Michigan lottery winners may soon regain their anonymity as a new bill proposes to allow them to remain private in certain circumstances.
In Michigan, lottery winners who wish to remain anonymous may be out of luck, as the state requires them to publicly disclose their identity in certain circumstances. However, a new bill introduced by State Rep. Pat Outman could change this.
What’s Being Proposed in the Michigan Legislature?
State Rep. Pat Outman has introduced a bill (HB 4004) that would allow all lottery winners in Michigan to remain anonymous if they win more than $10,000 from the state lottery or play games under joint enterprises. This proposal aims to protect people’s right to privacy in an era where personal information is increasingly accessible.
Protecting Lottery Winners’ Privacy
Outman believes that ensuring the safety and privacy of citizens should be a priority. He notes that 11 other states already allow lottery winners to remain anonymous, and it’s time for Michigan to follow suit. The bill has had broad bipartisan support in past legislative sessions and is seen as a commonsense step towards protecting lottery winners’ identities.
Current Law in Michigan
Under current law, Michigan in-state lottery winners of cash prizes over $10,000 are required to disclose their identity publicly. However, winners of multi-state lotteries are subject to the rules of the games under Michigan law.
States Where Winners Can Remain Anonymous
There are 17 states where lottery winners do not have to reveal their identities. These states include Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
In the United States, lottery winners can remain anonymous in some states.
Currently, six states allow winners to keep their identities private: Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio, and South Carolina.
These states have laws or court decisions that protect the anonymity of lottery winners.
For example, in Delaware, winners are not required to disclose their names, but they must file a claim with the state's lottery office.
In contrast, 44 other states require winners to publicly disclose their identities.
Ways Around Public Disclosure in Michigan
While many multi-state lottery games publicly disclose the identity of winners, there is a way around that. By playing as a group, most individuals may be able to stay anonymous, but one member of the group must claim the prize publicly. In 2024, a Michigan trio won an $842.4 million Powerball jackpot and remained anonymous by having their attorney accept the prize.
Lotteries Conducted in Michigan
The Michigan Lottery offers a variety of options for gambling, including scratch-off tickets and major in-state games such as Lotto 47, Lucky for Life, Fantasy 5, and Club Keno.
