By Bob Katzen
Stuck in the Senate Rules Committee since August 3, 2017 after the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee gave it a favorable report, is a bill that would allow Lottery winners to refuse to have their name, address or other identifying information be released to the public. The measure also allows winners to forego all public appearances related to his or her winning the Lottery including the one at which the winner is given an oversized check to hold at Lottery Headquarters.
Current state law requires Lottery winners to comply with all of the above conditions. It also allows winners to place their winnings in a trust, but the name of the trustee and the beneficiaries are public record, so the trust does not really shield the winner.
Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio and South Carolina are among the states that currently allow Lottery winners to remain anonymous.
Only a small minority of states, including Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas, currently allow Lottery winners to remain anonymous.