Thinking about the recent Powerball drawing: If I live in a state that requires that I disclose my identity if I win, but I purchased my ticket in a state that does not require disclosure, must I disclose my identity if I win?
The answer is no.
The Multi-State Lottery Association, which runs Powerball, explicitly states in its rules, "If you purchase a winning lottery ticket in the following 11 states, you have the legal right to remain anonymous": Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.
The remaining 34 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, require lottery winners to publicly come forward to claim their cash prize.
Also in the rules, "Prizes must be claimed in the jurisdiction where the winning ticket was purchased." So you can't buy a winning ticket in California, then try to claim the prize in Arizona in order to remain anonymous.
Some states allow winners to set up a limited liability company (LLC) and claim the prize in the company name instead of a personal name.
In a recent megajackpot in Michigan, a lottery lawyer set up a lottery "club" that allowed him to come forward to claim the winnings for his clients who'd joined the "club," keeping their identities private. Usually, lottery clubs are created in advance, consisting of a number of players who pool their money to buy numerous tickets, increasing their chances of winning; such clubs have to file paperwork with the IRS and the state lottery commission, as well as drafting bylaws, in order to comply with laws regarding businesses and taxes. But Michigan allowed the club to be created after the fact.
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rokgpsman
Nov-17-2022
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David
Nov-17-2022
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Kurt Wiesenbach
Nov-17-2022
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David
Nov-18-2022
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