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Artist77

United States
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Nov 19, 2019, 9:56 am

Quote: Originally posted by BuyLow on Oct 22, 2019
This claim was just made in FL with an LLC. Only the Lawyers name appears looks pretty anonymous to me.

News Release.

http://flalottery.com/pressRelease?searchID=199128

LLC Search.

http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/SearchResultDetail?inquirytype=EntityName&directionType=Initial&searchNameOrder=ABIDE7LIWA%20L190002505580&aggregateId=flal-l19000250558-af1de999-376a-428a-bff5-dfeabbf3d50c&searchTerm=ABIDE7LIWA&listNameOrder=ABIDE7LIWA%20L190002505580

Buylow:

Finally had a time off to sit down and look at this info. Great info and great research. I sent Todd this update for Florida.

Thank you!!
Beetle26*

California
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November 24, 2019
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Nov 24, 2019, 4:59 pm

I have lived in California almost my whole life and I remember around 10 years ago I googled this question and everyone was saying California was one of the ANONYMOUS FRIENDLY STATES, but now everyone online is saying it is not??? I am very confused as to WHEN it has changed....

Also whenever I hear that someone won in California, I NEVER hear or see the person on media, EVER! So I don't know who is spreading lies that California is not an anonymous state! If California is the one spreading their lies to lure people into coming forward, SHAME ON THEM!
Beetle26*

California
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Nov 24, 2019, 5:25 pm

Quote: Originally posted by music* on Mar 31, 2019
Looking at California I see that here is no requirement to do the media availability nor the photo celebrity. Those are voluntary.

I will notify the CA Lottery Fresno District Office of my choices before I claim my prize.

Do the fifteen minutes of fame and your photo and video interview will be available for eternity.

I will remember that California is the land of "Fruits and Nuts" so to speak. Money does grow on trees here in the Central Valley.

I've lived in California almost my entire life, and check their website weekly. As long as I can remember (for 13+ years), every time someone wins in California, I don't HEAR OR SEE almost 80% of the big winners. So either they are lying to the public to lure people into coming forward, or the public is lying to themselves.

About 10 years ago, I clearly remember googling this question and EVERYONE was saying that California was the best state to win in, because they are very anonymity friendly state! So I don't know how or when this has changed?? Unless they are just lying to the public now.
cottoneyedjoe

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Nov 25, 2019, 6:12 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Beetle26* on Nov 24, 2019
I've lived in California almost my entire life, and check their website weekly. As long as I can remember (for 13+ years), every time someone wins in California, I don't HEAR OR SEE almost 80% of the big winners. So either they are lying to the public to lure people into coming forward, or the public is lying to themselves.

About 10 years ago, I clearly remember googling this question and EVERYONE was saying that California was the best state to win in, because they are very anonymity friendly state! So I don't know how or when this has changed?? Unless they are just lying to the public now.

You cannot claim via a trust/LLC and anyone can obtain names of winners in CA by submitting a public records request, and it has always been that way as far as I remember. So in that sense, CA is not an anonymous state.

In recent years the CA lottery hasn't been going out of its way to publicize winners who don't want publicity. It depends on who's in charge at any given moment. It seems the current crop of officials have been more sympathetic to winners' privacy concerns and have discovered more ways of marketing the games, so they don't need to post a lot of winners' photos on the website any more, and they haven't been forcing people to get their picture taken with the big check either. It seems there are enough people who still go for the publicity voluntarily for the lottery to get enough material for its instagram and facebook accts.
Artist77

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Nov 29, 2019, 11:46 am

Quote: Originally posted by cottoneyedjoe on Nov 25, 2019
You cannot claim via a trust/LLC and anyone can obtain names of winners in CA by submitting a public records request, and it has always been that way as far as I remember. So in that sense, CA is not an anonymous state.

In recent years the CA lottery hasn't been going out of its way to publicize winners who don't want publicity. It depends on who's in charge at any given moment. It seems the current crop of officials have been more sympathetic to winners' privacy concerns and have discovered more ways of marketing the games, so they don't need to post a lot of winners' photos on the website any more, and they haven't been forcing people to get their picture taken with the big check either. It seems there are enough people who still go for the publicity voluntarily for the lottery to get enough material for its instagram and facebook accts.

I think this is due to the trend towards other lottery states moving towards anonymity or some degree of anonymity. California does not want to become an anonymous state so it was probably costing some ticket sales. So backing off the over the top publicity probably encouraged more sales.
Sum Buddy

Between Two Worlds

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Nov 30, 2019, 6:23 am

Quote: Originally posted by BuyLow on Oct 22, 2019
This claim was just made in FL with an LLC. Only the Lawyers name appears looks pretty anonymous to me.

News Release.

http://flalottery.com/pressRelease?searchID=199128

LLC Search.

http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/SearchResultDetail?inquirytype=EntityName&directionType=Initial&searchNameOrder=ABIDE7LIWA%20L190002505580&aggregateId=flal-l19000250558-af1de999-376a-428a-bff5-dfeabbf3d50c&searchTerm=ABIDE7LIWA&listNameOrder=ABIDE7LIWA%20L190002505580

It does say that the lawyer is also the managing member, so, not totally anonymous. Or maybe he is the sole winner, under the umbrella of an LLC.

The banquet you enjoy depends on what you bring to the table.
Artist77

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Nov 30, 2019, 8:27 am

Quote: Originally posted by Sum Buddy on Nov 30, 2019

It does say that the lawyer is also the managing member, so, not totally anonymous. Or maybe he is the sole winner, under the umbrella of an LLC.

This update is under Florida in the lottery chart. One has to do a multi tier analysis for anonymity. Anonymous for an individual....if llc or trust is permitted, what info is released, etc.
KY Floyd

NY
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Dec 7, 2019, 12:59 pm

"the lawyer is also the managing member, so, not totally anonymous"

There always has to be some way for people to track down somebody involved with an LLC for legal purposes, so it's always impossible for everybody involved to remain anonymous. The question is then whose name is available to the public, whether it's for typical legal purposes or just because somebody wants to know. Whether the owners want to hide their identity or not having a third party to act as the registered agent of the LLC has advantages. The problem for real anonymity is that even with a third party as the registered agent some states will make at least one member's name available to the public. In Florida the annual report requires the name of a member, and that report is available to the public under the public records law.

By having the person acting as the registered agent be a member it will be their name that goes on the annual report. While being a member means the lawyer has an ownership interest there's no requirement for that interest to be substantial. Ownership interests are typically in percentages or units. While it would be unusual, it may be possible to just have a nominal ownership interest of $1.
Artist77

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Dec 8, 2019, 6:45 am

Quote: Originally posted by KY Floyd on Dec 7, 2019
"the lawyer is also the managing member, so, not totally anonymous"

There always has to be some way for people to track down somebody involved with an LLC for legal purposes, so it's always impossible for everybody involved to remain anonymous. The question is then whose name is available to the public, whether it's for typical legal purposes or just because somebody wants to know. Whether the owners want to hide their identity or not having a third party to act as the registered agent of the LLC has advantages. The problem for real anonymity is that even with a third party as the registered agent some states will make at least one member's name available to the public. In Florida the annual report requires the name of a member, and that report is available to the public under the public records law.

By having the person acting as the registered agent be a member it will be their name that goes on the annual report. While being a member means the lawyer has an ownership interest there's no requirement for that interest to be substantial. Ownership interests are typically in percentages or units. While it would be unusual, it may be possible to just have a nominal ownership interest of $1.

Incorrect. Todd found out that the CPA was not a member of the winning group, just an advisor. This is noted in the Florida summary.
KY Floyd

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Dec 10, 2019, 12:59 am

I've got no quarrel with a claim that he's not a "member of the winning group" since the LLC is just a vehicle to protect the identities of the real winner (and of course there's no reason that anyone here would know whether that means an individual or a group), but the Florida Lottery press release refers to Panouses as the managing member, which would make him a legal member of the LLC. Anyone who has a clue about LLCs would also recognize that as the registered agent Panouses is clearly (and legally) more than "just an advisor".
Todd

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Chief Bottle Washer

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Dec 11, 2019, 8:42 am

Quote: Originally posted by KY Floyd on Dec 10, 2019
I've got no quarrel with a claim that he's not a "member of the winning group" since the LLC is just a vehicle to protect the identities of the real winner (and of course there's no reason that anyone here would know whether that means an individual or a group), but the Florida Lottery press release refers to Panouses as the managing member, which would make him a legal member of the LLC. Anyone who has a clue about LLCs would also recognize that as the registered agent Panouses is clearly (and legally) more than "just an advisor".

He is not a winner.

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BuyLow

Florida
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Dec 11, 2019, 12:07 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Artist77 on Dec 8, 2019
Incorrect. Todd found out that the CPA was not a member of the winning group, just an advisor. This is noted in the Florida summary.

He's actually an attorney. Not a CPA that I could find. https://www.panouseslaw.com/

I would guess the LLC was ONLY set up as a claiming vehicle and for anonymity. If so, there was almost 100% certainly an "LLC Operating Agreement" privately behind the scenes, which stated the LLC was only formed to claim the prize and that the Attorney was NOT the owner of the prize. Just my .02 .....

Also interesting with the LLC: FEI/EIN Number--->NONE Most LLC's have one.
KY Floyd

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Dec 11, 2019, 3:31 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Dec 11, 2019
He is not a winner.

How could you possibly know?

Simple probability says that he's almost certainly just the attorney that the winner used, but if he did happen to win do you think he's stupid enough to create an LLC, list himself as the registered agent (and managing member, assuming the lottery got it right) and then tell people that it's him that won and not an unnamed client?
BuyLow

Florida
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Dec 11, 2019, 4:50 pm

He's just the Manager of the LLC. I have an LLC in FL, Another person is the Manager (NOT AN OWNER) I am the registered agent. The Manager only manages the LLC persuant to the LLC Operating Agreement.
Artist77

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Dec 11, 2019, 6:47 pm

Quote: Originally posted by BuyLow on Dec 11, 2019
He's just the Manager of the LLC. I have an LLC in FL, Another person is the Manager (NOT AN OWNER) I am the registered agent. The Manager only manages the LLC persuant to the LLC Operating Agreement.

Exactly. Fairly simple for most people to understand.

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