Lottery officials say identifying winners a must

Jan 19, 2016, 12:24 pm (59 comments)

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States wrestle with winners' privacy vs. integrity of games

SACRAMENTO — In the California lottery handbook for winners, officials offer a few suggestions to newly minted millionaires. Change your number. Stop answering your phone. And find a reputable financial adviser.

That's because along with the money comes 15 minutes of fame as the names of winners are required to be made public in California and many other states.

All eyes are on the Los Angeles suburb of Chino Hills, where one of three tickets in Wednesday night's record-breaking $1.6 billion Powerball drawing was purchased. No one has come forward to claim the prize in California.

"We're waiting for who this person is," said Alex Traverso, a spokesman for the California Lottery.

Traverso said large jackpots like the one in Wednesday's drawing drive debate over whether the names of lottery winners should be made public. Past winners have complained of being besieged by con artists and swindled by friends.

Millionaire slain

Critics of the disclosure laws often point to the case of Abraham Shakespeare, who won $30 million in the Florida lottery in 2006, and three years later, was killed by a woman who managed his winnings. (See Woman found guilty of murder in lottery winner's death, Lottery Post, Dec. 11, 2012.)

Andrew Stoltmann, an Illinois attorney who has represented winners, told the Associated Press that making winners' names public is like "throwing meat into a shark-infested ocean."

But lottery officials say it's important public information to ensure the drawings are transparent and to deter would-be cheaters.

"We want people to know we have winners every day," Traverso said. "If people don't see people winning the lottery, then they won't buy tickets. ... The only time we hear talk of changing the regulations to allow anonymity is when we have jackpots like (Wednesday's)."

Besides Chino Hills, the two other winning Powerball tickets were purchased in Munford, Tenn., and Melbourne Beach, Fla. A Tennessee couple, John and Lisa Robinson, announced on the "Today" show on Friday that they were the winners from their state.

Tennessee lottery officials later confirmed the couple were the winners in an afternoon news conference. The family plans to take a lump sum payout of $327 million. (See Tennessee couple claims share of $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot, Lottery Post, Jan. 15, 2016.)

Showed ticket on TV

John Robinson, who pulled the winning ticket from his shirt pocket on the "Today" show, said he realized he was losing his anonymity after the announcement.

"Now I'll be nervous because everybody knows," he said on the broadcast.

(See Lottery veterans question Tennessee family's behavior before claiming Powerball winnings, Lottery Post, Jan. 16, 2016.)

All three states with winning Powerball tickets have laws requiring the identity of the winner to be made public. In Tennessee and Florida, the states' lottery policy is to identify a person's name and city of residence.

California requires that a person's name be made public, but not their city. Lottery officials include the person's name, where the ticket was purchased and how much was won in press releases.

"You aren't compelled to do a press conference or have your picture taken, but we are going to release your name because it's public information," Traverso said. "We want people to know the lottery is creating winners, and we want to be sensitive to our winners that they may not want their details thrown out there to the world."

California has required that the names of winners be made public since voters first passed Proposition 37, also known as the California State Lottery Act, in 1984. Changing the antianonymity law would require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature and approval of the governor.

Only six states allow lottery winners to remain anonymous — Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio and South Carolina. Some states allow winners to shield their identity by claiming their winnings through a trust or a limited liability company.

No anonymity in state

In recent years, several states have considered changing their laws to allow for winners to protect their identity. California lawmakers have not taken up the issue — and with good reason, said Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco.

"Winners need to be public so the public has faith in the lottery," Ting said. "Beneficiary anonymity cannot overshadow governmental accountability to the public."

SF Chronicle, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

JADELottery's avatarJADELottery

You want big bucks, you get big problems, you buy big security, you can afford it.

TheGameGrl's avatarTheGameGrl

No different then when a person has criminal charges, names are published. No different when awards are authenticated thru Drawings by business's  (McD's, Publishers Clearinghouse), so why not the lottery. Refrain from playing if you are that concerned about your welfare. No amount of money can heal one from paranoia or the likes. Being sensible is one thing as its natural to protect ones environment. I have zero desire to hound or even meet a person who won such allotment. Its not my business. What is my business is the right to know that the winner is legitimate and that the funds were awarded properly upon verification.

Save anonymity for when doing a good deed, no one need know then.

One2win's avatarOne2win

 "Beneficiary anonymity cannot overshadow governmental accountability to the public"

What a farce, governmental accountability, bull<snip>e!  When they are accountable for the things that are really important, like informing the public that each and everyone of us can be surveilled, tracked and watched through our phones, t.v.'s and other electronic equipment designed for that purpose - then I'll believe in "governmental accountability to the pubic"  Bunch of peeping Toms who just want to dig up in ya business, that's what I know.

This post has been automatically changed by the Lottery Post computer system to remove inappropriate content and/or spam.

sirbrad's avatarsirbrad

The lottery cares more about making money and the integrity of the game than it does about the winner's welfare. But most of those who had problems were already shady to begin with and from all those normal people and families I have seen win they have not had any problems from what I have heard. Most who did were already ex cons, drug addicts, etc so the lottery only compounded their problems. The West family won $340 million in 2007 and were all over the media for a long time.

Now today most don't even remember them. People only remember Jack Whittaker, David Edwards, Marie Holmes and idiot sauce. Everyone wants to know who won and that real people are winning, except for those who win then they want to remain anonymous. You can't have it both ways. People paying to play should know there are real winners. There is a lot of crime out there anyway and many who won the lottery had no problems also unless they were previously shady or were really stupid. All states should be the SAME also not only certain ones allowing you to be anonymous. That is BS.

JWBlue

I couldn't disagree more with the stance of these lottery commissions.

Auditor's can verify there is a winner.

 

There are a lot of solutions for a winner.

Moving to another part of the country.

Legally changing one's name.

Winner's should not have to do these things but that is the way it is.

If I win, I am not telling anyone including friends.  Only trusted family members would find out.

ArizonaDream's avatarArizonaDream

I can see both sides of the argument. The best way to go may be a 90 day delay on releasing the info, at least give the winner some time to move, hire security, whatever they need to do.

cbr$'s avatarcbr$

I can't see why, your name , the state you live in- Not the City!  Where you purchase the winning ticket. Couldn't be enough accountability for releasing to the public. There are service here on the site / it a ad. that pop up you get can any phone you want. Sure, totally complete the form requirement. By not giving the city where the person lives. Any one who want to be annoying has to search a entire state to try to find you. I have yet to see any branch of our government be this accountable.

Enigmas

"governmental accountability" Oxymoron especially coming from California...

bigbuckswede

Anonymity works with Lotteries played in Europe, why does US authorities belive they are so different from Europe? There is no argument that people would stop buying tickets if they don't see who wins in the US.

MaximumMillions

Quote: Originally posted by bigbuckswede on Jan 19, 2016

Anonymity works with Lotteries played in Europe, why does US authorities belive they are so different from Europe? There is no argument that people would stop buying tickets if they don't see who wins in the US.

It's especially idiotic seeing how 5 states allow for anonymity and other states let winner claim by trust.

sirbrad's avatarsirbrad

Quote: Originally posted by JWBlue on Jan 19, 2016

I couldn't disagree more with the stance of these lottery commissions.

Auditor's can verify there is a winner.

 

There are a lot of solutions for a winner.

Moving to another part of the country.

Legally changing one's name.

Winner's should not have to do these things but that is the way it is.

If I win, I am not telling anyone including friends.  Only trusted family members would find out.

What about corrupt auditors who were paid off? That is what people would be thinking. Far more likely than thousands of winners being paid off and eventually would blow the whistle if their money ran out and they did not get more.

Suzy-Dittlenose

Quote: Originally posted by MaximumMillions on Jan 19, 2016

It's especially idiotic seeing how 5 states allow for anonymity and other states let winner claim by trust.

Good point!

 

I read an article a few days ago about a Trust within a Trust to protect winners identities.

pickone4me's avatarpickone4me

"Winners need to be public so the public has faith in the lottery," Ting said. "Beneficiary anonymity cannot overshadow governmental accountability to the public."

The same states, and other places winning doesn't create faith in the lottery either.  Play your state lottery, stop giving communist california your money.

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Quote: Originally posted by Enigmas on Jan 19, 2016

"governmental accountability" Oxymoron especially coming from California...

I Agree!  100%

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