LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – No one in Michigan won the recent $1.76 billion Powerball jackpot. However, if they had won, their identity would be known to the world as soon as they cashed in the ticket. Some Michigan lawmakers want to change that and have introduced legislation so that lottery winners who win the big multi-state jackpots can hide their identities.

State Rep. Pat Outman (R-Six Lakes), who sponsored House Bill 4048 which allows lottery winners to keep their identities a secret, says that forcing huge lottery jackpot winners to reveal their identities is like “throwing meat in a shark-infested ocean.”

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House Bill 4048 would amend the McCauley-Traxler-Law-Bowman-McNeely Lottery Act to prohibit the lottery commissioner, or an officer or employee of the Michigan Bureau of State Lottery, from disclosing the name, address, or any other personal information of an individual who has won a prize in a multi-state lottery game (such as Powerball or Mega Millions) unless that individual agrees in writing to the disclosure.

Winners of Michigan-only lotteries who cash in on more than $10,000 in winnings can remain anonymous unless they waive that right. However, the commissioner or an officer or employee of the bureau may disclose the name, address, or any other personal information concerning a winner of a prize awarded in multi-state lotteries.

Because the internet makes it easy for anyone to access personal information including someone’s address, they are susceptible to scams, solicitations and potential violence Outman said to the House Regulatory reform Committee on October 3rd when discussing the bill.

Outman added, “This bill is necessary for the safety, privacy and overall well-being of our citizens.” He added that about 11 states have already adopted similar legislation.

State Rep. Tyrone Carter (D-Detroit), who chairs the House Regulatory Reform Committee, said: “More people would probably play the lottery if they knew not everybody would know their business.”

The Michigan Lottery, however, opposes the legislation. Michigan Lottery spokesman Jake Harris said Tuesday, “For transparency sake, being able to show that real people are winning these life-changing prizes – we feel that’s important.” He added that in 2022, about 250 Michigan residents won instate lottery prizes of more than $100,000 and only about 30 of those opted to waive anonymity.

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Waterford resident Cristy Davis who won a $70 million Powerball jackpot in 2020 is an advocate for anonymity. She told the Lottery Post, “We tried to get a lawyer to see if I can (claim) anonymously, and they said no. That was my big thing – I didn’t want to go on TV. I know so many (who’ve) been through so much in life, and it was either that or no money.” Davis, who opted for a one-time lump sum payment of around $36 million after taxes, said that she saw people using her name in a Facebook group post pretending to be her saying that she was giving away money and to send her their bank account information. Some people must have done so because she said she saw a comment on Facebook that claimed “they cleaned my bank account out.”

Davis said, “They definitely should pass the law that allows (lottery winners) to be anonymous because (the Lottery doesn’t) realize what they do to people.”

One group of Michigan lottery winners were able to get around the rules in 2022 by forming a registered lottery club with the state. The group won a Mega Millions jackpot worth $1.05 billion and they were able to claim the prize by only revealing the identity of only one member of the club. According to rules out of the Michigan Attorney General’s office, you can even wait until after the drawing to form a lottery club, choose the members and then send a member to come forward to claim the prize.