The first recorded lotteries offered money prizes in return for tickets. Low Countries towns held public lotteries to raise money for town fortifications or for the poor. There are indications that the lottery was a lot older than we currently think. A town record from 1445 at L’Ecluse, France, talks about raising funds for the walls and fortifications by selling tickets. The record mentions a lottery with 4,304 tickets, which would be worth approximately US$170,000 in 2014.
Benefits of buying a lottery ticket
One of the benefits of purchasing a lottery ticket is the tax writeoff. While a winning ticket may seem like free entertainment, it is an investment that increases your utility. Lottery winners usually enjoy monetary gains that are greater than the disutility of losses. Furthermore, lottery regulations may allow you to buy instant tickets or subscribe to traditional draw lottery. While it is tempting to purchase a lottery ticket, you should avoid it if you can’t afford it.
Benefits of annuities after winning the lottery
While annuities are not quite as exciting as big checks in the mail, they still give the recipient peace of mind. The payment amount is guaranteed for 30 years, and the winner will never run out of money. This peace of mind may be important to some lottery winners, but it’s important to understand the downsides of annuities. The money is locked away, and the annuitant cannot change or alter the payout amount to meet a costly emergency. Moreover, taxes are likely to rise over the next thirty years, meaning more of the winnings will go to Uncle Sam.
Tax-free payouts
While receiving a tax-free lotto payout can be a wonderful experience, many people prefer annual or monthly payments. This allows them to receive their prize without blowing it all in one year. Regardless of your preference, make sure you consult a tax and financial adviser as to how to best manage your windfall. You should also consider how you intend to use your prize money. Perhaps you need the money right away, and you don’t want to make annual payments.
Scams involving lottery tickets
Scams involving lottery tickets have become an epidemic, and the pandemic has only fueled the problem. Lottery scammers will try to trick you into paying fees for prize amounts that don’t exist. These scammers will even ask for your bank account number in return for the winning lottery ticket. The Virginia Lottery has noticed an increase in such scams recently. Here are three ways to protect yourself.
Scams involving annuities after winning the lottery
You may be receiving unsolicited calls asking you to pay money for a guaranteed annuity after winning the lottery. These calls are usually scams because a legitimate lottery does not require a fee up front. Additionally, the number of premium rate phone numbers beginning with 190 can be a red flag. To be on the safe side, you should verify the identity of the caller by looking up the company’s name and contact details on the internet.
