Contact:
Speaker Robin Vos (608) 266-9171
Rep. Gary Tauchen (608) 266-3097
MADISON – Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and Rep. Gary Tauchen (R-Bonduel) are introducing the Lottery Privacy Act to allow prize winners to remain anonymous. The bill authors unveiled the legislation on the day the Wisconsin Lottery is announcing the winner of the state’s largest jackpot and the third largest jackpot in U.S. history.
“The government shouldn’t force lottery winners to come forward publicly if they don’t want to,” said Speaker Vos. “Just because you win the lottery, it shouldn’t mean you lose your right to privacy.”
The legislation prohibits the Department of Revenue, lottery administrators and the retailer who sold the ticket from disclosing the lottery prize winner’s name, address or social security number if the individual requests anonymity. More than a handful of states have similar privacy laws for lottery winners.
“Winning the lottery often makes you a target of fraud, abuse and harassment,” Rep. Tauchen said. “Winners often take steps of wearing costumes and other efforts to conceal their identity and protect their privacy.”
The Lottery Privacy Act maintains the integrity of the state’s lottery program. It allows certain exemptions for disclosures in order to determine the withholding of winnings for unpaid taxes, court judgements or child support. The location of the ticket sale will continue to be made public.
The bill will be circulated for co-sponsors this week and will be introduced in the Assembly in the coming weeks.
