The state of Missouri has passed a new law that will force its state lottery, the Missouri Lottery, to keep the identity of its winners a secret unless they ask for publicity.
Signed on Tuesday by Governor Mike Parson, the new legislation reverses the lottery’s long-time promotional policy, according to the Associated Press.
The Missouri Lottery currently publicises winners’ names, the amount they won, the game they played and the retail location that sold the winning ticket. Lottery officials say publicity about winners can help boost sales.
Coming into effect on August 28, the new bill will make it a misdemeanour crime for lottery officials and contractors to publicly release the names, addresses or other identifying information about winners, punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
In recent months, both Montana and Minnesota have passed similar legislation to allow lottery winners in their respective states to remain anonymous.
Lawmakers who supported the bill said they did so to protect lottery winners from being harassed by people who find out about their success.
Parson said in a statement that he decided to sign the legislation because “it protects the identity of lottery winners”.
“Any legislation we get across the finish line that protects Missourians’ privacy and safety is a win for Missouri,” he noted.
Earlier this month, the Missouri State Lottery Commission announced the state lottery had achieved its highest-performing fiscal year on record.
