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Candlelight777

Indiana
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December 18, 2013
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Dec 26, 2013, 12:49 pm

I love to play like many of you but the thought has often crossed my mind and with great concern...being forced to share my identity with the public. That is a scary thought in light of me and my families safety. I would not tell anyone except those close to me in fear of becoming a target, or my children being used as a ransom. I live in Indiana and i see peoples faces and names posted on the hoosier lottery website and sometimes on the news channels and wonder if they had a choice. I don't know the answer to this but would i be required to reveal my identity should i ever hit it big or would i be allowed to keep my identity private if i wish to do so?
helpmewin

100

u$a
United States
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February 22, 2011
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Dec 26, 2013, 12:59 pm
mrcraft

Los Angeles, California
United States
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December 2, 2013
919 Posts
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Dec 26, 2013, 1:39 pm

There are threads here that discuss forming trusts and having your attorney claim the prize at the lottery office.

I'm new, so I can't post links, but one thread is in the News section. There are comments to the article about Pennsylvania's attempt to make that state an anonymous state where winners can choose to collect anonymously. That might provide you with some information to guide you in your research, but you'll likely need to consult an attorney for a definitive answer.

I have the same concern, and after some self research, I'm still not 100% sure whether trusts will work or not in my state.
Candlelight777

Indiana
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December 18, 2013
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Dec 26, 2013, 1:47 pm

Thank you...i will go check out the thread.
rdgrnr

100

The Hall Of The Mountain Kings Tennessee
United States
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April 28, 2009
15,378 Posts
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Dec 26, 2013, 1:47 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Candlelight777 on Dec 26, 2013
I love to play like many of you but the thought has often crossed my mind and with great concern...being forced to share my identity with the public. That is a scary thought in light of me and my families safety. I would not tell anyone except those close to me in fear of becoming a target, or my children being used as a ransom. I live in Indiana and i see peoples faces and names posted on the hoosier lottery website and sometimes on the news channels and wonder if they had a choice. I don't know the answer to this but would i be required to reveal my identity should i ever hit it big or would i be allowed to keep my identity private if i wish to do so?

I'd recommend that you get a big ol' country boy for a bodyguard and pay him about a million dollars a year if you really wanna be safe.

Let me know if you're leanin' that way when you win.
Shelby Mustang

United States
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December 9, 2013
644 Posts
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Dec 26, 2013, 3:09 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Candlelight777 on Dec 26, 2013
I love to play like many of you but the thought has often crossed my mind and with great concern...being forced to share my identity with the public. That is a scary thought in light of me and my families safety. I would not tell anyone except those close to me in fear of becoming a target, or my children being used as a ransom. I live in Indiana and i see peoples faces and names posted on the hoosier lottery website and sometimes on the news channels and wonder if they had a choice. I don't know the answer to this but would i be required to reveal my identity should i ever hit it big or would i be allowed to keep my identity private if i wish to do so?

It is a problem I'd love to have in the very near future...I'm gonna go out on a limb here and just say I dont care if the release my name or what as long as I win enough to where I can just retire and do as I please. LOL as that one song goes "Say my name say my name
Shelby Mustang

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December 9, 2013
644 Posts
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Dec 26, 2013, 3:11 pm

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Dec 26, 2013
I'd recommend that you get a big ol' country boy for a bodyguard and pay him about a million dollars a year if you really wanna be safe.

Let me know if you're leanin' that way when you win.

LOL rdgrnr I got one better, I'd be walking around with my AA-12 and an extra clip if needed
Jon D

Los Angeles, California
United States
Member #103,809
January 5, 2011
1,530 Posts
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Dec 26, 2013, 3:58 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Candlelight777 on Dec 26, 2013
I love to play like many of you but the thought has often crossed my mind and with great concern...being forced to share my identity with the public. That is a scary thought in light of me and my families safety. I would not tell anyone except those close to me in fear of becoming a target, or my children being used as a ransom. I live in Indiana and i see peoples faces and names posted on the hoosier lottery website and sometimes on the news channels and wonder if they had a choice. I don't know the answer to this but would i be required to reveal my identity should i ever hit it big or would i be allowed to keep my identity private if i wish to do so?

There are 6 states that explicitly allow anonymous lottery claims: Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, South Carolina, Kansas and North Dakota.

But a winner can also claim anonymously in many other states by claiming as a Trust or LLC.(a few states such as VA and OR disallow that though) Then the only one facing the publicity is the lawyer, and the Trust/LLC name is the published winner. A quick search for Indiana provides some examples:

https://www.lotterypost.com/news/243204

https://www.lotterypost.com/news/186362

In the other states besides the 6 anonymous ones, there's an obscure hodge podge of various rules, and winner identity may often be up to the discretion of the lottery director.

As always, check with an attorney before claiming if you are worried about such things.

I'm not worried about it, I'll deal with the winnings and responsibilities that comes with it if it ever happens. Play on.
Kejana48

25

Lottery Dreamer

Hampton Roads, Virginia
United States
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June 4, 2009
116,790 Posts
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Dec 26, 2013, 4:04 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Candlelight777 on Dec 26, 2013
I love to play like many of you but the thought has often crossed my mind and with great concern...being forced to share my identity with the public. That is a scary thought in light of me and my families safety. I would not tell anyone except those close to me in fear of becoming a target, or my children being used as a ransom. I live in Indiana and i see peoples faces and names posted on the hoosier lottery website and sometimes on the news channels and wonder if they had a choice. I don't know the answer to this but would i be required to reveal my identity should i ever hit it big or would i be allowed to keep my identity private if i wish to do so?

I would love to have to sort through this issue one day, instead of never winning!!!

Kejana

" Manually tracking Pick 4 Lottery Results since 2009"
Jon D

Los Angeles, California
United States
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January 5, 2011
1,530 Posts
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Dec 26, 2013, 4:05 pm

Quote: Originally posted by mrcraft on Dec 26, 2013
There are threads here that discuss forming trusts and having your attorney claim the prize at the lottery office.

I'm new, so I can't post links, but one thread is in the News section. There are comments to the article about Pennsylvania's attempt to make that state an anonymous state where winners can choose to collect anonymously. That might provide you with some information to guide you in your research, but you'll likely need to consult an attorney for a definitive answer.

I have the same concern, and after some self research, I'm still not 100% sure whether trusts will work or not in my state.

Actually, I found out that in CA they just recently changed the rules.

They used to allow Trust/LLC winner claims, and there were examples of that in the past. But earlier this year they changed the rules so that only a "natural person" may claim prizes. I checked the regulations and yep, sure enough, they quietly slipped in that change on the April 2013 revision. Very sneaky.
Candlelight777

Indiana
United States
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December 18, 2013
503 Posts
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Dec 26, 2013, 4:31 pm

Thanks for the info. Well you know what they say about money...it can be a blessing and it can be a cursing
Mattapan

boston,ma
United States
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December 15, 2013
113 Posts
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Dec 26, 2013, 4:57 pm

I actually believe winners names should be published to assure complete faith in the systems. When I hear about someone claiming anonymously, I instantly question whether or not it's on the up and up especially huge jackpots. I'm sure i'm not the only one. If I won, I would publicly pick up that huge check, give the press conference and answer all questions.

If you win something like 2 or 4 million it barely raises any eyebrows so i'm sure you would be good to go. However, if you win one of those jackpots over $100 million, time to start thinking about long term physical security.
Candlelight777

Indiana
United States
Member #150,266
December 18, 2013
503 Posts
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Dec 26, 2013, 5:36 pm

This is the way i see it..... If there were no checks and balances and outside auditors overseeing things....how much credibility then would a winners picture and identification hold? What is a person gonna do track these people down and call them? heck you can bet they changed their numbers, probably moved and certainly not accessable to the public understandably. Even if you could track them down somehow, they wouldn't talk to you because there probably are enough crazy people attempting to do just that.....soo really that in no way is an effective means for a lottery player to verify anything nor would players care to go to such lengths.

I believe people play first and foremost because of strict checks and balances in place and outside auditors...that is where people's trust is... not identifying winners and plastering their face on the lottery website. Computer programs can create false photos and bookkeeping can be tinkered with to paint a different picture as well....just saying if there were no checks and balances and outside auditors that could very well be the concern, but it's not because of measures in place to prevent it. It's those measures that carry the weight in trust anyway, not the identities and pictures of winners.

If the lottery thinks they are in any way validated and trusted by lottery players because they identify and post winners pictures they are seriously wrong. It means nothing nor does it add anything to their credibility. I am sure come tax return time big brother will be hunting down winners to pay their dues, so the need to reveal winners to validate the lottery in some way is absolute hogwash in my opinion...big brother always follows the money and who it goes to because somebody is accountable for getting it and paying taxes on it. The lottery promotes it purely for advertisement purpose regardless of the fact that many find it wrong and for valid reasons and concerns.
Mattapan

boston,ma
United States
Member #150,095
December 15, 2013
113 Posts
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Dec 26, 2013, 6:18 pm

The average player when they go play a number doesn't think about checks and balances or outside auditors. The only thing they know is pay your money, watch the balls and hope for a win. If the jackpot is huge everyone and there mama want to know who won, myself included. As far as computer programs creating false photos, they can't create false press conferences. Besides that's way over thinking. A Happy family or a single person sitting down at a table talking about how money won't change them or that they're still going to continue working, is a good way of promoting your lottery as far as im concern.
mrcraft

Los Angeles, California
United States
Member #149,486
December 2, 2013
919 Posts
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Dec 26, 2013, 6:38 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Jon D on Dec 26, 2013
Actually, I found out that in CA they just recently changed the rules.

They used to allow Trust/LLC winner claims, and there were examples of that in the past. But earlier this year they changed the rules so that only a "natural person" may claim prizes. I checked the regulations and yep, sure enough, they quietly slipped in that change on the April 2013 revision. Very sneaky.

Thanks. Well, that makes it easy then. I'll just sign my darn ticket right away if I win.

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