Collect PowerBall prizes anonymously
That anonymity is what every PowerBall winner wishes, but it’s not as easy as it seems. Over the last thirty years, since the launch of the new PowerBall lottery system, many winners have tried to avoid that his identity were published.
Can you remain anonymous according to the rules?
The PowerBall rules dictate that the winner or winners of amounts over $600 must be formally identified by an official document, driver’s license, passport, etc., at the moment of presenting their ticket for collection. This is done basically to protect the integrity of the game.
States such as California or Wisconsin require in all cases to identify winners personally. Other states such as North Carolina, South Dakota, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Ohio or Texas, they allow the collection anonymously, but on the other states that promote and sell this lottery, there is a certain lack of definition even allowing to send another person.
Collect the PowerBall full cash or by annuities
Another important aspect about anonymity is the choice of the method of payment:
If you opt for the fractioned payment in 30 annuities, it will be difficult to remain anonymous, since that payment must be done through a bank.
If, on the other hand, the whole amount is requested in a single payment, the tax can be considerable, in addition to the expenses generated by hiring consultants.
It is not surprising, then, that on multiple occasions the claim of the prize has been delayed, seeking the best excuse to go unnoticed.
A curious case occurred in Georgia, in the summer of 2011, when a winning PowerBall ticket worth 77 million dollars was not claimed by anyone in the established 180-day period.
Mistake of the winner? Fear of losing anonymity?
The fact is that this amount was returned to each and every one of the states participating in the draw of the PowerBall.