Powerball and Mega Millions: If I am an undocumented immigrant, can I claim a lottery prize?

Everyone dreams of winning the Mega Millions and Powerball, whether they are a US citizen, resident alien, or undocumented immigrant. But do any of these statuses allow access to the prize for these lotteries?

To win the lottery, it is not necessary to be a US citizen, as many Latinos have won the prize, whether it's the jackpot or other levels, which allows them to take home millions or tens of thousands of dollars.

Let's not forget that the historical winner of the lottery is Edwin Castro, who won the US$2.04 billion Powerball jackpot in California, a US citizen of Hispanic origin. So the question is: can an undocumented immigrant claim the prize for the most famous lotteries in the United States?

CAN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS CLAIM POWERBALL AND MEGA MILLIONS PRIZES?

The answer is yes. If, specifically, we are talking about immigration status, there is no need to be a US citizen, either to participate or to claim any prize. Undocumented immigrants and non-residents have the right to claim the prizes, explained Jorge de la Cruz, spokesperson for the California Lottery, to Univision.

“What you need to know is that in California, anyone who buys a lottery ticket and wins a prize, can claim it,” De la Cruz assured.

It should be mentioned that the Powerball website states that it is not necessary to be a citizen or resident of the United States to play. However, it is important to consider some factors to exercise this right, as some rules may vary from state to state.

One of the main differences has to do with the possibility of remaining anonymous or not when winning a prize and the amounts for tax payment.

Therefore, if you are going to buy a Mega Millions or Powerball ticket, it is important to check the prize claim rules in your state.

WHAT DOES AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT NEED TO CLAIM THE LOTTERY PRIZE IN THE UNITED STATES?

To claim the prize, the following is required:

• The lottery ticket must have been purchased in the United States.
• Present a form of identification issued by the country of origin, such as a passport.
• Some states require the winner to provide a taxpayer identification number.

TAX PAYMENT FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS' LOTTERY PRIZE

It is important to mention that the taxes on the prize are higher for non-citizens, who must pay between 30% and 40%, in addition to state taxes. Meanwhile, US citizens pay between 25% and 30%.