Where Can Lottery Winners Stay Anonymous? 

Your dream has come true and you’ve won the big bucks playing the lottery. ✨ Congrats!

But what if you are one of the lucky winners who doesn’t want their identity revealed to the world? 

Well, the short answer is: the level of anonymity lottery winners can keep depends on their state’s guidelines.

Some states allow winners to conceal their identity if the winnings are over a certain amount or for a certain length of time. Other states, such as Ohio, make it easy to claim the prize via a blind trust.  Many states don't allow lottery winners to stay anonymous because they consider the winner’s information to be public record.

Check below for the policies for every state with a lottery! You can cross-check against your state's official lottery website for these most up-to-date information.

States That Allow Anonymous Lottery Winners

Lottery winners can remain anonymous in these states.

• Arizona* - prize winners of $100,000 or more

• Arkansas* - Prize winners of $500,000 or more can remain anonymous for 3 years.

• Delaware

• Georgia - prize winners of $250,000 or more

• Illinois - prize winners of $250,000 or more

• Kansas

• Maryland

• Massachusetts* - Prize wins can be claimed in the name of a trust.

• Michigan - Prize winners of $10,000 or more in local state games (excludes Mega Millions & Powerball prizes winners, for example)

• Minnesota - Prize winners over $10,000

• Mississippi

• Missouri

• Montana*

• New Jersey*

• North Dakota

• Ohio* - Prize wins can be claimed anonymously through a blind trust.  

• South Carolina

• Texas* - Prize winners of $1,000,000 or more

• Virginia - Prize winners of $10,000,000 or more

• West Virginia* - Prize winners of $1,000,000 or more

• Wyoming

*This is a Jackpocket state!

States That Don't Allow Anonymous Lottery Winners

Winners can't remain anonymous in:

• California

• Colorado*

• Connecticut

• Florida

• Idaho*

• Illinois

• Indiana

• Iowa

• Kentucky

• Louisiana

• Maine*

• Minnesota*

• Nebraska*

• New Mexico*

• New York*

• North Carolina - Prize winners of $50 million or more can remain anonymous for 90 days after claiming the prize.

• Oklahoma

• Oregon*

• Pennsylvania

• Rhode Island

• South Dakota

• Tennessee

• U.S. Virgin Islands

• Vermont

• Washington

• Washington, DC*

• Wisconsin

*This is a Jackpocket state!

Other Lottery Differences by State

Do lotteries do any other things differently state by state? They sure do! From games offered and taxes on lottery winnings, to where the money goes, each state lottery does things a little differently. States can even vary in the maximum number of days to claim a lottery prize— be sure to check the official lottery website for the state you're in to get the most up-to-date information. 

Wondering what it takes to be a lottery winner? Go behind-the-scenes for exactly what happens if you win a Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.