Oregon Lottery Winners Could Soon Remain Anonymous With Legislation Likely To Pass

The Oregon Lottery currently requires that all winners allow their identities to become part of the public record. The condition is designed to protect the integrity of the lottery and ensure public trust in its operation.

Legislation to allow lottery winners to remain anonymous continues to find favor in the Oregon Legislature. House Bill 3115 would allow lottery winners to keep their information private while additionally prohibiting the buying and selling of winning lottery tickets.

Investigations last year by The Oregonian and Oregon Live! found that millions of dollars in lottery winnings each year were sold on secondary markets. Winners have been found to unload their winning tickets at a discount in favor of cash to avoid being ordered to pay debts like past due child support they owe, which the Oregon Lottery would, by law, be required to take off the top of their prize money.

Other unsavory reasons for selling winning tickets at a discount include tax evasion, while others say they’ve sold tickets simply to keep their identities confidential.

Lottery Bill Progresses

HB3115, bipartisan legislation from four Democrats and a single Republican, quickly made its way through the House of Representatives last month. The lower legislative chamber passed the lottery bill 52-1, with seven absentees.

"he Act lets lottery winners choose whether to release their name and address,” HB3155 reads. "The name and address of a prize winner are exempt from disclosure under the Oregon Revised Statutes and may not be publicly disclosed by the Oregon State Lottery or the commission unless the prize winner provides written authorization for such disclosure.”

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