Which US States Allow Lottery Winners to Stay Anonymous? (2026 Guide)

Lottery winner privacy depends on the jurisdiction, the type of prize and the information being requested. This article compares selected official disclosure rules and explains why a claim of “complete anonymity” can be misleading. It is general information, not advice for an individual legal situation.

Why Anonymity Matters

Public disclosure can lead to unwanted attention. Keeping a name out of a publicity release does not guarantee personal safety or prevent other information from identifying someone. Be cautious with unsolicited messages and consider what you share publicly.

State privacy policies and important exceptions

Source review: October 5, 2026. These are selected state examples, not a complete 50-state legal directory. Each entry links to an official source and describes its limits. Anonymity usually concerns public disclosure; it does not mean the lottery or tax authorities will not know your identity. Promotion rules and individual circumstances can differ.

• Delaware: The official winner guide distinguishes traditional ticket games, where winners can withhold permission for publicity, from second-chance drawings and entry-based contests, whose winners’ names are released. Do not apply the same privacy rule to both.
• Kansas: The Lottery’s official report of a raffle winner confirms that the winner chose anonymity. This example does not establish the terms of every promotion. Confirm the applicable disclosure policy with the Kansas Lottery for the particular prize.
• Maryland: The official FAQ says draw-game, FAST PLAY and scratch-off winners may remain anonymous; names or photographs require their written consent. This protection does not extend to My Lottery Rewards second-chance and Points for Drawings contests, whose rules publish winners’ identities.
• Mississippi: The Lottery FAQ states that it will not disclose a winning ticket holder’s identity without written permission. Promotional events can have separate publicity conditions; do not assume the general ticket rule covers every event.
• North Dakota: The official winners page says winners can choose to release their information or remain anonymous. That is a statement about public disclosure, not permission to withhold identity from the lottery or tax authorities.
• Ohio: Ohio Revised Code 3770.07 provides confidentiality for the name, address and Social Security number of beneficial owners disclosed in a prize claim using a trust, unless they consent in writing. Information may still be shared with authorised government agencies. This is a specific statutory protection, not automatic anonymity for every claim.
• South Carolina: An official 2019 announcement documents a jackpot winner whose anonymity was respected. However, published second-chance promotion rules can require publicity and an anonymity waiver. Verify the particular game or promotion rather than treating the historic example as a universal rule.

Prize thresholds, time limits and recent changes

Some protections depend on the prize value or an express request; others are temporary. Read the relevant provision, including its exceptions. Virginia’s current rule is included below because the older threshold in this article required correction.

• Arizona: Under A.R.S. 5-573(D), the name associated with a prize of $100,000 or more can be confidential on request, subject to statutory exceptions. Without a request, the name is confidential for 90 days from the award date. City and county of residence are not confidential; the winner may waive name confidentiality.
• Florida: Under section 24.1051(3), a winner’s name for a prize valued at $250,000 or more is generally confidential for 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, subject to consent and statutory exceptions. This is temporary protection of the name, not permanent anonymity.
• Georgia: The official claim form offers an anonymity election for prizes of $250,000 or more and cites O.C.G.A. 50-27-25(d). The threshold includes exactly $250,000; it is not limited to amounts above that figure.
• Texas: Under Government Code 466.411, qualifying individuals or beneficial owners of an entity winning $1 million or more may elect anonymity at claim. For periodic-installment prizes, identifying information may be released from the 30th day after claim. City or county and specified government disclosures are not covered by a blanket secrecy promise.
• Virginia: Current Code 58.1-4029 generally prohibits disclosure of an individual lottery winner’s identity without written consent, subject to the exception in 58.1-4019(B). The Lottery FAQ describes the change effective July 1, 2026. The former $10 million threshold stated here was outdated.

A trust does not guarantee anonymity

Do not assume a trust or LLC keeps a lottery winner’s identity private. The California Lottery FAQ states that a winner’s full name and specified prize details are public records. The earlier claim that an entity shields an individual’s name in California or New York was not adequately supported and has been removed. Rules differ by state; consult a qualified local lawyer about your circumstances.

A qualified lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction can explain the current disclosure rules and their limitations; legal advice cannot guarantee secrecy. For practical consumer-safety information, see our guide to impersonation and false giveaway claims. Lottery gambling is not a reliable source of income.