ATLANTA, Ga. — An open-government advocacy group has denounced a bipartisan proposal being considered by the Georgia Senate that would allow lottery winners to remain anonymous.
The Georgia First Amendment Foundation said in a statement that the proposed legislation raised transparency concerns. "Clearly, letting a government agency hand out millions of dollars to private citizens with no public record is a bad idea," the group's statement said.
Democratic Sen. Steve Henson of Stone Mountain, who sponsored the bill, said in an interview Monday that protecting the identity of lottery winners is a matter of public safety. Henson said it could create a dangerous situation "if you win tens of millions of dollars and people know where you live."
Currently the Georgia Lottery Corporation is required to release certain information about winners including their name and hometown. The proposed bill would allow winners to remain anonymous only if they request it and pay up to 4 percent of their winnings to the lottery.
In January 2016, a man in Fitzgerald, Georgia, was murdered during a home invasion after winning a $434,272 lottery jackpot. Authorities said three masked men broke into Craigory Burch Jr.'s home, demanded money and fatally shot Burch. Seven people were later charged in connection with the murder. Three were convicted of murder and other charges last year and a fourth pleaded guilty to lesser charges.
A handful of states, including Delaware, Kansas and North Dakota, currently allow winners to remain anonymous.
The Kansas Lottery website reads: "Most states require the lottery to release the name and city of residence to anyone who asks. Kansas is one of a handful of states that does not have this requirement. If you win a prize in Kansas, you may request that your identity not be released publicly."
Maryland takes perhaps the most creative approach, allowing winners to use made up names and hide their faces behind oversized checks in official photos. A recent winner who won $1 million on a scratch off ticket is pictured on the Maryland Lottery website hiding their face behind a large check made out to "Montgomery County Millionaire."
Other states, including New Hampshire, allow for loopholes where winners can remain anonymous by claiming prizes through a trust.
That young man being killed is a perfect example of why winnings should be anonymous! I personally saw how young he was and immediately thought his life was endangered, and no more than a month later he was dead! Their only reasoning mentioned is, it is a bad idea, okay what else?
I don't even think there should be federal taxes on lottery winnings, so don't get me started on privacy. And you can't consider lottery winnings a "handout", you ignoramus! It is a return on investment. Do you want to publish everyone's name that gets food stamps? That's a handout.
This is nuts! People should have the right to remain anonymous, if they want. We don't go around telling people how much we earn, so why should lottery prize money be any different?
Here in Australia, winner hardly every choose publicity. The public accept that, because if they were in a similar position, they would also like to remain anonymous.
State Governments should pass laws giving lottery winners the right to anonymity. If they don't, the Donald should issue an Executive Order. That would solve the issue. Come on Donny!
"Clearly, letting a government agency hand out millions of dollars to private citizens with no public record is a bad idea,"
Maybe they should blame Eddie Tipton because one of his buddies or his NY lawyer trying to claim via trust could have easily collected based on this Georgia anonymity bill.
The thing that PISSES me off about all this is the state wants to dip further into a persons winnings/pockets. There's already Federal and state taxes now they want to tax someone to remain anonymous, that ludicrous. GREED plain and simple.
"That young man being killed is a perfect example of why winnings should be anonymous!"
If it's the guy I'm thinking of he's a perfect example of why you should be careful who you hang out with, or who you tell about winning. The majority of winners who have been victimized have been their own worst enemies, and were victimized by people who already knew them and found out about the lottery winnings right from the horse's mouth.
"Eddie Tipton ... could have easily collected based on this Georgia anonymity bill."
Haven't we been over this at least two or three times already? Anonymity doesn't mean that the winner gets a check made out to cash. The lottery knows who wins whether they release that information to the public or not.
GA players are welcome to play in SC. We are anonymous.
Here are the States that allow anonymity. This is my unofficial list.
DemoncRATatic Sen. Steve Henson of Stone Mountain, who sponsored the bill,
'nuff said
Right on with that idea. My thinking is folks will spend the winnings even more so IMO if they know the Feds aren't there to take their lion's share of it. Here we have the largest tax code in any industrialized nation, that needs some serious trimming.
Am curious to transparency on the few states that do offer anonymity. Best of my knowledge never heard of any problems.
Although Sen. Henson sponsored this bill, he did so in support of a winner's anonymity. Are you saying you are against a winner claiming anonymously?
In this day and age, "privacy" is imperative. As long as the winner pays the taxes, there should be no problems with keeping their names and faces out of the public eye..
Have to put an * by the State of Texas
As of 1 JAN 2018, the state of Texas allows you to claim anonymously at a $1 MILLION PRIZE and above with the cash option. The negative part is that if you claim and use the annuity option to collect, after 30 days they can release your name
Still it's great they are looking out for us !!!
Yes sponsor could mean numerous things. The bill could have been written by someone else or by an interest group. Sen. Henson could just be leading the charge for the bill. Which means "money was donated" to him for his sponsorship.
You just gotta love politics.
But whoever proposed it, I'm in agreement. Whatever someone earns should not be public record. That's your private business. The IRS are the only ones who should know that info.
States and countries that allow winners to remain anonymous don't seem to have a problem with doing so.
That way l read this article- Henson is leading the charge for anonymity. To read some quotes, one would think he is against anonymity.
Add California to that list in....2080 Music.
Best thing to do is claim the prize (if any) and then move out of state pronto .
noise-gate, I will not be alive in 2080. We might be seeing trillion dollar jackpots by then.
Stone Mountain, Georgia is where Ira Curry lived when she purchased her winning MM ticket. She had to share with another winner who purchased his ticket in Jenny's gift shop in San Jose, CA. I think his name is Steve Tran. The story is an interesting read. The jackpot was a record amount. "Where are they now?" Ira Curry purchased one ticket for one dollar and she won. Her numbers were family related with the Mega # being 7.
Lottery Post's Search box or engine has the story.
Thank You CDanaT for the update on Texas law. "Don't mess with Texas".
I agree that there are so many good examples of successful anonymous lotteries around the World.
Grant me a major win and I will handle the problems that it brings.
There are lots of ways to minimize the negatives that come with winning.
Folks who will buy a lottery ticket only if their identity will be hidden for eternity need to step back and use their gambling money to buy movie tickets.
Personally, I want to know who won the jackpot.
Great words CDanaT.
In one state, don't they release the names after a year? I think that would be a nice compromise. Just bump up the 1 year release for people winning 2-3 Million+ because they can afford to move and buy new property with a LLC to keep anonymous, and still stay out of the spotlight. For people less then that dollar amount, let them stay anonymous for 5 years.
Personally, l don't like that compromise. You are asked by the lottery powers that be, to play their games,and if you are of the correct age and willing to do so, you do. If you win, the terms should be reversed.
It should now be up to you to "call the shots" as to whether you the winner, would like to remain anonymous or not. Not them. I am all for them telling the public that it was either a male or female that won, how much and where the winning ticket was purchased. That's it! Any other information given to the general public should be done with your expressed permission, not theirs.
As always- an Opinion.
Yes Music, l am aware of Ira curry etc. If there is one thing l have been blessed with, it's a good memory.l can't recall my first diaper change, but..
"Eddie Tipton ... could have easily collected based on this Georgia anonymity bill."
I said "one of his buddies or his NY lawyer trying to claim via trust could have easily collected based on this Georgia anonymity bill." Why are you making it look like I said Tipton could easily collect?
"Folks who will buy a lottery ticket only if their identity will be hidden for eternity need to step back and use their gambling money to buy movie tickets. "