LANSING (WWJ) – Michigan could become the next state to allow big lottery jackpot winners to stay anonymous.
As the Powerball jackpot surpasses $1.5 billion, state lawmakers are considering legislation to allow winners of multi-state lottery jackpots – such as Powerball and Mega Millions – the option to remain anonymous.
Under current Michigan law, only winners of in-state prizes of $10,000 or more can prevent the Michigan Lottery from making their name public.
Rep. Patrick Outman says it has a lot to do with privacy online as lottery winners who are publicly identified "often become targets for solicitations and scams."
"We didn't have social media, we didn't have the internet, we didn't have all the solicitations and scams," Outman said of the time the previous law was written. "So I think it's best for the safety of our citizens that we allow them to choose to be anonymous if they want that."
He said it's important to note that winners could still choose to come forward under the proposed legislation.
If passed, the House Bill 4048 would make Michigan the 11th state to allow all multi-state lottery winners to stay anonymous. After getting its first committee hearing last week, a vote on the bill is expected this week.
