If You Win the Lottery in Louisiana Can You Remain Anonymous?

When it comes to taking a chance on winning a lot of money, Louisiana is all in. We love our sportsbooks here in Louisiana and we don't mind dropping a dollar or two to play the lottery. When the Louisiana Lottery was first proposed it was estimated that lottery spending in Louisiana would range from $129 million to $164 million per week.

To no one's surprise lottery spending in Louisiana has outpaced that forecast every year the Louisiana Lottery has been in existence. In 2023 it was estimated that lottery players in the state spent close to $652 million in hopes of finding instant riches.

The Powerball game has been the most benevolent when it comes to making big money winners in Louisiana. The Powerball Game tells us that 17 times a Louisiana sold ticket has claimed the Powerball top prize. However, the other multi-state lottery game, Mega Millions has never produced a jackpot winner in Louisiana.

By the way, there is a Mega Millions drawing tonight for an estimated top prize of $358 million. If you win and want the cash payout you'd get $172.4 million. Of course, that's before the tax man reaches in to take his share of your good fortune.

Can Lottery Winners in Louisiana Remain Anonymous?

The simple answer to that question is "yes". They can remain anonymous but with very little effort members of the media, your family, law enforcement, and people who just want to bug you for free money can find out who you are.

The disclosure of lottery winners is less about identifying a person and more about adhering to the state's tax laws. Here's the way the statute reads regarding lottery wins over $600.

What Does Louisiana Law Say About Lottery Winnings?

If you win more than $600 and are therefore required to claim your prize at a Lottery office, you will be required to complete a claim form for tax purposes. Under the Lottery's statute, all prize payment records are open records, 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.

In other words, if you win a big prize all any snoop would need to do is request the tax records and they can figure out who the winner is or was. Most players who hit the really big money go to great lengths to keep their names off the tax rolls for various reasons.

One of those reasons is the sudden onslaught of "needy friends and relatives and total strangers" who feel that your good fortune should be their good fortune. That's why a lot of lottery winners hire legal representation or form a corporation so the general public has no idea who won the money.

I know if I won the lottery you'd never hear me say a word about it. But there would probably be signs.

Remember if you do play a lottery game there is a very good chance you won't be a winner. Please play responsibly. If you need help with a gambling issue call 1-877-770- STOP (7867). Good Luck.