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Original poster

Small(ish) lottery win - Do I keep it since they didn’t pay?

449 replies

swimmingforCB · 05/05/2023 20:02

We’ve had a family syndicate going for 6 months or so now. Few £10 wins etc but nothing big.

For the past 2 weeks, nobody has bothered paying in. They kept saying they’d do it next week, and then next week came and they said they’d do it that week. But everyone forgot again!

I won on Tuesday. Nothing OTT but a sizeable sum

If I keep it to myself, it’ll change my life. If I share it between the 4 of us, it’ll pay for a fancy holiday and that’s it.

What do I do? 😬

OP posts:
Heroicallyfound · 05/05/2023 20:33

casingchars · 05/05/2023 20:28

I don't understand how it's morally or ethically right to expect winnings from a lottery ticket I didn't even buy.

This. If the secret gets out and relationships break down it won’t be your doing OP.

enjoy your winnings!

OooohAhhhh · 05/05/2023 20:34

It's yours, but money can bring out the worst in people, so be prepared for fall outs if they find out, or if you told them. Personally I think it would be quite hard to keep this to yourself, won't they notice you spending extra cash here & there?
Huge congrats by the way!

NettleTea · 05/05/2023 20:34

this is a realtively new syndicate and you say some of them have been pretty flakey, including nobody coughing up the last two weeks.

they dont sound that invested to be honest, and you shouldnt be chasing for money.

have they paid for this week yet?

Id ask if people are still keen, and if they are willing to pay up, or just forget about it, because you are fed up of fronting it and doing the chasing and buying.

see where the land lies.

then make the decision based on that.

HaroldeVwilliam · 05/05/2023 20:34

@Oneglassisnotenough

I don't think it's nosey I think it's pretty key!

Thetimeishere · 05/05/2023 20:34

Keep it. Say nothing to anyone. Ever.

Stressyfab · 05/05/2023 20:34

It’s yours. Don’t mention it at all, ever.

BoobyDazzler · 05/05/2023 20:34

You wouldn’t even mention it.

missmoffatt2705 · 05/05/2023 20:34

Are you able to keep it a secret from your husband and if you tell him, can he keep it a secret?

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 05/05/2023 20:34

So you won £19,800 and change on tuesday. You should keep it, you paid for the ticket. Congratulations.

NettleTea · 05/05/2023 20:35

but Id say you bought the ticket. so you won. Nobody else was 'in' that week, as nobody else paid in.

they are probably happy to have got out of paying for losing tickets, but it doesnt work that way

starfishmummy · 05/05/2023 20:35

Surely it was your personal ticket if no-one else paid in?

casingchars · 05/05/2023 20:35

OP I reckon this will get into the DM, I'd get the thread pulled if I were you.

brunettemic · 05/05/2023 20:36

I’ve no idea of the legal ramifications but if they didn’t pay and you therefore paid for the tickets then in my view it’s yours to keep.

ShandaLear · 05/05/2023 20:36

The syndicate didn’t play that week. You bought yourself some tickets.

Fudgewomble · 05/05/2023 20:36

Hmmm, this is a tricky one. Legally it’s your money for sure. Ethically your money I think. Morally - that’s a tricky one.

I’m a pretty honest person and even I would find this hard to work out. What would happen if you told the family - are they more likely to say “good for you, fool us for not paying” or say that “great we’ll pay you what we owe for the ticket and then you can split it evenly”.

Ideal scenario I think is you split with the other hard up family member (not necessarily in even shares)

Bobbliest · 05/05/2023 20:37

Was it Euromillions? One UK winner of £19,854.10. Well done!

Original poster
swimmingforCB · 05/05/2023 20:37

Yes :)

OP posts:
Eggseggseverywhere · 05/05/2023 20:38

You paid. You played. You keep.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 05/05/2023 20:38

casingchars · 05/05/2023 20:28

I don't understand how it's morally or ethically right to expect winnings from a lottery ticket I didn't even buy.

I agree with this. They haven't played the lottery. OP has played the lottery with her own money. You can't backdate the payment without discussion. If they wanted to play then they should have paid.

HaroldeVwilliam · 05/05/2023 20:39

Ok.
If its 19 grand keep it.
That's a wonderful amount but not that much.

Do as pp said.

Slowly let syndacite flag and go. Don't chase.

Have a small win in autumn and offer sil some money.

Expo23 · 05/05/2023 20:40

Perfect28 · 05/05/2023 20:32

Because they didn't pay in you didn't have a syndicate, you just bought yourself a ticket? How could they argue otherwise? I would tell them and treat them though, but not share it out.

I agree with this. It is lucky dips, they didn't pay in so effectively no syndicate. If it was group numbers and they had not paid in it would make it different. To me, it was you buying tickets for yourself as the syndicate wasn't on that week. Has anyone given money for tomorrow?

Theimpossiblegirl · 05/05/2023 20:40

Personally I'd share it. But I'd want to be the kind of person that could keep it all. I'm too soft.

HaroldeVwilliam · 05/05/2023 20:40

Forget it op. Don't mention.

It's your win... What will you do with it. Congratulations!!

Baldieheid · 05/05/2023 20:40

Keep it. You paid, so it's your ticket and your win.

I wouldn't judge you for keeping it quiet, as only you know how those who ought to have contributed will react and who needs to deal with aggro. Facts remain Facts however. They didn't pay, therefore you alone purchased that ticket. That means you alone won the prize.

Enjoy.

Neverquitehappy · 05/05/2023 20:41

Oooo this is so difficult!! OP how much is it? It’s not outting! Over 20k? If it was my mum/dad I’d definitely share it but anyone else I’d probably keep 🤫