Summary
- The Oregon Lottery has now embraced the trend of offering anonymity to its winners, joining other organizations in prioritizing privacy and security.
- Thanks to the transformative impact of House Bill 3115, this became a reality.
- In the past, the absence of anonymity served as a tool to combat "discounters," individuals who would claim winnings under someone else's name.
Oregon has taken a bold step forward with House Bill 3115, reshaping how lottery winners are revealed. In the past, every lottery win was public record, a tradition from an era concerned with tampering and fueled by today's worries about individuals using discounters to claim prizes under false names to dodge confiscation. This new law marks a significant change, addressing both security and privacy.
A new piece of law makes it possible to remain anonymous after a lottery win in Oregon
Cheating the lottery is no longer possible, and both the lottery and lawmakers are focused on protecting the privacy and peace of mind of winners. Thanks to House Bill 3115, winners are no longer required to have their names and addresses disclosed publicly, unless they choose to do so. The Oregon State Lottery Commission has given the green light to these new rules, meaning winners will remain anonymous by default. Addressing another common issue, some people have been selling their lottery tickets to others to avoid traveling to Oregon to claim their prizes in person. Despite these safeguards, personal safety and privacy have been at risk in the past. Fortunately, the Oregon State Lottery has now joined other organizations allowing winners to stay anonymous. For instance, the Illinois Lottery Corporation already offers this option. Most winners, especially those hitting the big jackpots, often choose clever nicknames and pose with oversized checks instead of revealing their identities and photos to the public.
