Which states allow winners to remain anonymous after winning Powerball or Mega Millions?
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Executive summary
At least 10 states explicitly let jackpot winners claim Powerball or Mega Millions prizes anonymously — most consistently named are Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Carolina and Wyoming (USA Today and World Population Review listings) [1] [2]. Broader reporting counts vary: some outlets say 10 or 11 states grant “true” anonymity while others report as many as 18 states offer some form of anonymity or temporary secrecy, and several states allow anonymity only for state-run prizes or under conditions such as using a trust [1] [3] [2].
1. What “anonymous” usually means — and why it varies
States that “allow anonymity” typically either let the lottery withhold a winner’s name from public disclosure or permit claims through a trust/LLC whose name appears publicly instead of an individual; both approaches are reported as ways winners can hide identities [2] [4]. Some sources distinguish “true” anonymity (the winner’s name never becomes public) from functional anonymity (a trust name is public but the individual remains private) — that distinction explains part of the conflicting state counts in newsroom lists [1] [3].
2. Common lists and the most-cited anonymous states
Several widely cited lists converge on roughly the same core group: Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Carolina and Wyoming are repeatedly named as states that grant true anonymity to jackpot winners [1] [3] [2]. World Population Review and USA Today both include those states when enumerating where a winning ticket-holder can legally remain anonymous [2] [1].
3. Where counts diverge — temporary secrecy and state-only rules
Some outlets report higher totals — for example, up to 18 states — because they include states that offer temporary exemptions (Arkansas shields winners for three years), states that allow anonymity only for state-level prizes or above certain thresholds (e.g., Michigan for prizes over $10,000), or places that permit anonymity via trusts or delayed public disclosure [5] [6] [7]. Those conditional rules cause the number of “anonymous” states to fluctuate across reports [5] [6].
4. Trusts and LLCs: a common workaround reported by experts
Where a state law requires a winner’s name, many reports say winners routinely use a trust or limited liability company to claim prizes so the public sees the entity’s name rather than an individual’s, though internal lottery records may still identify the person [2] [4]. Articles caution that trusts protect public-facing privacy but do not make the winner invisible to the lottery’s internal records or to legal scrutiny [4].
5. Examples from recent high-profile jackpots
Recent jackpot coverage illustrates these differences: a 2025 $1.8 billion Powerball prize included an anonymous claim reported in Missouri, and another large multi-state jackpot episodes prompted reporting on states’ differing rules and the use of revocable trusts as claimants [8] [9]. Those cases show both true anonymity in some states and trust-based anonymity in others [8] [9].
6. What reporters and experts recommend to winners
Coverage quotes legal and financial advisers urging winners to consult lawyers, estate planners and tax advisers immediately and consider staying quiet while setting up a trust — the practical advice rests on the patchwork of state rules and the risks of publicity, scams and family pressure documented across outlets [5] [4].
7. Limitations, disagreements and what’s not settled in these sources
Available sources disagree about the exact number of anonymous states (10, 11 or up to 18) depending on how “anonymous” is defined — the lists differ on whether they include temporary protections, state-only rules, thresholds for anonymity, or trust-based anonymity [1] [2] [3] [5]. Specifics about each state’s exact claiming procedures, thresholds and internal-record requirements are not exhaustively listed in the provided reporting; readers should consult their state lottery’s official rules for precise conditions (available sources do not mention the full statutory text for each state).
8. Bottom line for a potential winner
If you win, check your state lottery’s official rules immediately: a small cluster of states permit true, statutory anonymity (commonly listed as the ten states above), many others provide partial or conditional privacy options, and in nearly every jurisdiction winners can often use a trust or LLC to reduce public exposure — but that does not erase internal records or legal obligations [1] [2] [4].