Some people just never learn. But here’s a lesson we all should learn!
Recently, the Mega-Millions lotto jackpot rose to a record $656. million dollars. Mirlande Wilson and her co-workers at a Baltimore area McDonald’s decided they should pool their money together and buy several tickets, so their odds would improve to split the winnings between them. It was a brilliant idea at the time.
On the eve of the drawing, workers gave Wilson money to buy several tickets on her way home from work. So when the drawing was held the next day and Wilson announced she had the winning ticket, her McDonald’s co-workers were overjoyed that their lives were about to change with their new found riches. But, hold on there — not so fast!
You see, Wilson admitted that she did use the money from co-workers to buy the tickets they agreed on. But she also said she decided to buy a ticket of her own, using her own money. According to her, THAT was the winning ticket — which meant that Wilson could pocket all of the winnings for herself and exclude her co-workers.
This story became more bizarre, as Wilson said she hid the ticket at the McDonald’s restaurant but has since lost it and was unable to produce it. Either she’s lying or she’s stalling. But the lesson here is clear.
If you play an office/work lotto pool, you MUST protect yourself so that there are no misunderstandings should a ticket be a winner. First, know and trust the people you are playing with. Then INSIST that a photocopy of all purchased tickets be provided to each person in the pool prior to the drawing, so there is physical proof that you are a co-owner of the ticket. It may also help to have each of the pool participants sign a notarized agreement that any potential winnings from the shared tickets will be equally split among the players.
These may seem like unnecessary steps among friendly co-workers, but you’d be surprised how friendships can change when millions of dollars are at stake!
"Either she's lying or she's stalling."Uh-huh. And either way she's srewed herself. "But the lesson here is clear."You better believe it! And the steps DJ suggested for *pools* to protect each member are absolutely On. Point.