Winners should also be prepared to change their contact information, especially if state lotteries share names or require interviews or press conference participation for transparency reasons. Lottery winners should also keep confidential the news that they've won before they turn in a ticket, the insurance company says. READ THE FLORIDA LOTTERY’S FAQ: How can I anonymously claim a lottery prize if my state doesn't allow it?Īs an alternative, winners might be able to form a blind trust through their attorney so that winnings can be anonymously received, State Farm advises. The Wyoming Lottery Corporation says it will honor requests for anonymity from lottery winners. 'All other winners are made public and listed in the winner database on ,' the state's lottery site says. West VirginiaĪlso effective in 2019, West Virginia law allows winners to remain anonymous as long as the prize won is $1 million or greater. VirginiaĪs of July 1, 2019, a law in Virginia allows winners of prizes greater than $10 million to choose anonymity - meaning the winner's name and residence are not released to the public, according to the Virginia Lottery's website. Specifically, a person who wins a lottery prize of $1 million or more is eligible for anonymity, according to a 2017 announcement posted by the Texas Lottery. While it wasn't always possible in Texas, lottery winners can now remain anonymous. The judge also prohibited the man from continuing to seek information from any source. A judge ruled that the release of the winners’ 'personal identifying information would constitute an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy' within the meaning of the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, according to the AP. However, in 2021, the freedom of anonymity was challenged by a man who filed an open records request with the state Lottery Commission he was seeking the names, contact information, date and jackpot amounts of winners of $1 million or more for a 12-month period in 20, according to the Associated Press (AP).Īt first, the state Supreme Court sided with the man. In South Carolina, winners may remain anonymous. OhioĪnonymity is also granted in the state of Ohio. In North Dakota, winners may elect to release their information or to remain anonymous. On January 21, 2020, the New Jersey Lottery Law was changed so that winners could choose to remain anonymous indefinitely, 'and the identity of winners shall not be included in materials available to public inspection under the State’s Open Public Records Act,' the New Jersey Lottery stated in a 2021 press release. New Jerseyįor prizes over $1 million that have been claimed since 2020 legislation, the New Jersey Lottery allows winners to choose to remain anonymous. The Montana Lottery also says that it does not release the names of winners without permission from the winner. The name of a Montana Lottery winner is not made public. Missouriīy law, the Missouri Lottery cannot publish names of lottery winners without their prior consent, according to the state's lottery site. The Mississippi Lottery will not disclose the identity of the lottery winner without that person's written permission, in accordance with the Alyce G. RELATED: Mega Millions $1.02 billion jackpot: Should you take a lump sum or annual payouts? Mississippi MinnesotaĪfter a bill was passed in 2021, the names and cities of lottery winners collecting a prize greater than $10,000 are anonymous unless the winner chooses to go public. 'We do not release any such winner's name or photo unless the winner has specifically given us written consent to do so,' Maryland's website states. Lottery winners have the right to remain anonymous in Maryland, according to the state's lottery organization. The Kansas Lottery says winners may request to have their name and residence kept a secret, 'and the Kansas Lottery is happy to honor that request,' the organization says on its website.

State law in Delaware allows winners to remain anonymous, according to the Delaware Lottery Games. There are states that allow winners to remain anonymous forever. MORE: Check your ticket: $1M Mega Millions prize sold in South Florida What states in America allow Mega Millions winners to be anonymous? The exception is that the prize winner's city and county of residence are not confidential. People who win at least $100,000 may choose to have their names remain permanently confidential. Those who win $600 or more are held confidential for 90 days from the date the prize is awarded. There are stipulations for Arizona winners. Other states have similar laws in place, such as Arizona and Georgia. FROM MAY: Florida Lottery winners will have 90 days of anonymity before their names are made public

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