‘The best reward is to share it.’ That is the motto every year of State Lotteries and Betting for its Christmas Draw. However, there are a series of key recommendations that you should take into account if you choose to share a tenth or a ticket, to avoid possible incidents with your loved ones or third parties.
It is very important to remember that a Lottery tenth is a bearer document, so the price is received by whoever has it in their possession. That person will be the one who must identify the rest of the participants in the bank so that the entity can pay the full prize, minus the relevant taxes. It will be done in the account of the owner and he or she will subsequently distribute it as agreed with the rest of the members. It must be remembered that the charge expires three months after the day following the draw, that is, from December 23.
The official recommendations of the National Police
On these important dates, in which the sale of the Christmas Lottery has skyrocketed and it is increasingly common to share with family, friends and co-workers, the National Police has extended, through its social networks, a message to everyone participants.
Regardless of whether or not we are lucky, whether it was with the Grand Prize or with another minor prize, it is very important that when acquiring the tenth prize we do not confess it to anyone. To do this, it will be essential to take a photo, write down the number and series (in case it gets lost) and keep it in a safe place.
When it comes to sharing the ticket, it is very important that all participants sign the ticket and keep a photocopy. A written document is better than trust or a prior verbal agreement. The name and ID of the depositary must be collected, indicating the amount that person plays, the number, the series, the fraction and the draw.
In case of theft or loss, the solution will be to immediately report it to the National Police, and must present a photograph of the stolen tenth as proof. And of course, if it is purchased online, do so at official points of sale and request an electronic receipt.
Furthermore, if the tenth is awarded, it will be advisable to be very discreet and not wait until the last moment to collect it. Hence, the actions before and after the draw are key. In this way, we will never have to communicate what we would do if we won the prize, to avoid raising suspicions in case we have been awarded the Jackpot.
If the tenth is damaged, it will have to be sent to the State Lottery and Betting Society, which will determine if the prize can be collected. However, if it is found to be practically unrecognizable, the National Mint and Stamp Factory will be in charge of making a decision. For all these reasons, it is recommended to be very cautious and keep it in a safe and discreet place at all times. The courts usually look at other evidence to dictate the payment, such as the fact that no one claims it, the analysis of the fragments or the seller’s testimony, among others.
Share Christmas Lottery on WhatsApp
The OCU recommends being very cautious if you decide to buy and share the lottery on WhatsApp. The key will be to create a new group for the Christmas Raffle in which exclusively all participants would be included. To do this, it is important that everyone sends a photograph to the same chat proving their participation to legalize the distribution of the prize.
The member responsible for the tenth will have to send a clear and sharp photograph to the WhatsApp group, in which the number can be read without problem. Likewise, in the Christmas Raffle it is recommended to store all group messages, to prevent possible fraud or scams.
The collection of a shared tenth
The OCU points out that the entire amount should not be collected without previously identifying the rest of the participants, since otherwise it would appear that the money is being donated and this would imply the payment of donation tax.
The Treasury will automatically retain 20% of the prize that exceeds the minimum of 40,000 euros per tenth, not for each winning person, so once the tribute has been paid, the net amount will be distributed among the participants. Remember that if the prize is less than 2,000 euros, it can be collected at any point of sale in the Lottery network, without having to go to a bank. However, banks will not be able to charge commissions or demand compensation in exchange for payment of the ticket.
In the event of divorce, if it is a marriage in community property, each person will share 50% of the amount. However, if the property separation regime is applied, the prize will go to the person who purchased the tenth, unless it is proven that the purchase was made halfway.