Ask The Advocate: Lottery winners

FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2012 file photo provided by the Maryland State Lottery Agency, a man dressed as a Powerball stands by a couple who did not want to be identified as they hold a large prop check showing their winnings at the lottery's headquarters in Baltimore. In cases in which simple dumb luck suddenly changes someone's fortunes, observers say such clinging to anonymity despite the glaring spotlight is just plain smart. Illinois lottery officials are still waiting for the winner who bought a ticket worth $218 million in the small town of Red Bud, Ill., to come forward. It was part of a three-way share in the $656 million Mega Millions jackpot drawn on March 30. (AP Photo/Maryland State Lottery Agency, File)

Q. There are multiple states participating in promoting and administering the Powerball lottery games. Many of these states allow winners of large payoffs to remain anonymous, but Louisiana publicly identifies them regardless of their wishes. Realizing that criminals target such people, why does Louisiana insist on taking this position?

A. Response from Kimberly Chopin, communications manager, Louisiana Lottery Corp.:

“Louisiana Law, in particular La. R.S. 47:9025(B)(6), provides that the name and city or area of residence of a prize winner are public record, meaning that the public has a right to request the information. Depending upon the amount won and public or media interest in the win, winners may not be able to remain anonymous. The statute also permits the Lottery to use winners’ names and city of residence for publicity purposes such as news releases; however, the Lottery’s regular practice is not to use winner information in paid advertising or product promotion without the winner’s willingness to participate. To our knowledge, there is no correlation between being a crime victim and winning a Lottery prize.”

Send questions to Ask The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588; or fax to Ask The Advocate, [phone]; or email [e-mail].

Comments

1) Comment by Mr. T - 03/09/2012

Stupid question...given this state's corrupt history, it's important to let people know that a real person won the powerball. Otherwise, the politicians could be pocketing the winnings.

2) Comment by tradewinns - 03/09/2012

if the winners were unknown, there is always the chance fraud could be involved. i trust anyone involved with this much money about as much as i do a timber rattlesnake shedding it's skin.