Published on: September 27, 2025, 02:01h.
Updated on: September 27, 2025, 02:01h.
- Oregon Lottery winners can now stay anonymous
- Their identities will be revealed only with written consent
Oregon has enacted a law allowing lottery winners to maintain their anonymity, eliminating the requirement for public disclosure of their identities.
As of Friday, Oregon joins ten other states in allowing lottery winners to retain their anonymity regardless of their prize amount. These states include Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Wyoming.
House Bill 3115 was passed by the Oregon Legislature in April, and subsequently signed into law by Governor Tina Kotek (D) the following week.
This legislation updates the Oregon Revised Statutes, safeguarding the identities of lottery winners. Prior to this change, which took effect on September 26, winners were required to publicly disclose their information to maintain transparency and trust in the lottery’s integrity.
Protecting Anonymity of Lottery Winners
Lawmakers argued that keeping winners’ identities confidential was more beneficial than enhancing public perception of the lottery, which already undergoes regular audits and assessments. Supporters of HB3115 claimed that allowing anonymity would help mitigate the “lottery curse,” where winners often faced difficulties after their identities were made public.
The proposal received significant backing, passing in the House with a 52-1 vote and in the Senate with a 23-5 margin.
While the names and addresses of winners remain confidential, the Oregon Lottery will still disclose the city, state, zip code, and prize amount. For larger winnings, the lottery may request public disclosure with the winner’s written consent.
Although the Mega Millions jackpot has not been won in Oregon, the state is home to the fifth-largest Powerball prize, awarded in April 2024 to Cheng and Duanpen Saephan along with their friend Laiza Chao, who collectively won a staggering $1.326 billion.
Notable Oregon Lottery winners also include Steven Nickell, who won a Powerball jackpot of $150.4 million in June 2018, and Abbas Shafii, who claimed a $328.5 million prize earlier this January.
Prohibition on Selling Winning Tickets
Another key aspect of HB3115 prohibits the sale, transfer, or exchange of winning tickets obtained from the Oregon Lottery. This restriction aims to address issues where winners might sell their tickets at a discount due to tax obligations or other financial liabilities, such as unpaid child support.
According to HB3115, “A person may not sell, or offer to sell, a winning ticket or share.” It also states that individuals cannot “purchase, or offer to purchase, a winning ticket or share, or claim, or offer to claim, a winning ticket or share for another person in exchange for compensation.”
In Oregon, like in most lottery jurisdictions, winnings can be intercepted to satisfy certain debts, including child support arrears. Before releasing lottery prizes over $600, the commission verifies the winner’s name and Social Security number against a database of individuals who are delinquent in their child support payments.
If a winner is identified in the database, a 30-day hold is placed on prize disbursement. The Oregon Lottery Commission then informs the Oregon Division of Child Support, and both agencies collaborate to resolve the matter regarding the prize.