All news

New Oregon law shields lottery winners from public scrutiny

Oregon lottery winners can now remain anonymous, ending decades of transparency. Is public oversight at risk?

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, during a Media Availability session on May 5, 2025.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, during a Media Availability session on May 5, 2025. Photograph credit to Governor Tina Kote.
Samantha Herscher

Oregon lottery winners will now remain anonymous thanks to a new law signed by Governor Tina Kotek. The legislation marks a significant shift in the state's approach to lottery winner transparency.

What changed with the new law?

Governor Kotek signed a bill Thursday, making all lottery winners in Oregon anonymous unless they explicitly consent to publicity. This applies to all games and prize amounts without exception.

Oregon previously belonged to a group of 23 states that publicly disclosed winner identities. The new secrecy provision takes effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Why does this matter?

The Oregon Lottery represents the state's second-largest funding source after personal income tax. This change eliminates a key transparency mechanism for both the games and the agency itself.

While signing the bill, Governor Kotek addressed potential concerns:

"I believe that safety and transparency are not mutually exclusive and can be achieved concurrently."

She plans to direct the lottery agency to continue publishing non-identifying winner information, such as city and ZIP code data.

How did this change happen?

The anonymity provision emerged as an amendment to House Bill 3115, which primarily targeted a different issue. The original bill aimed to stop lottery prize winners from selling tickets to third parties at discounted rates.

An investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive last year uncovered a cottage industry of entrepreneurs buying millions in winning tickets at 50-80% of face value, then redeeming them for full payment.

This practice enabled:

  • Tax evasion on full prize values.
  • Winners to avoid child support payments and other state debts.
  • Buyers to deduct ticket purchases as business expenses.

The new law prohibits such ticket sales and blocks buyers from deducting purchase prices from taxable income in Oregon.

Limited public discussion

Despite its significance, the anonymity amendment received minimal discussion in legislative committees or chamber floors before passage. The bill moved through the Oregon Legislature this spring with little debate on this provision.

A similar proposal to keep some winner names secret advanced through the House in 2019 when Kotek served as House speaker but never received a Senate vote.

Arguments for anonymity

Supporters of the anonymity provision point to the so-called "lottery curse" where winners face harassment after their identities become public.

Attorney Darian Stanford from Tonkon Torp, who works with an international company purchasing Oregon lottery tickets, testified about winners being subjected to doxxing and harassment after public disclosure.

Governor Kotek emphasized that the anonymity clause doesn't prevent sharing winner information with tax authorities or agencies collecting child support and other state debts.

Comments

0
Loading comments

Related articles

Jeffrey Deli Grocery, located at 2149 Valentine Ave. in the Bronx.
Lucky New York ticket delivers $1K a week for life win

This Bronx deli might be known for sandwiches, but now it's serving up a side of lifelong winnings.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

The Food Lion on Stephen Decatur Highway, Maryland.
Four Maryland siblings split $1.8 million Multi-Match jackpot

Eight years of playing the same Multi-Match numbers delivered a jackpot for the family.

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher

The numbers 3333 and 888 over a sky blue background with confetti.
Quads, trips, and a countdown win big over the holiday weekend

If you ever thought repeating digits were too good to be true, think again — just ask these 26,000+ winners.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

Recent articles

View All
Jeffrey Deli Grocery, located at 2149 Valentine Ave. in the Bronx.
Lucky New York ticket delivers $1K a week for life win

This Bronx deli might be known for sandwiches, but now it's serving up a side of lifelong winnings.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

The Norsk Tipping logo on a sign at a local retailer in Norway.
Norway opens full inquiry after lottery breaks gambling law

Norsk Tipping's glitch didn't just disappoint players — it violated the law and triggered national scrutiny.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

A National Lottery sign, outside of a lottery retailer in the UK.
Decommissioned satellite causes lottery shortages in the UK

Allwyn is making sweeping upgrades to the National Lottery, so outages were expected.

Halley Bondy profile pic

Halley Bondy

Captures from security cameras that show the suspects of the series of coordinated thefts that took place across Eastern North Carolina, in June, 2025.
Lottery heist trio strikes again — now cops want your help to crack it

The suspects fled with stolen tickets again. But a sharp camera may be their undoing.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold