Cuban influencer Jorge Álvarez Drake, widely recognized on social media as @el_huevito.92, excitedly shared how he and his partner hit a $5,000 jackpot by purchasing a lottery scratch-off ticket for just $10 in the United States.
In a video, Álvarez captured the moment they cashed in their prize and addressed the skepticism of his followers after one jokingly suggested that he would only receive half of the winnings.
Contrary to that assumption, the young couple clarified that they collected the entire amount after visiting the main lottery office in Downtown Austin, Texas, where larger prizes are processed.
"Here's our $5,000 check. They didn't take anything because, with a prize of this amount, nothing is deducted," the young woman explained. They noted that the winning amount needs to be reported for tax purposes.
"The process is straightforward; you just need to provide your personal information to collect. In Texas, if you have outstanding debts, such as with schools or hospitals, the state automatically deducts the owed amount from your prize," they elaborated.
The influencer took the opportunity to encourage other Cubans residing in the United States to try their luck with scratch-off tickets. "If you win a million, remember us," he quipped.
Winning the Lottery Scratch-Off in the U.S.
Do lottery winnings get taxed in Texas?
In Texas, lottery winnings are not subject to state income tax, but they must be reported as income for federal tax purposes.
What happens if you have debts when you win a lottery prize in Texas?
If you owe debts to institutions like schools or hospitals, the state of Texas may automatically deduct the owed amounts from your lottery winnings.