Pa. lawmaker wants to give lottery winners right to remain anonymous

Comment #77

Kejana48 — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 22:27:07 GMT

I agree with this.

Comment #76

Candlelight777 — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 21:11:39 GMT

Maybe it's better to look at this the other way around. If there were no checks and balances and outside auditors overseeing things....how much credibility then would a winners picture and identification hold? What is a person gonna do track these people down and call them? heck you can bet they changed their numbers, probably moved and certainly not accessable to the public understandably. Even if you could track them down somehow, they wouldn't talk to you because there probably are enough cra... [ More ]

Comment #75

luckyshoes — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 21:52:44 GMT

Im a Westmoreland County girl.Totally agree with Harhai on this. And Im going to thank him when I join those enviable ranks...

Comment #74

Jon D — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 21:35:50 GMT

Well, if it's a bearer instrument, then it can move from one person to another.

We see many people saying they are scared to win this much money. Well, let's say we have some scaredy cat who bought a ticket and it wins, but he's too scared of the money and gives it to his friend after the draw, lawfully, and with witnesses. His friend goes to claim the ticket and winnings.

So who's the winner? The first guy, or his friend? They don't call the friend the winner? What do they all him in the... [ More ]

Comment #73

KY Floyd — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 21:18:40 GMT

When did Dee Dee Moore become Abraham Shakespeare? It took an arrest and a trail before they could punsih her, but would you seriously argue that she didn't become his killer as soon as he was dead?

That the ticket needs to be validated is irrelevant. It may result in a determination that somebody isn't a winner, but I don't see a valid argument that you despite bneing the lawful owner of the winning ticket you don't become a winner until the validation process is started, let alone finished.... [ More ]

Comment #72

One-Day — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 16:22:28 GMT

Let a corp lawyer register a corporation for you (Nevada is nice). There is no chance of your name being released unless the state requires your real name. Instruct your lawyer to pick up your winnings. Lawyer doesn't mind to be in the news. Lawyers love to be on the news. It's good for publicity. I'm sure they will charge their regular fees for that.

Comment #71

Jon D — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 15:43:07 GMT

Well...you can move the slider and say, at what exact point do you win? The night of the draw? Or when your claim is validated?

You win a game when it is determined that you followed all the rules of the game as required, and then they decide to award you. So when is that? The draw night or claim day?

They need to check if that ticket is valid, that the buyer is authorized to play, etc. THEN you are a winner. The numbers matching is just the first part. That's one interpretation.

Are th... [ More ]

Comment #70

KY Floyd — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 15:33:59 GMT

How can your trust win a lottery before your trust even exists? Only a legal entity that owns a lottery ticket at the time of the drawing can be a winner. Any entity that acquires a winning lottery ticket after it becomes a winning ticket is merely an owner.

Even if you could remain anonymous by creating a trust, how much do you suppose a lawyer will charge to have their name and face substituted for yours? I wouldn't take the chance of having my business phone inundated with worthless calls,... [ More ]

Comment #69

myturn — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 02:26:14 GMT

Protecting Winners

The identity of all winners is kept confidential, unless they request otherwise. Always ensure the details of your Players Club membership are up-to-date. View NSW Lotteries Privacy Policy online at NSW Lotteries website

Comment #68

TheGameGrl — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 01:20:51 GMT

As a resident of PA and having my ears to the Media Hype on this tom-foolery....why not allow this to be a voters choice bill? Allow us voters to decide, we have seen far to long that our voices are NOT heard thru General Assembly or via any senate/congress means. this will only get passed if it suits the upcoming sell off of the Lottery Division that has been trying to get placed.

And if perchance anyone wins the 400mill, Dont ya think Smith and Wesson make good body guards? Seriously if Do... [ More ]

Comment #67

rdgrnr — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 10:48:17 GMT

MegaSuperPower,

Just give me the JP ticket and I'll do the press conference for ya and I'll still give you half of the winnings.

How about it

Comment #66

MegaSuperPower — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 09:35:49 GMT

I'm beginning to think I don't want to win the lottery, after all. Like if I win the $400+ million jackpot that's up now, it'd basically destroy my life. What good is money if you're constantly fearful for your safety or you can't get a moments rest from people looking for a hand out? I'd rather win the second prize, where you get a couple million, because those people don't generally have to do press conferences. Sure, they're put on the web site, but I doubt people are really seeking out a $1... [ More ]

Comment #65

Jon D — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 00:45:57 GMT

Don't talk to me, talk to my lawyer, who is the trustee of my trust, the real winner

Comment #64

Arrowhead — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 00:33:07 GMT

Well, 'bro', since you evidently live in California, consider this information useful after you win the MM later tonight.

From the California Lottery 'Winners Handbook'---

According to public disclosure laws, your name

is public record. The name and location of the

retailer who sold the winning ticket, the date you

won, whether your numbers were a Quick Pick

or your own numbers and the amount of your

winnings are also matters of public record and are

subject to dis... [ More ]

Comment #63

Jon D — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 23:42:26 GMT

I think it's a play on words. The operable word is winner.

The lotteries want winners to come forward and pose with the ginormous check for sales and marketing purposes. They don't want to advertise that there are ways you can get out of it, like claiming as trusts. When you form a trust to claim the lottery prize, you're transferring ownership of the ticket to the trust, and the trust becomes the winner.

Remember what Kelly Cripe of TX Lotto said in that Trust claim: that the winner does... [ More ]

Comment #62

Arrowhead — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 22:54:58 GMT

Right, so the trust really does little or no good in terms of anonymity. Which is the point.

and, per Illinois---http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-04-22/lottery-winners-anonymous-mega-millions/54441676/1

Mike Lang, an Illinois Lottery spokesman, agrees and says winners in his state must come forward publicly unless there is a compelling reason not to.

Comment #61

Toronto — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 22:31:39 GMT

Edit: I just called the Lousiana lottery and asked them. When you claim the prize, even if it is a trust, they get all names tied to the trust. The woman said if someone requests, they would release the name.

Comment #60

Jon D — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 21:24:02 GMT

Yo, bro...you're the one that made the (false) claim, I just refuted it.

You are more than welcome to check all the remaining states, I did my part.

It's actually not uncommon in many non-anonymous states for Trusts to claim large prizes to keep a winner's identity hidden. Only a few states specifically disallow LLCs and Trusts from claiming prizes.

So OK, here's one last one for you:

http://www.louisianalottery.com/index.cfm?md=newsroom tmp=detail articleID=1050

Consider a Trust... [ More ]

Comment #59

Arrowhead — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 20:35:12 GMT

Ummm, ok...one state. Others

Comment #58

Jill34786 — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 18:28:42 GMT

If forced to do a press conference, having a complete professional disguise and limiting your response to generic answers would go a long way to protecting your privacy.

The need to relocate and establish a temporary residency prior to claiming your prize can't be stressed enough. Any future residence should be purchased through a land trust or your attorney acting as your trustee.

Comment #57

Teddi — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 18:16:59 GMT

And for all of the other people who don't live in Texas...what about them. Either every state should give you the option of claiming anonymously via a trust, or, allow for total anonymity without a trust. But forcing JP winners to reveal their identities or worse, forcing a press conference is ludicrous and dangerous and the benefits do not outweigh the risks.

Comment #56

Teddi — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 18:10:27 GMT

Yep. I was thinking the same thing. If you come across as shy, quiet and unassuming, they will paint you as a humble saint and simply start tracking down past coworkers or relatives to get the inside scoop on you. Being brash and bold may keep the attention on you but it also keeps the media from looking for a story from someone else. Look how they went to Gloria's ex-daughter in law for a story when Gloria didn't hold a press conference. You can't escape it either way.

Comment #55

Jon D — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 18:02:47 GMT

Check again, link I posted previously:

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Trust-keeps-24-million-jackpot-winner-anonymous-3848371.php

Texas by law does not allow winners to be anonymous, but a winner doesn't have to be a person.

Comment #54

Teddi — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 18:00:03 GMT

Right. So you trust the auditors with keeping EVERY other aspect of the lottery on the up and up, but they can't be trusted to be honest about who wins if it isn't announced. Boy that makes a whole lotta sense.

and then you actually ask what reason the lottery has for not keeping the drawings fair while at the same time claiming they won't be fair about who wins without publicizing the winner. Do you even bother to think about what you write or do you just have comment and take opposite si... [ More ]

Comment #53

Arrowhead — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 17:07:02 GMT

As far as I know, in the states that allow anonymity you still have to form a trust in order to not have your name disclosed. You can't just checkmark a box or sign papers upon claiming telling the state lottery office you don't want your name made public. You're allowed to go through the legal process (forming trust) to make this happen, but if you don't do this your name gets put out there.

Forming a trust and collecting JP in states that do not allow anonymity is worthless in terms of conc... [ More ]

Comment #52

zirabamuzaale — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 05:54:57 GMT

Maybe you may consider moving to Florida where those controversial stand your ground rules can protect you, for a couple months ago, that boastdul man that won a Powerball Jackpot brandished his shot gun at any of those people that turned up to beg for handouts from his lotto wins.

Comment #51

haymaker — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 04:11:53 GMT

LOL

Mountain Man,

That's even better , the phone is still in my wife's maiden name so that just confuses things even more

Yea, got some other things that mix things up.

Comment #50

Toronto — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 02:58:37 GMT

If you take the down to earth angle the news will sensationalize and make you out as an every-man. You will still get hounded. For every winner you hear about that did TV appearances and seemingly asked for the limelight, there are dozens of others that did the bare minimum required to claim and still get hounded on the regular without a journalist telling the story.

Comment #49

rdgrnr — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 02:44:54 GMT

You mean your name's not Mr. Hay Maker?

No wonder I can't find you in the phone book.

Comment #48

HaveABall — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 01:56:25 GMT

I was thinking of you, dpoly1, when I heard this great individual's safety/comfort proposal. I, too, hope that PA becomes an additional lottery winner anonymous state

Comment #47

OldSchoolPa — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 00:51:52 GMT

I would do press conference, but I would be so subdued and boring that no international or major network would want to air it. That way, I would fulfill my obligation to the lottery while lessening the demand for video/photo. Plus I would take my jetsetting ways to a higher level, so good luck on all the bums, scammers, and moochers trying to catch up with me for a handout. Speaking of handouts, I saw a bunch of beggars all around Phoenix. If you win, just don't try to channel your inner Duck Dy... [ More ]

Comment #46

haymaker — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 00:42:47 GMT

This works for me, only people very close to me know my real first name and most other people call me by a nickname they think is my real name.

Jersey had a bill for temp. anonymity for 1 year but the Gov. chickened out and did'nt sign so Jersey will get another chance after he runs for Pres.

Comment #45

KY Floyd — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 23:04:24 GMT

Tax dollars aren't going towards funding any jackpots

It isn't who the money came from, it's the fact that the government is spending money that has become public funds. The difference lottery payouts being part of the public record and tax refunds not being public records is that, the tax refunds were never public funds (as Jon D noted) and paying taxes isn't voluntary.

you all seem to have no issues trusting that the number of $10,000, $25,000 or $100,000 or even $500 winners is accura... [ More ]

Comment #44

KY Floyd — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 22:45:31 GMT

That mudslide was so bad, the car ended up in a canal in Pennsylvania, in a funky little place called New Hope (there's some irony in that, I think). There was nothing to indicate that it was anything more than the driver leaving a restaurant by the wrong exit and missing a turn in heavy rain. And there was no mudslide. And she was investigating the death of an Italian banker, not sports betting.

Please then tell us how you explain the states that allow players to be anonymous.

Please ex... [ More ]

Comment #43

Teddi — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 22:33:29 GMT

From the public's perspective, it's simply called being nosey. From the lottery's perspective it's free publicity. Neither is for the benefit of the JP winner. Quite the opposite. It's to the winner's detriment. Nosiness and the almighty dollar shouldn't be put ahead of someone's life. One day someone's child is going to be kidnapped or someone is going to be killed in direction relation to a winner's name being publicized, and when that bad publicity and a lawsuit comes out of it, only then wil... [ More ]

Comment #42

KY Floyd — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 22:28:53 GMT

That's easy to say when your name isn't Zachary Wursterfield-Doddingsworth.

Comment #41

Teddi — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 22:26:32 GMT

Oh puh-lease. This is all hogwash and you know it. So spare me.

Tax dollars aren't going towards funding any jackpots, so the public has ZERO right to know. When our taxpayers start funding the megajackpots THEN you MIGHT have a case, until then, it's simply you being both nosey and paranoid.

Secondly, since when should a resident's well being come second to...anything? Kidnapping threats, murder plots, harassment, stalking (the list goes on) should be taken in stride because YOU don't f... [ More ]

Comment #40

Jon D — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 18:23:09 GMT

Well, see, that's the problem right there. The rules and procedures are messed up.

If you lived in Texas that wouldn't happen:

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Trust-keeps-24-million-jackpot-winner-anonymous-3848371.php

Comment #39

dpoly1 — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 18:16:54 GMT

If you claim as a Trust in PA, your name is still published

Comment #38

Jon D — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 18:07:19 GMT

I believe in state's rights. Each state should decide on their own. I was giving my opinion on the issue. Eash person in each state can give theirs. To each his own.

I personally would refuse publicity, that's probably where most of the shenanigans come from. I don't agree with some states that require press conference or use you in marketing whether you want it or not. But that is their choice.

But I support open records and the rights of a researcher to request records.

Comment #37

TNPATL — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 18:00:07 GMT

Why is there a need to know?

When the jackpot rolls back to the lowest amount, we know someone won. Why do we really need to know WHO won, and what their plans are? I simply do not get that.

Comment #36

TNPATL — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 17:55:30 GMT

I wish more states would do this. I feel it should be an option. I mean at this point if people don't know if the Lottery is real? I don't see how showing the winner, interviewing them, posting their photo will make it more convincing. If a person wants to have their business out there when they win that's their right. I also feel if people want to remain anoymous they should have that option. All States need to do this.

Comment #35

dpoly1 — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 15:15:32 GMT

I called my State Representative my State Senator to support this common sense measure.

People try to scam others regardless the level of personal wealth of the intended victim.

It would also go a long way in protecting the safety of the winners and their families

Comment #34

Jon D — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 13:24:50 GMT

A tax refund means the government took out more of their money than they actually owed. It's not the same thing. When people have to pay forced/mandatory taxation, they deserve and have a right to know where their portion of the money goes. That's all people are asking for: where did my money go, not where everyone else's money went, but they care about that too.

So, as for your independent auditor, they look at the financials. And they look at the lottery budget compared to the expenses. On... [ More ]

Comment #33

Gleno — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 13:02:03 GMT

Hope the PA assembly votes for this bill to permit lottery winners to be anonymous.

Thought NJ allowed anonymity of big jackpots winners but Todd knows best since he is in N.J.

Comment #32

Teddi — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 11:17:33 GMT

That maks absolutely no sense whatsoever. Well, when you receive a tax refund it's you getting money back from the same corrupt government, Why don't we start taking out pages in the newspapaer and letting everyone know how much you got back from them to keep things transparent and let us all know if they are being honest or not.

The lottery is audited by an INDEPENDENT 3rd party. By the very definition, it means that they are an outside entity that checks on what is reported. Or did you mis... [ More ]

Comment #31

Coin Toss — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 07:13:52 GMT

myturn got me curious about Australia so I went to the Australian lottery website (interesting games!).

The FAQ page provided a link to The Australia.NationalLottery.com which has this information about Publicity / No Publicity:

Publicity or No Publicity

National Lottery

Lottery Information

Publicity or No Publicity - that is the question

Lottery publicity is not something that is discussed a great deal, but since winners are almost always given a choice as to whether or not... [ More ]

Comment #30

mrcraft — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 06:28:41 GMT

I found this on California Lottery Winner's Handbook - You can form a trust prior to claiming your prize, but understand that your name is still public and reportable. I don't have enough knowledge on trusts to comment, but this tidbit is disturbing.

Comment #29

DC81 — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 06:03:21 GMT

Even just the first letter of someone's last name could be enough to still find them unless they live in well populated county and have a fairly common (or commonly spelled) first name. Still better than your whole name though. It's important to at least have options to protect your identity.

Comment #28

veganlife125 — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 05:46:51 GMT

Agreed Jon D.

I also don't understand why all winners don't claim in a trust for the protection.

Comment #27

myturn — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 04:01:24 GMT

One of the most important decisions for new winners to make is whether to opt to go public or remain anonymous. If a winner decides to talk publicly about their win, Camelot s PR team will organise a press conference and handle all media interest on their behalf, removing the anxiety that can accompany talking about a big win.

If they have requested to remain anonymous, Camelot takes its obligations and duty of care to protect winners privacy very seriously. Unless a winner agrees to take ful... [ More ]

Comment #26

JackpotWanna — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 01:09:57 GMT

Good idea! Only way is to move near other rich people.

Comment #25

Coin Toss — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 00:36:17 GMT

Jon D,

Thanks for the reply and you adjusred your statement to legal gambling.

Don't know if he's still active but there was a bookie in NY, dealth with a lot of Wall Street types. His policy was $50,000 minimum bet per game, two game minimum to bet with him. Not exactly an office pool on the Super Bowl here. Oh yeah, both he and his clients preferred remaining anonymous!

Here's a little known fact, bookies are required to get a Federal Tax Stamp (used to cost about $50, not sure no... [ More ]

Comment #24

Jon D — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 23:18:19 GMT

Yes, they have a monopoly on LEGAL lottery gaming. If your argument is based on illegal activity, that is beyond the scope of my argument. Thanks.

Comment #23

Coin Toss — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 23:08:26 GMT

Jon D,

It's not my right to know, it's the public's right to know what their government is doing with their money.

Then how come so many 'publics' in so many countries are just fine with winners being anonymous - and not taxed? And what about the winner's rights? Should a jackpot winner be innundated with pleas from charities and deals from shysters and who knows what else just because some obnoxioulsy nosey clods somewhere think they have a 'right' to know who won?

If you really thin... [ More ]

Comment #22

Jon D — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 22:52:11 GMT

It's not my right to know, it's the public's right to know what their government is doing with their money.

The lottery is a government run monopoly gambling operation. Wouldn't you like to play pick 3 for $900 str at your local shop? You can't, because the lottery has a monopoly.

Government is corrupt, and requires transparency so that the public and the press can inspect what THEIR government is doing and how funds are being spent. Lottery is essentially fundraising with an entertainment... [ More ]

Comment #21

gocart1 — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 22:46:01 GMT

Comment #20

Coin Toss — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 22:30:37 GMT

Savagegoose once mentioned that Australian playslips have a NP option - No Publicity or something. Sounds like a great idea.

I figure jackpot winners can either remain anonymous (if allowed by their state) or wish they had remained anonymous.

I don't get people that demand to know who won......sorry, no need to know and not on the access roster.

Comment #19

MegaSuperPower — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 22:04:31 GMT

Anonymity is completely logical. Say you've had a succesful enough career that you live exactly where you want to live in the house you've grown to love. You win the lottery and they release your name, your city, the location of where you purchased your ticket and now it''ll take 30 seconds for someone to find you. As I pointed out to my father the other night, if I win the lottery what's to stop people who know of me going to their house to pester my family about my money when it's got nothing... [ More ]

Comment #18

Teddi — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 20:15:04 GMT

Sorry, but other than us being nosy and wanting to get an insight into the type of person that won, why do you need to know? It certainly isn't any of our business, and it certainly doesn't benefit the person who wins an enormous sum of money. The lottery works just fine in other developed countries who don't reveal the winner's identity, and with $100M or more becoming increasing common, that alone is a big enough draw to get people to play it.

PriceWaterhouseCoopers and other big name acco... [ More ]

Comment #17

New York — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 20:05:31 GMT

We need this in New York.

Comment #16

mrcraft — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 20:02:08 GMT

I was thinking about this the other day. I see both sides, but my main concern would be my safety. I can deal with phone calls, letters, emails and such, but worry about people that find my address and decide to show up at my door.

In California, full names and location are used in their promotional materials.

I like the first name, last name initial method. If I happen to get lucky, I may need to research the trust option.

Comment #15

Jon D — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 19:10:57 GMT

I guess I'm in the minority here: I don't like anonymous.

There's several different levels of publication of winners in different states:

1. Full disclosure: Full name given out in marketing/promotion and cannot be refused.

2. Partial disclosure: Marketing/promotion can be refused, only first name and last initial shown in an initial listing. No picture with ginormous check, no other promos. But person's full name is given out on public records request.

3. Trust option: same as #2, e... [ More ]

Comment #14

Teddi — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 18:31:35 GMT

They already have an independent auditor. Which is why this has nothing at all to do with transparency and all about the publicity they get from the news conferences. Look what they did to poor Gloria. If publicizing her name, age and address weren't enough, they called the media when she went to the lottery office to fill out her paperwork. It wasn't enough for them to give out her details, they WANTED a camera crew there too. Transparency my backside.

Comment #13

Teddi — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 18:24:07 GMT

This shouldn't even be a question. And the lottery really needs to stop pretending that it's for the sake of transparency. Is anyone really buying that? Both PB and MM changed their structure to pretty much guarantee MUCH larger jackpots. The more money that is involved the crazier people get. The lottery officials should worry less about milking free publicity and more about the safety of the winners. The size of the JP themselves should be enough of a draw. Publicizing the win should be left u... [ More ]

Comment #12

Toronto — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 18:20:26 GMT

First name last initial seems reasonable for all state lotteries to move to if they currently release full name

Comment #11

Goteki54 — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 18:02:32 GMT

This is a great idea, I'm surprised a politician came up with it. Let's see if this great idea goes from legislation to actually making it to the Governor's desk to be signed and become law.

Comment #10

HoLeeKau — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 17:52:53 GMT

I don't think it'll ever go dark. There are plenty of people out there who relish the spotlight and want their 15 minutes. Idaho Lottery does not require photos or any publicity other than releasing name and city, but go to their web page and it's plastered with photos of people winning up to 100K. A LEO won a few hundred thou a couple years ago, and he did the televised interview and photo ops.

Anybody up to research whether any big winners in anonymous states have chosen to release their na... [ More ]

Comment #9

JWBlue — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 17:47:31 GMT

Independent auditor would be a solution.

Comment #8

maringoman — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 17:21:47 GMT

This is a great move. Nobody needs to know the identities of the winners. I hope other states also do this.

Comment #7

mightwin — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 15:29:33 GMT

Won't pass, that would make way to much sense. Silly lawmaker what was he thinking........

Comment #6

DDOH937 — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 15:24:08 GMT

I Love this but only selfishly. I've deliberately gone out of my way to purchase tickets in anonymous Lottery States because if i win i want NO ONE to know. I love this move but its a slippery slope. If i win, i want to remain anonymous. If you win, you want to remain anonymous, fair. But what happens when it all goes 'dark' and no one really knows anyone who wins??? Not good. Its tricky and i'm not sure what the solution is. Maybe it could be set up where if the win is a multi-state pot (PB/MM... [ More ]

Comment #5

dpoly1 — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 15:19:11 GMT

I am from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and I support this 100%!

The Greed of Envy too many crooks make this necessary

Comment #4

sully16 — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 15:15:24 GMT

I agree

Comment #3

Astekblue — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 15:12:48 GMT

Good for Pa.

I hope they do

I think all states should do that

Congress asks the WH for stuff all the time and they wont release much

So if they can hide stuff..............why cant a lottery winners name be hidden also

I have always felt that a large lottery winner should have the option to remain anonymous

If they so chose to do so

I also think they should not tax lottery winnings ( like Canada ) but we all know that aint gonna... [ More ]

Comment #2

Slick Nick — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 14:57:05 GMT

I definitely support the identities of winners to be hidden.

Comment #1

helpmewin — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 14:48:59 GMT

This is actually not a bad idea i like to see the pictures but safety first i guess

Pa. lawmaker wants to give lottery winners right to remain anonymous

Lottery Post — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 14:34:12 GMT

A Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, lawmaker unveiled legislation Friday that would allow lottery winners to keep their identities hidden from the public.

State Rep. Ted Harhai, D-58, Monessen, said he believes the proposal would help lottery winners avoid the pitfalls that have plagued many past prize winners, from alleged murder attempts to thefts and scams.

I think providing this option is necessary, Harhai said in a statement. In particular, multi-state lottery jackpots can reach int... [ More ]