US

Porn Store Sells $128 Million Jackpot Ticket…But No Winner Comes Forward

Uptown Bookstore in the Northern part of Detroit sells more than just books. Or rather, it sells a “special” kind of books and hard-to-find novelties. See, Uptown Bookstore is a porn store, meaning it sells nude magazines, adult movies, and sex toys. But it also sells something else: lottery tickets.

It’s the latter that is bringing it national attention. On Saturday, Uptown sold a $128.6 million Powerball jackpot ticket. The only problem is no one has come forward to claim their prize. By law, Michigan lottery winners cannot remain anonymous.

But as the Detroit Free Press reports, the winner could have bought the ticket without crossing the store’s threshold:

…Before you sympathize with a person who may have some explaining to do, know this: He or she could have bought it without stepping foot into the place.

The adult novelty store has a street-side window on Woodward Avenue where people walking by or waiting at the nearby bus stop can try their hand at Lady Luck, without ever seeing her naked.

The store is starting to get a reputation for selling winning tickets. In 2000, one patron won $250,000 when she scratched off an instant game ticket.

Uptown’s owner is hoping the latest winner comes forward soon: the store gets a $50,000 bonus when that happens.

(H/T: Gawker)

Comments (43)

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  • EP46
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 12:55pm

    Give me the ticket I’ll claim it !

    Report Post »  
  • KeithOlberdink
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 11:08am

    Wow somebody had a good weekend.

    Report Post » KeithOlberdink  
  • adifftake
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 10:48am

    If it were me: I’d get 2 of the sleaziest whores i could find and go collect. Screw what everyone thinks. Gimme my money!

    Report Post »  
  • TwoMinuteMan
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 10:22am

    In my state we buy Liquor/beer/wine from state stores and porn from porn stores. This way it is kept out of the family grocery stores. Sometimes “one stop” shopping isn’t a good idea.

    Report Post » TwoMinuteMan  
  • right-wing-waco
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 10:21am

    I just got an email from Obama and he claims it was Bush that bought the ticket.

    Report Post »  
  • right-wing-waco
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 10:19am

    For a million, ( after taxes), I will go there and claim that prize for them and keep there name quiet.

    Report Post »  
  • Speak without Fear
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 9:39am

    I just pray it wasn’t Bwaney Flake that bought the ticket…….

    Report Post »  
  • beekeeper
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 9:33am

    If I won a significant amount in th elottery, my first visit would be to a good tax attorney, to find out if I cna change my state of residence to a low/no income tax state (FL, DE, etc) before cashing in the ticket.

    I think the issue is that the winner is doing tax planning, not too embarassed to collect. Seriously, it’s only been what, two days? They have 12 months to collect their winnings, IIRC.

    Report Post » beekeeper  
  • Paul G
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 9:27am

    That kinda money can buy a good divorce attorney….

    Report Post »  
    • metalurgy
      Posted on November 8, 2010 at 9:55am

      Won’t help. The the man still gets half his wife’s winnings because they are still married.

      I don’t see the problem here since they can both go their own way as millionairs.

      Report Post » metalurgy  
  • Hugh Williams
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 9:25am

    If the lottery winner sees my post I will turn in the winning ticket for you. For a 10% fee of the winnings I will take all the embarrassment of buying a lottery ticket at a porn store. Think about it you keep 90% of the money I get 10% and you don’t have to have anyone know you like to go to porn shops. It’s a win, win.

    Report Post » Hugh Williams  
  • MidAmerican
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 9:18am

    Whoever bought it is probably on the stores video tape…….probably a politician as well. lol.
    I’m sure the sex toys were a gag gift anyway. The ticket might show up in a Salvation Army kettle.
    lolol.

    Report Post »  
  • rfycom
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 9:15am

    It was me. I was in there getting Big Booty Delicious in 3D.

    Report Post »  
  • Grandpa
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 9:01am

    He will be miserable and broke or dead in 3 years

    Report Post »  
  • Speak without Fear
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 8:30am

    Perhaps the winner is to busy playing with the BOT’s he bought………to check to see if his lottery ticket is a winner.

    Report Post »  
  • stinkybisquit
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 8:28am

    Sorry to be gross with inuendo, but could the headline be rewritten? Please?

    Report Post »  
  • civilunrestnow
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 8:27am

    Someone has packed their stuff and headed to a state with no income tax. I would move straight away to Florida before I turned that ticket in. It would save 9 million dollars in state sales tax I would never pay.

    Report Post »  
  • eteme
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 8:24am

    Fun about the porn thing, but this is no different than claim a big lump sum…
    Send a lawyer to pick up your ticket for you and claim it in a revocable trust FBO you…. that is what everyone is doing now…

    Report Post »  
  • SnapTie
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 8:11am

    Considering the ticket was purchased in the most blighted part of town,Whoever owns is sure to get out.

    Report Post » SnapTie  
  • deskpilot
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 8:05am

    Economics in play here for all sides: Claimant comes forward, business earns a $50K bonus. Does it expand and hire more people in what is probably an economically depressed area? Does claimant come forward, expose himself (by law) and then face the wrath of the scorned woman who will no doubt take him to divorce court, and being married, she’s probably entitled to half (after taxes). Lawyers for both sides make money no matter who wins that round.
    If winnings are not claimed, that means that the potential economic boom that could be created by ONE individual is laid to waste. local buninesses don’t generate sales, don’t pay taxes on that revenue. The state AND FED won’t steal their portion of the pie of tax dollars that they think that they are entitled to, so that money can’t be redistributed.
    I say screw ‘em all and walk away and leave every gov’t entity hanging. Winner provides a photograph of his/her winning ticket and writes an open letter to the newspapers saying he is leaving the winnings on the table because of the bad law. Maybe then, MI will change its law regarding anonymity for lottery winners. Next time they might get their share.

    Report Post »  
    • JJ Coolay
      Posted on November 8, 2010 at 8:16am

      Oh it’ll be claimed. Someone is going to let $128 mill pass through their hands because they don’t want anyone to know they went to a porn store? Why buy the ticket in the first place—at least why buy it there??

      Report Post » JJ Coolay  
    • beekeeper
      Posted on November 8, 2010 at 9:36am

      Really, you’d leave $128M “on the table” because you have a principled issue with a particular law?

      Why is the need to keep your winnings private so important to you?

      Report Post » beekeeper  
    • Steve Smith
      Posted on November 8, 2010 at 10:25am

      Screw that! I‘ll I’ve got to say is “Cha-ching!!!”

      Report Post » Steve Smith  
  • Steve Smith
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 7:50am

    Seriously? Not for $128M??? Some folks have some misplaced priorities! Not I, said Steve!

    Report Post » Steve Smith  
  • starman70
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 7:49am

    Might have been an upstanding citizen. Someone whose reputation might be ruined if he/she comes to claim the prize. HMMMMMMMM!

    Report Post »  
    • jds7171
      Posted on November 8, 2010 at 10:41am

      with a 128 million dollars I would just leave my neighborhood.

      Report Post »  
    • REBELWITHACAUSE
      Posted on November 8, 2010 at 2:20pm

      “They” advise, when you win big, to take it slow and use common sense… yes, the vultures will be waiting for this person, so… maybe they’re taking their time and waiting ’til the storm dies. I know I would, although it would kill me to have to wait, but I would be SO embarrassed still… but for those who’d lose their respect for you, watch those frowns turn upside down when you hand ‘em a giant wad of cash.

      Report Post » REBELWITHACAUSE  
  • john seven eighteen
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 7:44am

    Talk about a catch-22! But for that kind of money I think i could swallow my pride. Money makes for forgiveness, most times it seems.

    Report Post » john seven eighteen  
  • HouseNegro
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 7:42am

    How do you tell your wife “Well honey I was at the porn shop and I needed a tissue”

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on November 8, 2010 at 8:10am

      I think I could forgive my husband if he bought his ticket at that store – in fact, I think that would go in one ear and out the other. Hopefully this person is getting legal and tax advice before coming forward as the vultures will be circling. Money can’t buy happiness but if you are already happy it can make you blissful.

      Report Post »  
  • Hondaman
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 7:41am

    Hmmmm . . . . don’t want mama to know where they bought it, huh?

    Report Post »  
  • michelepfaff
    Posted on November 8, 2010 at 7:39am

    That is too funny! Come on! It won’t be too embarrassing – just say you only get the magazines for the articles.

    Report Post » MommaGrizzly  
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