If there is one subject where I don't want opinions forced on me, it's how lottery winners are paid. Since we are old enough to buy lottery tickets, we all should be considered MATURE enough to make personal decisions about how we get paid should we win, and what we are going to do with the winnings. If I pay $1 or $2 or $5 or $10 or whatever to play the lottery, I feel it should be my right, among other things, to collect the cash value of that prize in LUMP SUM, (except for "lifetime" prizes) even if the lottery "prohibits" such payouts. As long as certain prizes are automatically paid over X years, I will _never_ spend money on them. So, please don't tell me I should choose annuity, and, please don't suggest a certain game to me if you know the game does not pay in lump sum. Only if I win am I interested in suggestions on investing. Should that ever happen, I would CONSIDER buying an annuity, as well as other financial vehicles.