Georgia Gov. signs bill allowing lottery winners to remain anonymous

Comment #36

adamc224 — Sat, 19 May 2018 03:25:47 GMT

I contacted Georgia Lottery directly. The law went into effect May 7th. According to them, you can connect anonymously with wins over $250,000.00. Which we know, but you have to submit a letter requesting anonymity when you claim a prize.

Comment #35

music* — Mon, 14 May 2018 14:20:25 GMT

MsBee18, You have asked an excellent and thought-provoking question.

My answer is that the Lotteries have access to the name and address of the winner but they are allowed to not make it public. Tipton would have been caught.

Comment #34

CDanaT — Mon, 14 May 2018 11:57:07 GMT

https://www.myajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/georgia-senate-passes-bill-that-would-give-lottery-winners-anonymity/wnqchQKdVSwS7jYNIcInlK/

This is the only article I could find on that up to 4% surcharge that was initially introduced. The last paragraph does state that the senate added an amendment to the bill that would NOT require a winner to pay for any costs affiliated with anonymity.

Sounds like they have some concern about winners privacy.They set the privacy starting at

Comment #33

Coin Toss — Mon, 14 May 2018 05:06:48 GMT

noise-gate,

Your latest post here made me think of a t-shirt I saw in a catalog;

The NSA read my shirt

We did not, NSA

Here's an idea for another t-shirt

Anonymous Jackpot Winner!

wendy67,

4% is a little strong but might still be worth it.

Comment #32

Groppo — Mon, 14 May 2018 04:15:42 GMT

.

Mr./Ms. Slicktime,

Yes, there is one commercial co. you've seen already, that protects one's ss number, with elaborate security.

Just a little while longer, when these companies start popping up all over.

Mr. Groppo

(hey groppo where've ya been

Comment #31

wendy67 — Mon, 14 May 2018 03:58:35 GMT

Ga lottery doesn't care about its players lives. Unless I'm mistaken this bill comes with a cost of 4% of your winnings, even with the taxes.

Comment #30

MsBee18 — Mon, 14 May 2018 02:04:27 GMT

If Iowa was an anonymous state would Tipton be caught

Comment #29

noise-gate — Mon, 14 May 2018 01:08:54 GMT

The Californian Lottery is big on this transparency bit. Their spin is people want to know who won! Who are these people that want to know? Since CA loves putting stuff on the ballot, like medical marijuana,rent control, prop this or that, why not put this Who wants to know who the lottery winners are! While they at it, state that the reason it is on the ballot is because of the safety to jackpot winners. Btw, l notice that using LP on my cellphone, a site called Moms-get-naughty popped up. l th... [ More ]

Comment #28

Coin Toss — Sun, 13 May 2018 22:42:57 GMT

Australia and other entities that allow winners to remain anonymous don't have a problem with it nor do you hear about any scandals or cheating.

Just my @.02 here but I find it incredible that people here at LP think that allowing anonymity would invite cheating yet some of those very same people believe there is actually someone representing as think tank tank is an actual person.

CDanaT,

Thanks for the insight and points well made. I'm in a rural area and a few years back someone ne... [ More ]

Comment #27

grwurston — Sun, 13 May 2018 22:17:28 GMT

Don't be mad when the cheating gets worse and you were robbed of a legitimate chance of winning.

292 and 302 million to one odds for a jackpot win isn't much of a chance whether someone was to cheat or not. This is why many don't play until the jackpot hits 500 Mill or so. The attitude is, why spend $2 on a lousy 100 or 150 Mill? I'll save my money for when it gets really big.

People win 1 million because the odds are only 11.6 and 12.6 million to one. Realistically this is probably what o... [ More ]

Comment #26

adamc224 — Sun, 13 May 2018 19:32:58 GMT

I for one am thrilled. I play in Georgia often... I am glad that the people's voice has been heard. A lot of problems comes with being a lottery winner. From constant bombardment of people asking for money to even threatening of you or a family members life. It is all a hassle that does not need to be. I would love to win a jackpot and not have to deal with a estate lawyer and complicated taxes due to a LLC, Corporation, or trust. and just collect as a individual.

The ones out there that t... [ More ]

Comment #25

Artist77 — Sun, 13 May 2018 16:27:07 GMT

Excellent summary cdana! I am also always curious about the people who want to seek publicity for major wins. Winning the lottery is not due to the winner inventing a cure for cancer, helping the poor, or other personal, family, or career accomplishment. The win might make you a temporary kartrashian if you want to flaunt it 24/7 but if you are secure with yourself and have a life and other achievements, most people want to stay anonymous and get back to their lives.

Comment #24

CDanaT — Sun, 13 May 2018 15:01:06 GMT

I and others on this site am far from paranoid. But what I can tell you( Mr/Ms Fellini) as a 17 year veteran police officer who has investigated homicides/suicides/sex crimes/theft/domestics/robberies and various other crimes against humanity, that there are some people out there that don't care about your life/opinion and have zero remorse about taking it or items from you at any given moment. There is an old saying in my career field and it goes like this, 90% of the folks out here are good an... [ More ]

Comment #23

Slicktime — Sun, 13 May 2018 06:18:25 GMT

What is your point? We do know someone will win and we know there are people who win 1 million basically every drawing.

Comment #22

grwurston — Sun, 13 May 2018 05:34:04 GMT

Those 292 and 302 million to one odds, isn't much of chance. Think about it, every single person in the country over 18 could by one ticket and there would still be 50-60 million unsold combos left over.

Comment #21

fellini — Sun, 13 May 2018 05:15:45 GMT

Some of you guys are way too paranoid. If you won a jackpot you would think everyone is out to get you. You guys need to relax.

Comment #20

Slicktime — Sun, 13 May 2018 05:06:08 GMT

In the future i may not play. Don't be mad when the cheating gets worse and you were robbed of a legitimate chance of winning.

Comment #19

ieatdirt — Sun, 13 May 2018 04:12:58 GMT

Whenever the anonymous states are mentioned little ole Wyoming is always omitted.

Comment #18

kennedygrandma8 — Sun, 13 May 2018 01:38:22 GMT

Good for GA I may really go across the lines now to play because NC is full of mess. Nobody is really winning anything.and pick3 is a big joke. Before NC got lottery me and my friens used to go to GA and virginia anyway

Comment #17

paymentplan-man — Sun, 13 May 2018 01:33:34 GMT

I dont actually hate you but the rest of what I said was spot on

Comment #16

paymentplan-man — Sun, 13 May 2018 01:32:32 GMT

Booooo I hate you. What if every big winner was actually fake and one person has been winning all the lotteries and paying people 10 million to keep it quit. You give me 10 million and I ain't saying s###. but I also can see more cheating in the future as this spreads.

If you think like that then I encourage you not to play in the first place.

Comment #15

TheGameGrl — Sun, 13 May 2018 00:43:40 GMT

R.I. P. Transparency.

Deception is here to stay.

Comment #14

dannyct — Sat, 12 May 2018 21:19:31 GMT

That sounds like a good deal to me

Comment #13

music* — Sat, 12 May 2018 19:29:13 GMT

Do you understand the pull of cashing in the ticket the next business day? Like gravitational pull. That small piece of paper could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Most likely I will move that winning ticket to the District Lottery Office from my residence soon after the draw.

I will notify my family members before I claim my prize.

Comment #12

music* — Sat, 12 May 2018 19:23:23 GMT

Here in California, all future winners should decline the photo and the media event. Then the Legislature will get the message. Plus the new Governor in November.

Comment #11

hearsetrax — Sat, 12 May 2018 19:20:46 GMT

HENCE WHY I PUT UP THESE RULES UP A BIT AGO

Comment #10

wander73 — Sat, 12 May 2018 17:46:05 GMT

Absolutely, however, anonymous winners need to do other things accordingly. Delete all their social media, follow up with the accountant, financial planner, lawyer.

Comment #9

Slicktime — Sat, 12 May 2018 17:21:50 GMT

I understand everyone wanting to remain anonymous, I would and can because of where I live but I also can see more cheating in the future as this spreads.

Comment #8

konane — Sat, 12 May 2018 16:33:59 GMT

Great article Todd! I'm very happy to see that law enacted for the benefit and safety of large winners.

Comment #7

lejardin — Sat, 12 May 2018 15:42:00 GMT

One by one, hope it continues to all playing states.

Comment #6

CDanaT — Sat, 12 May 2018 15:23:37 GMT

Congrats GA, welcome to the club of the very few !!!! Perhaps others will follow your lead in the near future

Comment #5

music* — Sat, 12 May 2018 15:07:32 GMT

I agree with Georgia. I was thinking, Would any millionaire want to do a press conference if they did not have to?

Stone Mountain, Georgia is where a major lottery winner lived. The winners lived there and in San Jose, CA.

Isn't Georgia the State where criminals shot a winner and killed him in front of his kids? The criminals were caught and are now in prison. The thin blue line and the State Justice Department working together.

Excellent work by Governor Nathan Deal and Senator St... [ More ]

Comment #4

Coin Toss — Sat, 12 May 2018 14:54:09 GMT

Good for Georgia, hope other states follow.

Comment #3

hearsetrax — Sat, 12 May 2018 14:41:24 GMT

Comment #2

Bleudog101 — Sat, 12 May 2018 13:27:58 GMT

Congratulations Georgia and a Governor that cares enough of his constituents to allow lottery winners to remain anonymous.

Comment #1

dpoly1 — Sat, 12 May 2018 13:26:02 GMT

As it should be

Georgia Gov. signs bill allowing lottery winners to remain anonymous

Lottery Post — Sat, 12 May 2018 12:47:44 GMT

By Todd Northrop

Georgia has joined a small but growing number of states that allow lottery winners to remain anonymous.

On Monday Georgia governor Nathan Deal signed a bill allowing lottery winners with prizes over $250,000 to keep their identity secret upon request.

Prior to this point, Georgia state law required disclosure of big lottery winners' names and hometown be disclosed if requested under the state's Open Records Act, but did not require them to take photographs with oversize... [ More ]