LANSING โ Ahead of Saturday's Powerball drawing, which could be worth nearly $1.25 billion, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel wants to remind residents that the game must be played responsibly and warns Michigan residents who are eager to improve their possibilities by joining โlottery clubs.โ
Nessel reminds residents, first and foremost, that gambling should be done solely as a form of entertainment and encourages Michigan residents to develop guidelines for when and how much to bet if they are determined to engage in gambling. If gambling is a problem for you or someone in your life, seek help through the Michigan Online Problem Gambling Helpline or by calling 800-270-7117.
"Gaming should always be done for fun and not as an investment for the future," Nessel said. "It is important for Michigan residents to understand how to seek help if gambling is interfering with their lives and to understand Michigan gambling laws when gambling with friends or co-workers."
For bigger prizes, โlottery clubsโ are often formed, hoping to increase the odds of winning by combining money from several people to buy more tickets than one could buy on their own. In the state of Michigan, โlottery clubsโ are legal as long as no one receives money for running the โclubโ other than the price set by the Michigan Lottery for the lottery tickets the club purchases. Anyone can form a lottery club with other players of legal age to play. Michigan lottery clubs can also form after the drawing date has taken place and still claim the prize.
The Michigan Lottery advises the following:
If two or more people want to file a joint claim for a lottery prize, they must first establish a โlottery club.โ To establish a โlottery club,โ it is recommended that each club create a set of bylaws and appoint a club representative. Otherwise, the State Lottery Office can only accept a claim in an individual's name and taxpayer identification number. When the club wins a lottery prize greater than $600, the club must notify the State Lottery Office of all persons who will receive a share of the winnings. More guidance can be obtained on how to set up a lottery club. found on the Michigan Lottery website.
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