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Can an undocumented immigrant win the lottery in the US and collect the prize?

Arlenys Tabare's avatar

By Arlenys Tabare

08 Jul 2024, 15:37 PM EDT

Winning the lottery jackpot may be the dream of many, But what happens when the player is an undocumented immigrant in the United States? Is it possible for agencies to allow you to collect the money?

Recently, in Los Angeles, which is one of the cities with the largest number of Hispanic immigrants, a supermarket recently sold a winning Powerball ticket and in the event that the lucky winner is a Hispanic This person can collect the prize regardless of his immigration status.

Each state has its own rules for lottery games, but if there is one thing they agree on, it is that Immigrants have the right to collect the winning ticket as long as the ticket has been purchased within the country.

However, winning the lottery entails a duty that, if not fulfilled, the winner could be fined and this is something that all players must keep in mind and that is to pay the tax on that money. Federal law states that it should be 30% of profits; however, this may vary from state to state.

Now, another aspect to take into account for lottery players is that Prizes under $600 are claimed at the place where the ticket was purchased, Usually no documentation is required to do so, just the winning ticket.

While amounts above that amount must be collected at the headquarters of The state Lottery Commission and the entity do request that the lucky player show some identification approved by the Government, these may be a state identification card, driver’s license, Social Security card, and in the case of immigrants, a passport.

Finally, as for the approved age to claim a winning ticket, this will also depend on the state you are in, since not all entities allow a citizen under 18 years of age to play the lottery.

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