Missouri House considers legislation to protect the identity of lottery winners

Mar 4, 2020, 8:39 am (6 comments)

Missouri Lottery

A bill to protect the identity of Missouri lottery winners is making its way through the legislative process.

Rep. Jay Mosley (R-Florissant) sponsored the bill to provide an added level of safety for individuals who win lottery prizes in the state.

The current practice is for prize winners to have their names posted to the lottery website to announce their winnings.

Mosley said the change is needed to give winners the option to stay anonymous.

"This is a safety issue and a way to give winners protection from being easily targeted. Many winners have talked about how winning a lottery prize brought them unwanted attention. This bill is simply a way to allow people to feel safe when they win," said Mosley.

Mosley said eight states, including Kansas, allow lottery winners to remain anonymous.

He said passage of his bill could encourage more people who are concerned about their safety to play the lottery in Missouri rather than cross state line to play the lottery in Kansas where their identity will be protected.

Mosley filed identical legislation during the 2019 session. That bill received unanimous support in the General Laws Committee, but did not make it to the House floor before the legislative session ended. Mosley is hopeful that this year's bill will receive a vote in the House.

Mosley's bill was recently heard by the House General Laws Committee and is expected to receive a vote in the committee in the coming days.

KFVS

Comments

Bleudog101

Slowly but surely this seems to be gaining traction state by state.   Give the winners the option, if they want their 15' of fame and fortune, let them have it.   Personally would just like the store name and city where the winning ticket was sold.   Transparent enough for this player!

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

GREAT IDEA!

Smash Smashing!

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

cottoneyedjoe's avatarcottoneyedjoe

It's really catching on. But I won't hold my breath waiting for California to give winners anonymity.

cbr$'s avatarcbr$

I hope a lot more states follow this practice. It is time they protect the winners. By being anonymous                           they will feel safe. Great story Todd & Good Idea. Thumbs Up

music*'s avatarmusic*

Rep. Jay Mosley may have heard from past winners Mark & Cindy Hill. I believe that he represents them in Florissant, MO.

  The Hills are very generous. They may have not moved. 

End of comments
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