Virginia bill protects winners' anonymity with lower disclosure amount

Big-ticket lotto winners in Virginia will enjoy more anonymity thanks to a new bill that lowers the state's required disclosure amount.

Under the bill, winners of over $1 million tickets may remain anonymous. This means they won't have to disclose their names, locations, photos, or any personal information to the public - not even under Freedom of Information requests.

Currently, only winners of over $10 million in Virginia are afforded anonymity.

The Virginia House voted unanimously in favor of the bill earlier this year. In the Senate, it passed with only four votes against it (one Republican and three Democrats). The Governor has until March 24 to take action on the bill.

Anonymity in the USA

State laws determine the anonymity of lottery winners, and they differ widely across the country.

Of the 45 states that have lotteries, 21 of them allow winners to remain anonymous.

The $10 million mark makes Virginia the highest disclosure rate in the nation. Florida allows those who win $250,000 or more to be anonymous for 90 days after winning. In New Mexico, anyone winning $10,000 or more is listed on the state lottery website. In California, all winner information is disclosed, including full name, the winning ticket retailer's information, winning date, and winning amount, including gross and net installment payments.

The new $1 million Virginia cap bill reflects the same policies as Texas and West Virginia.

The pros of anonymity

Lawmakers in favor of the new Virginia bill argued during a House panel that big winners are often scammed or their privacy is breached. The bill's sponsor, Del. Scott Wyatt, cited an incident in which a $1 million winner was targeted by scammers on social media after disclosing her information.

Thanks to social media, direct, online access to individuals is easier than ever, making winners exposed if they go public. Individuals typically want to keep their finances private - even more so if they incur a sudden, life-changing windfall.

The cons of anonymity

Opponents of the bill cite state security and promotional arguments. Megan Rhyne, executive director for the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, told a gaming subcommittee that the $10 million rule helps promote the lottery and its winners to potential players.

It also upholds transparency and prevent fraud, she argued. For example, it stops Virginia Lottery board members from playing the lottery, which is against the law.

In 2017, a computer programmer from Iowa named Eddie Tipton worked at the state's Multi-State Lottery Association and was able to rig lotteries in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin and collect $2 million. Though the perpetrator pleaded guilty, public disclosure of his name may have spotted the scheme sooner.

The $10 million law in Virginia was implemented two years later.

Winners of prizes under $600 also do not have to disclose their identities since they can collect their winnings directly from a retailer and not at a Virginia Lottery claim center.