NY Lottery and Anonymity

Reply #18

mrtightwad — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:54:32 GMT

I just got an email response from nj lotto. they state its a matter of public record anyone can check who the winners are, also it can be a requirement to do a press conference if you win. that about sums it up. Maybe its for the best playing for small jackpots under a mil.

Reply #17

JWBlue — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:53:29 GMT

California allows players to claim a jackpot anonymously.

There is no reason any other state can't do the same.

Reply #16

mrtightwad — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:53:42 GMT

If I won I would not want to broadcast it to anyone, I usually buy tickets that don't offer big jackpots for this reason. to get a lawyer and do an LLC or trust is first you have to find a trustworthy lawyer and thats a tough search. other problems are your job and relatives. I could never do a press conference.

Reply #15

InItAndWonIt — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:26:36 GMT

Has anyone compiled a list of state's that allow Blind Trusts? I know NJ is a state that allows an LLC, but you can also find out the owners of the LLC if one was to ask the Division of Taxation. I am not sure if NJ allows Blind Trusts....(that would be sweet...just like that Ohio guy).

If someone could point me in the right direction, it'd be most appreciated.

Reply #14

dk1421 — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:53:58 GMT

I always planned on saying the sudden money was from a family member - making it sound like someone old and rich died and left me some cash. I wouldn't overdo the spending.

Then, as time went on and I had some nicer cars, that it was my investments paying off. Thereby, no one knowing it was the lottery.

But that's if I won in NC (which I recall you could do a blind trust or LLC), not MM in VA.

Reply #13

dk1421 — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:50:42 GMT

I'm bummed because I just checked out the VA lottery site:

Can I remain anonymous when I claim my lottery winnings?

http://www.valottery.com/faq/kb_detail.asp?type=keyword keyword=anonymous id=89

No. Winners often ask if they can claim Lottery prizes anonymously. Virginia state law stipulates that a person must claim a prize; winners cannot claim a Virginia Lottery prize with a limited liability company or a trust, for example. In addition, the claimant s name, hometown and prize are p... [ More ]

Reply #12

markp1950 — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:29:17 GMT

If you suddenly start spending money, aren't they going to know something?

Yeah, you can have the cash, but you can't spend it. You can't retire. Or you can't be around your friends.

If they know, so what? Your life changes, so what?

MarkP

Reply #11

DC81 — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:49:57 GMT

It's generally not up to Powerball (or Megamillions) it's up to the states though I would not be surprised if they have input in state rules for the games. Would explain why Michigan allows anonymity for their own games but not Megamillions.

Reply #10

rburton — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:16:51 GMT

Hmmm... I own my own business and it is incorporated. When I win, I will just put the winnings into the corporation and pay myself a million dollars a week.

Reply #9

rburton — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:12:50 GMT

I think this has happened in Indiana. Lots of people I talk to think the lottery here is rigged and some people say they never reveal the winners . Not actually true, as the Indiana lottery website showcases past winners.

Does the Powerball allow winners to be anonymous? I need to know because I plan to win Wednesday night, lol. I dont want the neighbors to know I won.

Reply #8

Coin Toss — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 05:43:01 GMT

Mega Millions and Powerball prizes have to be claimed in the state they were played in.

Reply #7

InItAndWonIt — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 05:11:45 GMT

Hi all. I'm new here and will post a seperate introduction, but I wanted to ask this question first as it has always been on my mind. I noticed a couple of LLCs have claimed huge prizes in NJ (where I'm from and play). I am wondering, especially in my case, if it would be wise to form a Nevada LLC or Corporation and have the foreign corp claim the prize? Nevada Corps allow owners and officers to be shielded from the IRS and assets can also be hidden (it's almost like going to Bermuda to incorpor... [ More ]

Reply #6

Socalaxe — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:37:11 GMT

I sent a message to my home state lottery (GA), heres the reply i got. Good info.

Thank you for contacting the Georgia Lottery Corporation (GLC).

While Georgia Lottery jackpot winners are not required to have a press

conference or take a photograph, many feel that it enhances the winning

experience. Some winners choose to claim their prize in the name of a

corporation in order to maintain anonymity.

By law, the Georgia Lottery is required to release winners' names, c... [ More ]

Reply #5

myturn — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:03:11 GMT

In the UK, lottery players have the right to anonymity, according to The National Lottery Commission which is responsible for licensing and regulating the UK National Lottery.

Players have the right to maintain their anonymity unless they sign to request publicity. Camelot, (licensed operator of the UK National Lottery), is required to ensure that prizewinners details are kept secure within Camelot, and are only disclosed to authorised staff.

US State Lotteries should adopt the... [ More ]

Reply #4

Coin Toss — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:03:58 GMT

This is from the Illinois lottery's website FAQ page:

Can I avoid having my name released if I am a winner?

To assure other players that prizes are paid to winners, the Lottery makes public the name, home city and amount won. We will not, however, release the addresses or telephone numbers of winners. Multi-million dollar winners must participate in a one-time news conference, but we'll always respect your wishes of privacy as much as possible.

This is from the Missouri lottery... [ More ]

Reply #3

ThatScaryChick — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:47:31 GMT

I would like others to email the NY lottery in regard to anonymity.Other lotteries allow winners to remain anonymous and it works verywell.

That may be true with lotteries overseas, but very few states in the USallow anonymity. I don't think that is going to change. The statelotteries, want to prove to players and would-be players, that realpeople win the lottery. I just don't see most states allowing forpeople to be anonymous. Especially, if a big jackpot is won. It givesthem great advertis... [ More ]

Reply #2

SpanaUnlimited — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:26:13 GMT

I think the reason why lotteries require press conference and an actual name is for credibility. If everyone was anonymous....sooner or later people who stop playing the lottery out of fear that the system is rigged. Doesn't really make sense since techically a lottery could hire actors to pretend they are winners.

That being said if you truely want anonymity I think a way around the laws is to claim the ticket under a blind trust. That way at the press conference only your lawyer and LLC wi... [ More ]

Reply #1

myturn — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:27:37 GMT

Dear NY:

It was great to see a man from Queens win a MegaMilions jackpot. However,

I don't understand why he was required to go public. Other lotteries

allow winners to remain anonymous, and it works very well. Requiring

winners to be publicly identified turns them into sitting ducks, people

don't talk about how much they earn, so why should income from a lottery

be any different? I do hope you reconsider the publicity requirement and allow winners to

continue life as normal... [ More ]

NY Lottery and Anonymity

myturn — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:19:33 GMT

After reading Queens man claims $133M Mega Millions lottery jackpot , on LP, I wrote to the New York Lottery in regard to anonymity. I got the following reply:

Thank you for your inquiry.

New York Lottery policy has always been to release the name and city of

residence of each winner to the media. Since the New York Lottery is a

government agency and New York Lottery prizes are public funds, it is

our responsibility to inform the people of New York State of New York

Lot... [ More ]