You`ve read about the different lottery games and how to play them. You have also found several methods of picking lucky numbers. Now it`s time for you to fine-tune your game using this section full of insider tips and methods. Know what to do and what to prevent. Discover ways to set up a lottery-playing budget. Discover alternative approaches to get in touch with your state`s lottery. Finally (may the odds be with you), know what to do if you win!































If possible, always buy your own lottery tickets. Do not ask neighbors or friends to pick them up for you. Similarly, do not pick up tickets for others. Do not loan or borrow money for tickets, and don`t go halfsies, either. Why? Isn`t this a trifling matter -- the same as picking up a loaf of bread for someone at the shop? Not quite. Should the ticket will not win or if the prize is small, then there`s usually no problem. But if the ticket turns out to be a jackpot winner, you might have a sticky situation on your hands. At the minimum, it might be embarrassing. This little favor for a neighbor now involves millions of dollars.































By way of example, maybe your neighbor said she would pay you the dollar for the ticket later. Fine, you think. What is a dollar? You give her the ticket, and she is now a millionaire. Be honest. Will you perhaps feel you`re permitted to a division of the windfall? Of course, you did buy the ticket with your own money. OK, it was not technically your hard earned money. It was money you loaned your neighbor. Still, you did go and purchase the ticket, so you could feel you`re permitted to several of the winnings.































What should the situation were reversed, as well as your neighbor had purchased the ticket for you? Maybe you jokingly promised to split the money with her if you won. Are you aware that she could be able take you to court, claiming the 2 of you made a verbal agreement? Regardless of what people`s good intentions are prior to the ticket is purchased, not everybody is as honorable as Raul Zavaleta, one of the real-life winners featured within this book. After the winning numbers are announced, not everybody will, without hesitation, keep his or her promise to split $40 million.































Are you beginning to find out the possible repercussions inside this? Why not avoid broken friendships, hurt feelings, and even lawsuits? Buy your own tickets, period. It`s an entirely different situation when you give a ticket to someone as a gift, or vice versa -- a gift is a gift.































Most of the people discard their losing scratch-off, Pick 3, and Lotto tickets. Of course, what possible use could you`ve got for all those scraps of paper? Think again. If you regularly spend a significant amount of cash on the lottery, those old tickets could possibly be worth cash to you.































The IRS says you`re not able to offset losses against winnings and report the main difference. For example, if Mary spends $1,600 annually on tickets and wins only $600, she must report the $600 even though her losses amounted to $1,000. In line with the tax rules, if you have gambling losses, you may claim them being an itemized deduction, but you can`t deduct more than the winnings reported. So if Mary itemizes her deductions, she will take only $600 as an itemized loss on schedule A.































At the same time, if Jim spends $600 and wins $1,600, he too must report the $1,600. But if he itemizes, he can claim the entire $600 as a loss on schedule A since he is permitted to report any losses up to $1,600. Ironically, this law helps winners more than it helps losers. So think positively. Think like a winner, and save those old tickets.































In the event that you reside in among the explains that doesn`t have a lottery agent, you may be tempted to enter lotteries in other states. That`s fine, provided you go to the area and purchase the ticket in person. You will find several federal and state laws in regards to the lotteries. One is the USA Postal Service regulation that forbids the mailing of unplayed lottery tickets across state lines.































Some states` laws prohibit the sale of tickets by mobile phone, mail, fax, and over the web. If your state has a lottery, it makes little sense to enter either out-of-state or foreign lotteries. Chances are you`ll find better odds right in your own backyard, without the extra fee or the risk. Can you imagine winning several million dollars only to discover that you have not actually won it after all? It appears that any time big money is involved, you will discover folks that attempt to get a piece of the action -- illegally.































You are going to frequently see advertisements online and in magazines and newspapers for books, software, and other media to help you within your goal to win the Lotto. Some of these are reputable businesses as well as can offer you professionally designed wheeling systems and other strategies which could help better your chances. But if one of these companies claims their product is guaranteed to make you the next Lotto millionaire, ask yourself one very obvious question: If they have managed to solve the riddle of just how to win a jackpot, why are they running an ad?