If you play the Michigan Lottery online and win, expect a phone call.
If you don't, keep an eye on your ticket and the phone number on the back.
Anthony Frabotta, 66, of Rochester Hills played online, he kept getting phone calls until someone from Lansing got him on the phone earlier this month and informed him he had won $1 million in the Jan. 24 Mega Millions drawing.
Online jackpot winners are the only ones contacted by phone, said Jeff Holyfield, a spokesman for the Michigan Lottery Commission.
"What happens is with the online games where players have registered... we know immediately who it is," Holyfield said. "If we see a person has won a prize of that sort then we'll give them a few days. If we don't see them logging into their account, then we'll make that outreach to let them know that they have won a million dollars or more.
"All the others, they would have to call us, but if you're a player playing online one of the benefits of that is you get that instant notification after the drawing. People are busy. They'll go online and play and a few days later they'll go online again."
Michigan Lottery games available to play online include:
Winning is one thing; how much you take home is another.
If a player wins up to $5,000 there are no withholdings.
If the jackpot is more than $5,000 the Lottery Commission is required by law to withhold 25% for Federal income tax and 4.25% for state income taxes.
"That doesn't mean it satisfies their tax liability; that's what we're required by law to withhold," said Holyfield. "What we always tell our big winners when they ask about taxes, we tell them that it varies depending on your individual situation. We tell them to consult an accountant or a tax specialist."
Another thing the Lottery Commission does is check anyone winning $1,000 or more to see if they owe any debt to the state. That would include back taxes and child support. If they owe the state money is withheld to satisfy the debt.
"There are instances where people would come in with the winning ticket and we'll process it and instead of giving them a check they get a letter that says you have this debt and we've withheld this amount which was registered with the Dept. of Treasury," said Holyfield.
Winners who have to go to Lansing to collect their winnings must have the winning ticket, a valid photo ID, usually a driver's license, and a social security card. The names on the social security card and the photo ID must match.
That information would be important if someone won a record jackpot.
The Powerball record was $1.6 billion on Jan. 13, 2016.
It was the first jackpot to hit $1 billion and "everybody in the industry threw up their hands and said that's the world record," said Holyfield.
I don't play on line, but it's nice to know they do everything they can to pay the winners and not let the prize expire.
That's how it works in Norway for both players using lottery retailers and players using internet(online). The jackpot goes to your bank account the day after the win whether they have managed to reach you by phone or not.
Didnt MI and/or MINN have a history of large jackpots going unclaimed? Maybe, this is in response to it.
Seriously? That's pretty cool!
Of course, with our tax system, it would be best to be notified and then you can decide how to collect it, whether LLC, lawyers, etc.
But that's really interesting to know! Thanks, MillionsWanted!
In Norway we are not taxed on lottery won in our country, unfortunately, tho we can be taxed on winnings out of Norway. I live in both Norway and here in the US(CT), I'm currently registered on Norsk-tipping and play from the app on my phone from here in the states, I had to first register with my Norwegian sim in the phone as it has to verify your number but after I have the app then I just use a pin number when I log on to do transactions, we are all in the database here so once you register with our fødselnummer(think social security number)they can then send winnings to your bank, so winnings is just deposited but they do try to call grand prize winners(I'm not yet so lucky) and u may choose not to be known so it will just say male or female and age and where you're from.. I just wish CT had online play when I'm away.
I've tried playing on line but you cant living out of state..grrrr
Love the forward, progressive thinking of the Norway lottery. I'm glad we can play on-line here, but with big wins have to go to downtown Louisville, KY to KLC headquarters on Main St. Not far from where I work, so all scoped out and waiting.
Do you ever play Norway #'s in Connecticut? Sometimes I play the Health Lottery numbers here, not that it made/makes a hill of beans difference.
I haven't won a large jackpot with the Kentucky online lottery, but withdrew winnings from my account twice and the funds were in my account within 48 hours. Don't really know how long it would take to get the funds after winning PB, MM, Cash Ball, or even if direct deposit is an option to Online or regular ticket purchases.
Having the option to get a phone call is a nice option.