Lottery-winner anonymity is generally available without a prize-size limit in 11 states as of September 20, 2026: Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina and Wyoming. Other states limit anonymity by prize amount, time period or personal circumstances.
| Category | States | Main restriction |
|---|---|---|
| Broad anonymity | Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, Wyoming | The winner may need to request privacy or decline a publicity release |
| Anonymity above a threshold or for a limited period | Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia | The prize amount, game type or time limit controls |
| Anonymity only in special cases | New Hampshire | Domestic violence, a restraining order or court-approved good cause |
| Public disclosure usually required | California, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and many other states | A trust or legal entity may sometimes provide additional privacy |
States Where Lottery Winners Can Generally Remain Anonymous
The 11 states with the broadest privacy protections are:
- Delaware: All Delaware Lottery winners may remain anonymous.
- Kansas
- Maryland: Winners of draw games, FAST PLAY tickets and scratch-off tickets may remain anonymous unless they give written consent.
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- New Jersey: New Jersey generally allows lottery winners to remain anonymous to the public.
- North Dakota
- Oregon: House Bill 3115 took effect on September 27, 2025. The Oregon Lottery cannot disclose a winner's name or address without written authorization. It may still release the winner's city, state, ZIP code, prize amount, game and selling retailer.
- South Carolina
- Wyoming
"Anonymous" means the lottery will not publish the winner's name. It does not mean the winner's identity is hidden from the lottery, tax authorities or law enforcement.
States That Allow Anonymity Only for Certain Prizes
Several states protect winners only when the prize reaches a specified amount or when another condition applies.
| State | General rule |
|---|---|
| Arizona | Anonymity is generally available for prizes of $100,000 or more. |
| Arkansas | Winners of large prizes, generally more than $500,000, may receive temporary anonymity. |
| Florida | Winners of prizes of $250,000 or more may generally keep their names confidential for 90 days after claiming. |
| Georgia | Anonymity is generally available for prizes of $250,000 or more. |
| Illinois | Anonymity is generally available for prizes of $250,000 or more. |
| Maine | Winners of $100,000 or more may keep their identities confidential unless they authorize disclosure. Maine enacted this protection in 2025. |
| Michigan | Privacy protection generally applies to prizes of $10,000 or more from qualifying Michigan Lottery games. The rule may not apply in the same way to Powerball or Mega Millions prizes. |
| Texas | A winner of a lottery prize worth at least $1 million may choose to keep personally identifiable information from public disclosure. |
| Virginia | Virginia provides anonymity protections for qualifying high-value prizes, including prizes of at least $1 million under its current rules. |
| West Virginia | A person entitled to collect at least $1 million from a West Virginia draw-game ticket may remain anonymous. |
The threshold may differ for scratch-off tickets, state draw games, Powerball, Mega Millions and annuity payments. A winner should confirm the rule with the lottery that issued the ticket before claiming.
New Hampshire Allows Anonymity Only in Specific Circumstances
New Hampshire allows a winner to request anonymity only after a qualifying safety concern or court finding. Under a law effective September 30, 2025, the winner may ask the lottery to withhold their name, hometown, prize date and prize amounts if the winner:
- Is a victim of domestic violence;
- Has an active restraining order; or
- Obtains a court order finding good cause for anonymity.
The winner must submit a written request to the New Hampshire Lottery Commission.
Does the Ticket's State or the Winner's Home State Control?
The jurisdiction that sold the ticket generally controls its disclosure rules. Powerball states that each participating jurisdiction has its own winner-disclosure law. Some jurisdictions also allow a winner to claim through a trust or another legal entity.
For example, a Pennsylvania resident who buys a winning Powerball ticket in New Jersey may be subject to New Jersey's claim and disclosure rules rather than Pennsylvania's rules. The winner should confirm the position with the issuing lottery and a qualified lottery attorney before signing or submitting the ticket.
Does Anonymity Protect the Winner Completely?
No. Public anonymity does not prevent the lottery from identifying the claimant privately. The lottery may need the winner's legal name, Social Security number, taxpayer identification information, address and banking details to verify eligibility, issue tax forms and meet legal requirements.
Information may also be disclosed to:
- The Internal Revenue Service
- State tax agencies
- Child-support enforcement agencies
- Courts and law enforcement
- Other government agencies with legal authority
- The lottery organizations involved in a multistate game
West Virginia's anonymity law, for example, preserves disclosure through lawful legal process and to tax agencies and other authorized government agencies.
Can a Trust or LLC Keep a Winner's Name Private?
Sometimes. In a state that usually requires the individual winner's name to be public, a properly structured trust or legal entity may be able to claim the prize and keep the individual's name out of the lottery's public announcement.
The lottery may still require:
- Proof that the trust or entity owns the ticket
- The winner's identity during the claim process
- Trustee, member or beneficial-owner information
- A specific claim form
- Compliance with state lottery rules
- Tax reporting in the correct person's name
A trust can create problems if it is formed after the ticket is signed, the ticket is transferred improperly or state law requires the original ticket holder to claim personally. A lottery attorney should review the ticket, entity documents and claim procedure before the winner signs anything.
What Should a Winner Do Before Claiming?
Before claiming, a winner should:
- Sign and secure the ticket, unless a lottery attorney gives different written advice based on the state's rules.
- Avoid posting a photo of the ticket online.
- Check the ticket's expiration date and claim deadline.
- Contact the issuing lottery privately to confirm its current anonymity procedure.
- Speak with a lottery attorney and tax adviser before claiming.
- Ask whether a trust or other entity is permitted before transferring or assigning the ticket.
- Avoid publicity releases, winner photos and promotional agreements unless public exposure is intentional.
The Practical Rule for Anonymous Lottery Claims
The law of the jurisdiction that sold the ticket usually determines whether the winner's name can remain private. Because claim procedures and disclosure rules can change, the winner should verify the current requirements before signing the ticket, transferring it or contacting the media.