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because one of the honored cards bore the likeness of an Egyptian Pharaoh. Thanks
to an exiled Scotsman named John Law, the game immigrated into this country at
New Orleans, moved up the river on the Mississippi steamboats, and then spread
across the Wild West.
Faro¹s demise came from a combination of many factors;
two stand out. The opportunity for dealer cheating at faro was greater than with
any other card game, and, more importantly for the guys who ran the joints, faro
had a low house edge.
Dear Mark,
Does someone from Canada have to pay
taxes on lottery winnings in this country? Terrence L. All
Lottery prizes are subject to federal, state and local income taxes. For US citizens,
state lotteries are required by law to withhold estimated taxes at the rate of
25 percent (federal), and each state has a certain percentage to withhold for
any prize over $5,000 paid to a U.S. resident. Our friends from the North are
subject to an up-front, flat, 30-percent estimated federal rate as well as that
particular state¹s withholding rate. By the way, Terrence, don¹t think
you¹re off the hook if your
win is just under the $5,000 threshold. Winners
of less than $5,000 will receive a W2-G form in January to be filed with their
yearly federal, state and local income
taxes. The guvmints¹ edge puts
casinos¹ to shame. Dear Mark,
Are
there any land-based casinos operating in Nevada where I can bet with them online?
Tommy D. Not a chance, Tommy. Nevada
regulators forbid Nevada casinos from doing business with any internet casino
sites, or with an online site of their own where you
can gamble. Nevada regulators
also consider web sites that take bets from Nevada and other U.S. residents to
be breaking federal and state laws. Dear
Mark,
I live in Nevada, but I have a brother living in Ohio, and a sister who
lives in Michigan, who, when the jackpot is high enough, will play my favorite
numbers
in the Mega-Millions lottery. According to my brother, I have 180 days to collect
on a winning ticket. My sister swears in Michigan that it
is a year. Who is
right? Hector G. No kinfolk bickering
needed for this one, Hector, Œcause they¹re both right. In Illinois,
New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and Michigan, you have a period of one year
from the drawing date to turn in a winning ticket. They like to call that the
"anniversary" date. In Virginia, Georgia, Texas, Washington, and Ohio,
the time limit really is 180 days. In Maryland, the limit is 182 days from the
drawing date. (I¹d ask Sis to bop right down to the pay window in no more
than a week.)
 Good
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