Massachusetts Lottery winners increasingly opting to stay anonymous

Comment #11

dannyct — Sun, 20 May 2018 23:22:54 GMT

It is extremely dangerous for lottery winners to be identified, especially if it is a large amount. Winners who are coming to terms with sudden wealth, and how to handle it, have enough to deal with. The last thing they need, is relatives asking for help . They also become targets for scamers and dangerous criminals. Such information should be exempt from public disclosure records. In the UK and Australia, winners automatically have the right to anonymity. They can choose publicity if they wish,... [ More ]

Comment #10

Bleudog101 — Tue, 15 May 2018 12:46:54 GMT

Homeboy had to look up Hanover, MA...never heard of it. Anyway not too far from Lottery Headquarters in Braintree, MA. Hope to visit him one day....just saying.

Comment #9

noise-gate — Tue, 15 May 2018 03:27:56 GMT

imagine being a jackpot winner, and having the police increase their patrol presence in your neighborhood, and not just that, but on occasions to pull into your driveway and do paperwork. Oh Lordy. If ever there was a good reason for jackpot anonymity- that's it right there

Comment #8

LottoLucy — Tue, 15 May 2018 01:55:13 GMT

The trust becomes a legal entity that kind of takes on a life of its own and can even survive you after death so it has a separate number than the person who forms it.

Getting the taxpayer ID number for the trust may be the most complicated part of setting up the trust but it isn t all that complicated. You just fill out a form from the IRS. If you do it online you can get your number instantly.

It is nice he only charges his usual hourly rate. He seems like a reasonable guy.

Comment #7

CDanaT — Mon, 14 May 2018 17:15:57 GMT

Nice story.............. Spillane is a sharp man to offer his services and smart folks are apparently taking him up on his offer..Good for them... Stay anonymous, avoid the look what I won/pay attention to me mentality. Don't take a chance and become one of those those winners who wished they had never won or worse, one who ended up deceased.

Comment #6

KY Floyd — Mon, 14 May 2018 16:48:41 GMT

Isn't that the winner's SSAN

The trust is a legal entity, just like a person or a corporation, and gets it's own taxpayer identification number. Like a corporation, a trust can be owned by multiple people, and in that case the SSN of any one owner/member wouldn't work even if a trust could just use a person's SSN.

just a few hours ... Spillane is paid his regular hourly rate, and not a percentage of any winnings.

What a bargain. I'm sure that people who win a million bucks wouldn't g... [ More ]

Comment #5

vbrich — Mon, 14 May 2018 16:24:16 GMT

This would be only way we claim any prize. I would like people to leave us alone if we do win. As fun, 3 of us had been putting in $5 per week for several months now and we agreed on creating trust for a worthy prize. I am hoping this would be the week.

It puzzles me, people are willingly post their pics on lottery site with $1k scratch offs or under $100k jackpots and states enforcing this.

Comment #4

noise-gate — Mon, 14 May 2018 14:22:01 GMT

- Australia lottery setup is the way to go. I am so against this CA lottery transparency , it' s not at all funny. I don't see people standing in line at the bank asking the person next to them So how much do you have in your savings account? It's private, and so should your jackpot winnings be. Btw- Spillane looks a little like the Chief bottle washer, cousins twice removed.

Comment #3

music* — Mon, 14 May 2018 14:12:09 GMT

David Spillane Esq. can expect more business because his stories are being promoted here on Lottery Post and elsewhere.

I need to talk with my State Assemblyperson and State Senator. Get California to make changes.

Mavis Wanczyk of Chicopee should have slowed down and sought professional help before claiming her record prize. Lottery Officials cannot help a winner they are restricted to only give advice if that.

Act and think like a winner. ASAP starting now.

Would a millionai... [ More ]

Comment #2

Coin Toss — Mon, 14 May 2018 14:09:58 GMT

All American lotteries should do what Australia does, put a NP (No publicity) option on the play slip.

Regardless of the state that would leave it up to the players.

Comment #1

Bleudog101 — Mon, 14 May 2018 12:34:45 GMT

Going to have to remember Spillane when win on one of my Season Tickets from Massachusetts...long overdue for a trip home!

One point I didn't understand is it mentioned the difficult part was setting up a tax identification number? Isn't that the winner's SSAN or is it because it is set up through a trust? One of you smart LP member please enlighten me.

Mr. Spillane sounds like a reasonable man to me and can't wait to meet him personally.

Massachusetts Lottery winners increasingly opting to stay anonymous

Lottery Post — Mon, 14 May 2018 12:20:55 GMT

Some people can't believe David Spillane's luck when it comes to the state lottery.

People come up to me and say congratulations. How come you win over and over? Spillane, a lawyer from Hanover, said in a recent interview.

Five times since Jan. 1, Spillane has gone to Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters in Braintree to claim a winning ticket. The total windfall to date is $6 million.

Each time, the state Lottery has distributed to the press and posted on its website the standard g... [ More ]