NC bill would alllow some jackpot winners to stay anonymous

A Senate bill would allow winners of more than $5 million to claim it without identifying themselves publicly, while a House version would allow any winner to remain anonymous.
Posted 4/16/2025, 10:03:15 PM Updated 4/17/2025, 12:58:09 AM

PROPOSAL AND IT COULD LOOK A

LOT DIFFERENT THAN THE SENATES.

CARLY, THANK YOU. IF YOU PLAY

THE LOTTERY, LISTEN TO THIS.

A NEW BILL IN NORTH CAROLINA

WOULD ALLOW YOU TO REMAIN

ANONYMOUS IF YOU WIN BIG.

>> THE BILL SPONSOR SAYS

WINNERS CAN OFTEN BE HARASSED

BY FRIENDS, FAMILY, EVEN

STRANGERS. THE BUREAU'S FLYNN

SNYDER EXPLAINS WHO WOULD

QUALIFY

IT'S A BIG DREAM THAT CAN TURN

INTO A NIGHTMARE FOR SOME MAJOR

JACKPOT WINNERS, THE FRIENDS

AND FAMILY THAT COME OUT OF

THE WOODWORK AND MIKE REQUESTS

AND HOW MANY PROFESSIONAL SHOW

UP AT HIS FRONT DOOR. A NEW

BILL AIMS TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS.

SOME LOTTERY WINNERS FACE BY

ALLOWING CERTAIN PEOPLE TO

CLAIM PRIZES ANONYMOUSLY.

THE LATEST VERSION OF THIS BILL

ALLOWS WINNERS OF 5 MILLION

DOLLARS OR MORE TO CLAIM PRIZES

ANONYMOUSLY.

>> DURING A COMMITTEE HEARING,

THE BILL SPONSOR SEN

>> RAO HIGH SAYS THAT NUMBER

CAME AFTER DAS FROM STATE

LOTTERY OFFICIALS FOR

ADVERTISING REASONS TO TRY TO

SHOW PEOPLE THAT SOMEBODY

ACTUALLY CAN WHEN, ACCORDING TO

THE NC EDUCATION LOTTERY, THERE

WERE 4 WINNERS OF 5 MILLION

DOLLARS OR MORE.

>> AND 75 WINDS OF A MILLION

DOLLARS OR MORE DURING FISCAL

YEAR. 2020 FOR THE BILL DOES

REQUIRE WINNERS TO DISCLOSE

IDENTIFYING INFORMATION FOR

STATE AUTHORITIES OR TO COMPLY

WITH A COURT ORDER. CRITICS

ARGUE IDENTIFYING WINNERS CAN

HELP MAKE THE PROCESS

TRANSPARENT. BUT SENATOR HIGH

SIDE OF THE STORY OF A

5 MILLION DOLLAR LOTTERY PRIZE

WINNER WHO NEEDED TO GET

RESTRAINING ORDERS AND FACE

LAWSUITS AFTER WINNING. AND

THAT'S JUST NOT THE EXPERIENCE

WE'RE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER

FOR SOMEONE WHO WINS THE

LOTTERY AND NORTH CAROLINA.

THAT IS THE REALITIES OF WHERE

WE ARE AND THIS WILL ALLOW THEM

TO AVOID THAT. A SIMILAR BILL

IN THE HOUSE WOULD ALLOW ANY

JACKPOT WINNER TO REMAIN

CONFIDENTIAL. CURRENT LAW

ALLOWS WINNERS OF 50 MILLION

DOLLARS OR MORE TO KEEP THEIR