The state Senate passed a bill on Monday that would allow Pennsylvania lottery winners to remain anonymous when collecting a prize of $100,000 or more.
The bill, introduced by Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne, with a bipartisan group of co-sponsors, cleared the state Senate unanimously shortly after its unopposed approval by the Appropriations committee. Committee chair Scott Martin (R-Lancaster) noted the proposal wouldn't have associated costs borne by the commonwealth.
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It now goes to the House.
Baker said she developed the measure after an acquaintance won a $100,000 scratch-off jackpot, and was soon targeted by scammers and strangers requesting money. She attributed the problem to technological developments that have made scam calls and outreach easier since the commonwealth's lottery program started.
"In addition to numerous requests from strangers asking for help with everything from buying a car and paying health care bills, scammers actually called and harassed her grandparents and her mother," Baker said. "I believe we owe more protection to certain lottery winners, and Senate Bill 73 works toward fulfilling that goal."
The identities of large lottery prize winners would not be considered public records under the proposed change to the state lottery laws. However, winners' towns, boroughs and counties of residence, as well as the amount of the prize, would remain public.
Lottery winners would be allowed to voluntarily waive their confidentiality.
Baker introduced a similar bill in 2023. It passed the Senate, but was never taken up by the House.
The lottery has generated more than $1 billion annually for programs benefitting the state's senior citizens for the past 13 years, according to Baker.
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