North Carolina state Rep. Darren Jackson proposed a measure that would allow winners of significant lottery prizes to remain anonymous. Currently the state lottery must reveal the hometown, game played, amount won and prize redemption date of winners of 0 or more. That information is gathered when winners visit a lottery office to collect their prize.
Jackson, whose father won a $1 million Powerball jackpot in 2007, said revealing winners’ information could subject them to repeated contacts from charities or potential scams. He filed a similar bill two years ago. The state lottery began in 2006.
Lottery officials said releasing winner information reinforces credibility about the games. They said security officials and law enforcement can be advised if someone claiming to be another person comes forward publicly to redeem a prize. State media associations also oppose the change because it would remove information about government activity from the public.
House Judiciary Committee members were divided on the bill during debate earlier this week. A meeting for future debate on the bill has not been scheduled.
Currently lottery winners may remain anonymous in Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio and South Carolina.
