Some people can’t wait to shout it from the rooftops when they win money. However, there are quite a few people who win the lottery and want nothing more than to go off the grid. Fear of being hounded for money by friends and family motivates many to shy away from the spotlight. Is it possible to conceal your identity after winning the lottery? There are a couple factors that determine whether or not privacy is an option.
Potential Roadblocks
Anything from the state you live in to the type of lottery you win can be a potential roadblock in protecting your identity. An article written by Sandra Garcia for nytimes.com states, “Many winners decide to remain anonymous — or at least try to — but that can be difficult when many states demand that the winners of large jackpots show their faces at news conferences.” This article goes on to say, “Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Texas, North Dakota and Ohio allow lottery winners to conceal their identities if the winnings exceed a certain dollar amount, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Other states, like New York, make it easy for winners to collect their prizes under the cover of an L.L.C. or an entity. But states like Wisconsin want winners to come forward to claim their prizes.”
Transparency
Most states feel that since their lotteries are paid for with public funds, it’s their duty to let people know who wins. Efforts to be transparent can interfere with a winner’s desire to remain anonymous. An article written for thelotter.com further explains, “Many lotteries require that basic information about winners be released to the public, including name, city, and the amount won for all prizes, not only the jackpots. Why is this so? The lotteries are striving for transparency in their operations. They want the public to know that ordinary people can, and do, win lottery prizes, even incredible jackpot prizes worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Publishing the names of prize winners increases the public’s trust in the fairness of lottery draws.” For many states, the ‘normal people can win the lottery’ narrative takes precedence over a winner’s privacy.
Winning Privately
Another factor when it comes to privacy has to do with which games you choose to play. We’ve already talked about how the state you live in can be the deciding factor in terms of privacy. The games you participate in also contribute. If you’re looking for a list of lottery’s you can enter that will protect your identity, you can find one here. Check the lotto guidelines to identify what their policy states in terms of a winner’s anonymity.
Your ability as a lottery winner to stay anonymous depends on multiple factors. There are numerous states and games you can participate in that will respect your privacy. Study the rules for winners and participate in the states/games that align with your wishes.