TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey lottery winners would have the option of staying anonymous for one year under a bill that is now headed to Gov. Chris Christie's desk.
The state Senate voted unanimously to pass the measure (A2982), which cleared the Assembly without opposition in December.
Under current law, winners' identities are public information, and the state Lottery Commission can publicize their names, hometowns, prize winnings and photographs.
Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester), a sponsor, said lottery winners face all kinds of pitfalls once people find out they've struck it right.
"Winning the lottery can be a blessing and a curse. Once their identities become public, lottery winners can become targets for unscrupulous individuals and scam artists looking to get a piece of their winnings. In worst case scenarios, lottery winners have been kidnapped and killed," Burzichelli said. "Unless the individual wants his or her identity revealed, residents who are lucky enough to win the lottery should have the option to remain private for the sake of their own safety."
What I would like to know, is what took them so long...?
enjoy the mystery and find a good place to hide when you win
I got a phone call one day from a man with an Indian accent stating he worked for the lottery claims department.
I suppose he wanted to verify/obtain a few things.
First tip off was the accent.
Next was the pressure to make sure he was speaking to the person he called for...me. (at times even cutting me off mid-sentence)
Next was the name: Bobby Benjamin. huh?
He had the correct area code for Headquarters..turns out the number didn't work to call back though.
I had the number for Headquarters, called and lo and behold, no such person in employment..then, or ever.
Scam.
Poorly pulled off.
I'm all for keeping winners names, hometowns, photos, etc out of the wrong hands. The option to remain anonymous
should be out there for everyone. A year will not help. Make it forever.
I agree Dr, lets keep them anonymous forever! However, I'm glad that NJ is doing something (now come on Powerball!).
Yeah, Glad we have it here.
I know what the rhyme and reason is for, and that is to let the public know the state isn't just taking the money and running, but I think we all know how many politicians would do that now don't we?
I'd like to know by vote how many of these politicians would be willing to let everyone know just where they live if the shoe were on the other foot.
This should be a right of the individual, not the State..
As far as hiding, I'll rent a studio apartment in the state somewhere and have the utilities turned on in my name, while I'm actually out West On my cattle ranch drilling for oil on the lower Forty, can't get to much more incognito than that....
I agree, one year is next to no help at all, unless the winner changes his/her name within that one year. But I would not want to go through the hassle of changing my name. I say make it at least five years or longer, or forever.
begin calling because the year of 'protection' has ended and the news is out just as it would have been a year prior.
That's just pointless.
I'm happy they have 1/2 a thinking hat on, maybe they'll find the rest under a rock somewhere and really do some good for
winners.
Get that thing signed big guy, the sooner you sign it, the sooner we can head down that road to permanent anonymity.
Lol.
Accents & Bobby Benjamin, that right there is a reipe for financial disaster. Would you have given him some credit if he called himself "Benjamin Button? "
For michigan only games, but for some reason there's a lot of michiganders who still want their names out there with pics and the amount they won.............just don't get it
Insanity.
With Sandy passing through NJ last year and people knowing you a resident who has deep pockets, anything could happen. Those people who lost everything deserve relief from their pain & suffering but there are others who were not affected at all but still try to screw the system and if you a Jackpot winner and you make it known,you might as well get in line to be screwed as well.
With todays Technology your name would somehow get out there anyways.
they should get rid of the 10.8% state tax on lottery winnings while they're at it.
BETTER one year, than none.
Agree.......at least that would give you time to figure things out, move if you wanted to and get settled with everything without having to worry about if someones gonna hound you for a handout or knock on your door for an interview.
Amen, let's get rid of 10.8% lottery tax,
and the ones that voted for it before they come up w/any more bright ideas.
get rid of incumbents.
You can't get an expedient answer from a casino executive either,
cause when you ask them a ?
the first thing they think of is,
"how does this effect me ?
Hope the NJ anonymity lottery bill passes.
You have to start some where, giving a person a year before announcing their name at least gives them time to get their affairs in order without out having to deal with people wanting their money. Heck if they are smart I'd take the year to get out of NJ and down to a low tax state like Florida. Hopefully after the politicians discover no harm is done if a winners name and address is not published and that will lead to new laws letting you accept you winnings in complete privacy.
So will this recent winner get to benefit from this bill? Or is it not in effect yet??
Not yet in effect yet. The Governor hasn't signed the bill as of today...
The lottery laws in all states are out dated. In these modern times the winner should remain completely anomonous
Will it be effective immediately when he signs ?
Governor better hurry up. Did'nt take long to do a press conference on Pedro.
I hope they do this for New York. I would hate to win and my name going public. I wanna stay anonymous.