Million ticket is $1. The ticket comes with a Multiplier (except in California).

The jackpot starts at $15 million.

The drawings are on Tuesday and Friday night at 10:59pm EST.

The game cost only $1 per unit. You must pick five numbers from 1 to 75. When you're done, you get the opportunity to pick a Mega Ball. Out of 15 numbers, you will have to pick one Mega Ball number. The jackpot results are a match of 5 White Balls + 1 Megaball. A player can win $1 million (if you score 5 out of 5 without the Megaball).

You're allowed five lines per unit you're playing one single drawing ticket at $5 per unit. So basically you're playing $1 per line. Add the multiplier and its one per line with multiplier so it would be $2 per unit. So at five lines per unit and with multiplier its $10 per unit.

The game in states that are participating included a multiplier. The multiplier is a function that allows the player to increase their wins by a special X ball. The multiplier is (1X), (2X), (3X), (4X) and (5X).

Powerball is played in 43 states including The District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands.

The cost of playing a Powerball ticket is $2. The ticket comes with the Power Play (except in California).

The Power Play cost $1 dollar. There is a set prize amount for Power Play addition. You can earn up to $1 million or $2 million upon the Power Play (if you score 5 out of 5 without the Powerball).

There are five Powerball numbers. From 1 to 59, you must pick the numbers. When you're done you have an opportunity to pick a Powerball. The Powerball number is out of 35. The jackpot results in a win of 5 White Balls + 1 Powerball.

The Power Play was reestablished as a multiplier. The function allows the player to increase their odds by the special X ball. The multiplier is (1X), (2X), (3X), (4X), and (5X).

The drawings are on Wednesday and Saturday night at 10:59pm EST.

The Powerball jackpot usually starts at $40 million.

Okay, I know there are some who are novice and never had an experience at playing.

The Mega Millions and Powerball tickets that are played cannot be canceled.

Be careful when making a bet decision.

Of course you have to be over 18 years old to play a Mega Millions or Powerball ticket.

All results for Mega Millions and Powerball are from the state that you've purchased your ticket from. You can't go into a South Carolina Education Lottery retailer with a ticket from Indiana's Hoosier Lottery. 

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.

The rules of winning the lottery.

Best advice for all who win the lottery, is keep a cool head. Let's cover the 10 things about winning the lottery according to me. You can use this advice if you want to!

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. I also added this to my words of wisdom. Make sure that whenever a lottery retailer is to handle 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 verify 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.  Also for tickets that may be over a certain amount (i.e. amounts over $2,500), you might have to go to the lottery's regional offices. The offices are located in metropolitan areas. There are also apps on your iPhone, Android, and smart devices. You can avoid the lines, by going to iTunes or the Google Play store to get a free app for your local state's lottery. Never put your trust in a cashier who doesn't have experience in handling jackpots or validations of high value tickets.

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 number 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.

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.

Sixth, pay off debts to college loans, house, billings, and credit cards.

Seventh, invest your money in a trust fund if you have children or family members you can trust if you should die.

Eighth, have fun with your earnings. Don't blow it on things that obviously will attract negative attention.

Ninth, be humble. Cause money will change a person when they're rich.

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

We Want Our Cut, Says Former Lottery Winners!

Embattled New Jersey governor Chris Christie doesn't have to sweat out this scandal, but somehow it will be tied to him regardless of what he does.

Two men are suing the New Jersey Lottery commission after the gaming representatives threw out a jackpot ticket.

Salvatore Cambria and Erick Onyango, of Suffern, New York, argue in their federal lawsuit that the lottery didn't quickly update its website with the winning numbers from the March 23 drawing.

Cambria tells The Record ( http://bit.ly/1lgeKlD ) newspaper he asked Onyango to check the website soon after the 11 p.m. drawing. Cambria tossed the ticket when the numbers didn't match. The men now think the site was showing the previous drawing's numbers.

They say they realized they had won the next day. But by then, their ticket was on its way to a landfill in Canada.

The men say they have two other tickets showing serial numbers that prove they had a winner.

And because the three tickets were purchased together, their serial numbers were sequential. The men say they can prove that the winning ticket was theirs because they still have the tickets with serial numbers one above and one below the winning ticket’s.

They explained their situation to the Lottery Commission last year, they said, and were told to submit a claim form along with the first and third tickets.

“They even told me, ‘You don’t need a lawyer, don’t get one. We know you’re in the right,’ ” Cambria said.

But then nothing happened.

It’s now been more than a year since the drawing. The men filed their lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Trenton on Tuesday demanding the million-dollar prize and arguing that the lottery was at fault for failing to update its website in a timely way.

In an interview on Wednesday, Cambria said he asked Onyango the night of the drawing to check the lottery’s website for the winning Powerball numbers. This was several minutes after the 11 p.m. drawing, Cambria said. But the numbers that Onyango read, they learned later, were from the previous drawing.

“So I took my ticket, which was worth a million dollars, and I put it in a cigarette pack and put it in the garbage in my bedroom,” Cambria said.

The men say they saw the drawing’s actual numbers the next day and realized that Cambria’s ticket was a winner.

“I was losing my mind. We were both losing our minds,” Cambria said.

Their lawyer, Edward Logan, said Wednesday that there was no way the men could have retrieved their ticket.

Two men sue the New Jersey state lottery commission after they lose their ticket.

“There was talk about getting a bloodhound and finding the bag,” Logan said. That idea was eventually abandoned.

The dump has “bulldozers that move the trash around and bury it and get it to cook and digest with the methane,” Logan said. “It was just going to be impossible to find.”

A spokeswoman for the Lottery Commission, Judith Drucker, declined to comment on the pending litigation.

Customers at the Mahwah 7-Eleven that sold the ticket were divided on Wednesday about whether Cambria and Onyango should get the money.

Paul Matthews put the blame on the two men. “They should have known better than to throw away the ticket,” he said.

But Lisa Iriarte said they should get the money “because it’s not their fault the state updated the numbers later.”

Cambria and Onyango said they haven’t given much thought yet about what they will do with the money if they get it.

“That’s the next big question,” said Onyango, who suggested that they would put much of it into savings. “You’ve got to be prudent.”

Lessons for lost tickets.

1) You are responsible for the ticket. If lost or stolen, you can file a police report ONLY if you have written your complete name and phone number on the back of the ticket. You should never leave a winning lottery ticket in an area where you can't find it. The lottery commission of your state isn't responsible for a lost ticket. You need to make sure you write your name on the ticket. Especially if it a winning ticket.


2) Many convenience stores have self scanners and extra sections to detect winning tickets. You can find them near a lottery retailer. You can also have a vendor or cashier check your ticket. If you do so, always ask if the cashier can do a cash verify. Usually some lottery cashing terminals have sounds letting you know if these are "winners" or "not a winner". Don't let a cashier check your ticket without you assuring that you verified it through a ticket scanner or lottery commission website.

3) Powerball and Mega Millions tickets cannot be canceled. Be aware of the cost of these tickets. Powerball tickets are $2 dollars per unit. Mega Millions are $1 dollar per unit. Mega Millions minimum jackpots starts at $15 and the game is played on Tuesday and Friday nights. Powerball miminum jackpots starts at $40 millions and the game is played on Wednesday and Saturday nights. You can play a multiplier on Mega Millions for a $1. You can play a PowerPlay on Powerball for a $1 as well.

4)  Take notice that wherever you purchased the ticket. Most states have different regulations to tickets. You can't bring a Hoosier Lottery ticket to a Ohio Lottery retailer. You can't bring a Florida's Lottery Ticket to Georgia Lottery. Each state has regulations to how they payout a jackpot. So don't go into a store with an out of state ticket saying you want your prize. If you won a jackpot ticket, go back to the state you purchased the ticket. DO NOT EVER MAIL A JACKPOT TICKET. If you won a jackpot ticket in New York and you live in Kansas, you better high tail it to that state. Take a plane or drive. Of course, don't lose the ticket on your way there.

5) There are other resources besides the local television. You can view lottery drawings online or through a digital app. If you can't watch the drawing, you can visit the respective websites to verify your results. Also you can use an app to self scan your tickets.

Yeah we got the proof we purchased the ticket, says Salvatore Cambria and Erick Onyango.

6) Receipts can be given if you ask. If you're in a group pool, make sure your name and the other participants names are written down and placed on a contractual agreement. If you're buying your own ticket, inform the rest of the group before you purchase. Because you'll end up having a nasty fight ahead if you're the one with the single ticket and the group put their trust in you to get the remaining tickets.

7) Photocopying your tickets also leaves a paper trail. It can be the "proof" you need say if the ticket was stolen and you knew in your heart that ticket was a winning jackpot. Again, write your name on the lottery ticket. Your name and phone number are very important. The lottery commission of your state is not responsible for lost and stolen tickets.

8) If you file a police report in request of a stolen ticket, you must have all the evidence to prove its yours and not the other person. If you fail to do so, you will be charged with filing a false police report, a high class misdemeanor (if not a fifth degree felony).

Lessons of being a lottery winner.

As I repeat this over and over, I want the good readers here at Journal de la Reyna to understand this is my honest opinion on how to play the lottery. I hope my knowledge will inspire you if you become a jackpot winner.

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.

Best advice for all who win the lottery, is keep a cool head. Let's cover the 10 things about winning the lottery according to me. You can use this advice if you want to!

1) 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.

2) 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.

3) Cancel your phone number 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.

4) 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.

5) 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.

6) Pay off debts to college loans, house, billings, and credit cards.

7) Invest your money in a trust fund if you have children or family members you can trust if you should die.

8) Have fun with your earnings. Don't blow it on things that obviously will attract negative attention.

9) Be humble. Cause money will change a person when they're rich.

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