Idaho Lottery-winner secrecy bill headed to House floor

Comment #24

Stack47 — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 19:32:10 GMT

I had to show my ID when I cashed a ticket valued over $600 yesterday, gave my SS number, and was given a W-2G. I'll have to include three W-2Gs when I file my 2016 Federal taxes so the only way I could remain anonymous is to not cash the tickets. At the end of the day, winners over $600 won't be anonymous to the IRS, state and city taxes, courts, or child support agencies.

Someone said that their state gave them 3 months before they made the name public.

The Freedom of Information Act o... [ More ]

Comment #23

Think — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 03:06:12 GMT

Good luck on getting the bill passed.

The one introduced for Michigan (HB 4433) is still off in the ozone.

Comment #22

dallascowboyfan — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 10:00:59 GMT

Hopefully other states will follow...

Comment #21

LottoYear — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 23:14:44 GMT

I did not think of that. A news article said that he already put in for retirement, so you are probably right.

Comment #20

MaximumMillions — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 22:23:09 GMT

If I remember correctly the husband was a police officer, maybe they allowed him to wrap up at the PD and quit before going public.

Comment #19

LottoYear — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 22:13:05 GMT

Arizona allows three months of anonymity.

I'm not sure how things work in New York, but on the YouTube video Homemaker wins $169 million Mega Millions jackpot, the jackpot was won in New York on January 8, 2016, the ticket was claimed on March 10 after the winner formed an LLC, and the winner had a press conference on June 30.

Comment #18

Bleudog101 — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 22:41:51 GMT

They have a smoking section @ McCarran and that's where the guy hit the Wheel of Fortune for over $800K I believe. I pulled up the website and there it was, Reno Airport passenger won $10 million while I was in town same time. He said he was going to win and win he did.

You know I'll get getting advanced play for PB MM. Maybe nobody will win PB by then and it will be ridiculously high then.

Comment #17

MaximumMillions — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 20:29:29 GMT

I think I read it on tripadvisor. Thought it was a great idea to get rich right off the plane.

The are owned by the SouthPoint owner Vaughan/Gaughan (?) but since the airport has a captive audience they are really tight, which is why I would only do 1 spin or 20$ for the novelty of it as you don't earn any perks there. You can ABSOLUTELY decline the grip and grin and get anonymity, but people will swarm your machine so you have to ask to go to the office right off the bat.

This site has a... [ More ]

Comment #16

Bleudog101 — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 15:14:28 GMT

Thank you!

How did you know they have Megabucks machines in McCarran (and Reno) airports?

Two visits ago the employee @ the machines there said they are owned by South Pointe Resort/Casino. She said if you hit the jackpot then the owner puts you in their casino. Never been to that one, should since they have quite a few bowling lanes there and love to bowl.

IGT facebook puts the winners on their page; last big payout @ McCarran was on Wheel of Fortune. Several visits ago to Reno/Ta... [ More ]

Comment #15

Redd55 — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 14:49:41 GMT

They should but they arent. Someone said that their state gave them 3 months before they made the name public.

Unfortunately, in Calif it takes 60 days to get your check but still it would give one enough time to get their cash and leave town.

Comment #14

brees2012 — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 12:34:59 GMT

All States should be Anonymous ......

Comment #13

MaximumMillions — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 16:55:27 GMT

The biggest pay off on a lottery vending machine is probably when it topples on you.

I wish you much luck for Vegas, been planning a trip for 4 years now and always had to cancel. Do me a favor, play 1 3$ spin on Megabucks directly at the airport. Wouldn't that be something, winning after 2 minutes on the ground

Comment #12

Bleudog101 — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 16:51:52 GMT

Imagine if slot machines were as a big as a self service lottery machine! Now some are very large, but can't have too many due to space limitations. You can easily fit three slot machines in the space of some of the large slot machines and that takes away from having more people play.

Las Vegas here I come mid-March

Comment #11

MaximumMillions — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 16:40:35 GMT

How is a self-service kiosk a slot machine, jfc. People need to mind their own business.

If I won I would give my info, say I felt lucky and dnidn't have any immediate plany and not answer any questions other than ones related to receiving payment.

Comment #10

Bleudog101 — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 16:31:14 GMT

My Sister, a non-lottery player next to Boise said some jerk(s) out there want to remove the self service lottery machines because they resemble a slot machine. Give me a break. Haven't they have more important issues to tackle than this? Leave lottery players alone with this and pass privacy to lottery winners.

How about the show I think it's called 'The lottery changed my life'. First and last name(s) plastered all over the place along with the big fake check. One could easily find th... [ More ]

Comment #9

Redd55 — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 15:55:17 GMT

I think it is wise to say very little to them when you claim your prize otherwise they will give your statements to the press. So, when the people at the lottery office ask you what you are going to do with your gazilions, tell them to mind their own dam business.

Comment #8

Redd55 — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 15:47:04 GMT

In California they dont just reveal the names of people who win jackpots, they use them as free advertising in that their names are flashed on computer screens where they sell lottery tickets for years. I think that is wrong. There is a difference between making a name public versus using their names for advertising that they didnt agree to.

Two years ago, there was a $26 million jackpot that someone won. The lottery posted that they had proof that their lives were in danger (I got an Armenia... [ More ]

Comment #7

mypiemaster — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 14:11:39 GMT

Just one line on the claim form.

DO YOU WANT TO STAY ANONYMOUS? YES-----------NO---------

So simple.

Comment #6

music* — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 02:09:06 GMT

If the California legislature does something like this than other States will fall in line. California is a political leader in a lot of past laws.

The other States followed California when Proposition 13, the real estate tax revolt passed by the vote of the people. It is a Constitutional Amendment.

California Lottery Commission will release the name of the winner, the name, and location of the store where the ticket was purchased, the amount won, and how the winnings were claimed- Lump... [ More ]

Comment #5

flipper1028 — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 01:29:14 GMT

Totally agree that all states need to do this. There are a lot of scam artist out there just waiting for prey.

As far as the 600 limit.. In Indiana prizes 500 or lower can be claimed at any store and you don't need to give any info, so basically by having a 600 limit, it covers all.

Comment #4

MaximumMillions — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 01:04:27 GMT

I think more states allowing for anonymity is a good thing. The concerning agencies will still get the necessary info, audits will still be done.

Would be a smart move for the Idaho LC, I think border people from WA, OR, NV, UT and Montana would make the trip.

Comment #3

EdG1955 — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 00:58:49 GMT

Announcing the city and state where the prize was won should be enough to assure Idahoans that their fellow Idahoans are winning the prizes. Things are just too crazy nowadays to keep risking the lives of lottery winners. The most recent one killed was Maunds Bryant in December, less than 2 months ago. I don't know what rock that Idaho lottery official has been living under to be unaware that anyone has ever been killed because of their lottery win.

Comment #2

Teddi — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 00:24:39 GMT

That guy in GA got killed for a lot less than $1 million. $250,000 is where I'd be comfortable seeing it start.

I agree the other states need to get with the program and put their constituents above their own greed/self interests for once. I don't doubt that many lottery officials haven't directly heard of issues with harassment. Why would anyone complain to them knowing where they stand on the issue of anonymity. If he bothered to read the news or watch any of the lottery shows, they'd know... [ More ]

Comment #1

lejardin — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 23:48:55 GMT

Now when are the rest of the states going to fall into place? IMO this is needed to help keep lottery winners safe. $600 isnt life changing but I think it should be applied to winnings of a minimum of one million dollars.

Idaho Lottery-winner secrecy bill headed to House floor

Lottery Post — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 23:29:04 GMT

A proposal to provide more confidentiality for lottery winners got pushback Wednesday from the Idaho State Lottery Commission, but was ultimately approved by a legislative panel.

This idea came to me from one of my constituents: an elderly lady who was a lottery winner but was quickly harassed by phone calls and people showing up at her door, trying to separate her from her winnings, said Rep. Lynn Luker (R-Boise). If we approve this, Idaho would join six other states that offer some form of... [ More ]