The Pennsylvania Senate approved legislation Monday aimed at protecting the privacy of state lottery winners who claim large prizes.
The measure, Senate Bill 73, would shield the names, home addresses, and other personal identifying information of those who win $100,000 or more, unless the winner chooses to make the information public.
The bill, which was sponsored by Republican State Sen. Lisa Baker, was approved with bipartisan support and now moves to the state Pennsylvania House of Representatives for consideration.
Baker, in a statement, noted the need to update the law to balance the Pennsylvania Lottery’s tradition of transparency with modern safety risks.
“The Pennsylvania Lottery has a proud, decades-long record of transparency and integrity,” Baker said. “At the same time, we must recognize the modern realities that come with instant communication and online access to personal information. This legislation strikes the right balance between public accountability and personal safety.”
The bill would still allow the Pennsylvania Lottery to release the winner’s county and municipality of residence. The prize amount would still be released.
Roughly half of all states already offer either full or partial anonymity to major lottery winners.
Baker said her proposal is intended to protect individuals and their families from harassment, scams and unwanted attention that can follow winning significant sums of money.
“My interest in this legislation stems from knowing someone personally who was targeted after winning a $100,000 scratch-off prize,” Baker said. “Scammers went so far as to contact her family members pretending to be government officials demanding tax payments. No one should have to endure that kind of intrusion simply for being lucky.”
In recent years, several states have changed laws regarding public disclosure after decades of fully revealing winners’ identities.
Last year, the Associated Press reported nine states allow all lottery winners to remain completely anonymous, while 10 others permit anonymity for wins exceeding a specific amount.
Even under current Pennsylvania law, some winners are able to remain unnamed by claiming their prize through a trust.
The group that won the $516 million Mega Millions prize, purchased at a 7-Eleven in the Levittown section of Middletown Township, is only known as the Peace of Mind Trust.
The Pennsylvania Lottery, which was established more than 50 years ago, is the only state lottery that directs all proceeds to programs supporting older residents. It has generated more than $1 billion annually for seniors for 13 consecutive years.
“This is about updating our laws to reflect today’s risks,” Baker said. “Protecting the privacy of certain Lottery winners ensures that success doesn’t come at the cost of personal safety.”
