Virginia lottery jackpot winners can stay anonymous, starting in July

Apr 5, 2019, 7:35 pm (49 comments)

Virginia Lottery

A new law passed by the Virginia General Assembly and signed by the Governor prohibits the Virginia Lottery from disclosing information about big jackpot winners.

The bill was unanimously passed by the House, and it passed the Senate in a vote of 34 to 5. A similar bill was introduced by Senator Lionell Spruill, Sr. who represents part of Chesapeake.

Governor Ralph Northam signed the bill into law on February 27.

When the bill goes into effect this summer, the Virginia Lottery will not be allowed to release certain information about winners whose prize exceeds $10 million, unless the winner wants to be known.

Under the current Freedom of Information Act, it is mandatory to disclose the winner's name, hometown, and the amount won.

The full bill text can be found below.

The legislation will go into effect on July 1, 2019.

Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, and Wyoming all allow lottery winners to remain anonymous. Arizona and Georgia allow lottery winners to remain anonymous after winning a certain prize amount, like Virginia's new law.

Most states have laws allowing the lottery that sold the ticket to make such information public.

DOCUMENT: Read the full bill text

Thanks to Artist77 for the tip.

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Thank you Todd. Best lottery news ever since I never thought it would happen. I bet VA brings in a lot more money since a lot of VA residents buy at work in DC.

I read nothing in the law addressing retroactive winners so I assume this means if I win now, I can claim anonymously in 3 months. And I guess I will be using your lottery places app much less now in DC. 

Now on to the other states!!!

mswiz777's avatarmswiz777

           YES

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

 

 

music*'s avatarmusic*

This makes ten States who are looking out for their players. 

 All the winners still have the option to go public. 

 This reminds me of the change from mandatory Annuity to Cash Lump Sum. All have chosen the Cash with the exception of one player in San Francisco, CA. Change happens!

US Flag

Ryan Dela

I heard Wyoming is also an anonymous state it just is never reported in stories or articles like this one with the other states because Wyoming is a low population state and has never had a jackpot winner. Can someone verify this for me??

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

misic,

Just my $.02 here, but anyone in an anonymous state who goes public should immediately sent to a psychiatrist before doing so!

______________________________________________________________

As for Virginia;

/////////////////

And here's to brave Virginia

the Old Dominions state

to which the other anonymous states

has boldly joined her hand!

Hurrah! Hurrah! 

For the anonymous states Hurrah!

/////////////////////////////////////////

(Parody on the Bonnie Blue Flag from The Horse Soldiers with John Wayne)

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by Ryan Dela on Apr 5, 2019

I heard Wyoming is also an anonymous state it just is never reported in stories or articles like this one with the other states because Wyoming is a low population state and has never had a jackpot winner. Can someone verify this for me??

Yes, Wyoming is an anonymous state.  Artist77 included that in her thread dedicated to the topic: https://www.lotterypost.com/thread/326232

I've updated the story to include Wyoming.

iWins

Thank goodness. I feel all lotteries & contests alike should give the option to have anonymous winners.

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Apr 5, 2019

misic,

Just my $.02 here, but anyone in an anonymous state who goes public should immediately sent to a psychiatrist before doing so!

______________________________________________________________

As for Virginia;

/////////////////

And here's to brave Virginia

the Old Dominions state

to which the other anonymous states

has boldly joined her hand!

Hurrah! Hurrah! 

For the anonymous states Hurrah!

/////////////////////////////////////////

(Parody on the Bonnie Blue Flag from The Horse Soldiers with John Wayne)

LOL at your " just my $.02 " and I fully agree with you 

👽: engage the cloaking device

paymentplan-man

On one hand I do really like having some form of anonymity but 10 million is such a high number. So this would only apply to Mega Millions and Powerball. Still something is better than nothing :)

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Quote: Originally posted by paymentplan-man on Apr 6, 2019

On one hand I do really like having some form of anonymity but 10 million is such a high number. So this would only apply to Mega Millions and Powerball. Still something is better than nothing :)

It does make sense on some level since there tends to be a lot of publicity for these 2 games.

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Apr 5, 2019

misic,

Just my $.02 here, but anyone in an anonymous state who goes public should immediately sent to a psychiatrist before doing so!

______________________________________________________________

As for Virginia;

/////////////////

And here's to brave Virginia

the Old Dominions state

to which the other anonymous states

has boldly joined her hand!

Hurrah! Hurrah! 

For the anonymous states Hurrah!

/////////////////////////////////////////

(Parody on the Bonnie Blue Flag from The Horse Soldiers with John Wayne)

Great poem Coin Toss.  We did have a former obnoxious booted member who bragged about wanting the publicity and shouting it from his balcony.  Any guesses????

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Quote: Originally posted by paymentplan-man on Apr 6, 2019

On one hand I do really like having some form of anonymity but 10 million is such a high number. So this would only apply to Mega Millions and Powerball. Still something is better than nothing :)

I'm sure a fair amount of thought/energy was put into the numerous discussions

but as you said : " something is better then nothing "

 

or for that matter a price tag being attached for the option

Bleudog101

Almost unheard of:   Politicians actually caring enough about their constituents to pass common sense legislation that can protect big time winners.

 

Congratulations Virginia!

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