(The Center Square) – The dream? You win the lottery, and all of your financial worries melt away.
For Pennsylvania’s lottery winners, though, the big break can come with a bit of a nightmare. It’s due to the state’s policy of publishing their names, along with the winning amounts.
State Sen. Lisa Baker of Luzerne County (20th District) recently described a friend’s experience after winning a major payout from a scratch-off game. Both the winner and her family soon became the victims of harassment. Scammers wanted to separate her from the newfound wealth.
Baker’s legislation, which on Monday (Oct 20, 2025) saw unanimous final passage in the Senate, would give winners the option of keeping their personal information anonymous. For purposes of transparency the Commonwealth would maintain its practice of publishing other data like, the prize amount and winner’s county and municipality of residence.
Baker blamed technological developments for the increase in bad actors approaching lottery winners. She emphasized that high-ticket winners need special consideration.
Top photo provided by the Pennsylvania Lottery Media Center
Privacy, With Transparency
“While transparency in Pennsylvania Lottery operations is essential, I believe it is equally important to protect lottery winners’ privacy and shield them from those who may be looking to exploit their good fortune,” Baker said.
The proposed law, known as Senate Bill 73, would upon request keep secret the names, addresses, and other personal identifying information of winners receiving prizes of $100,000, according to a media release. Among its six listed sponsors is Sen. John I. Kane, whose 9th Senate District includes part of Chester County.
The bill will now be forwarded to the state House of Representatives for its consideration. Before it becomes law it must pass the House with a majority vote, and then be signed by the governor.
Don’t hold your breath. Reporter Ian Karbal, writing in the Tuesday (Oct. 21) edition of the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, says Baker submitted a similar bill during 2023. It, too, passed in the Senate, but the House declined to act on it.
Above photo by Travels With The Post
Lottery Anonymity Elsewhere
About half of all states operating lotteries already provide either full or partial anonymity for major winners, Baker reports.
Pennsylvania’s Lottery was established more than 50 years ago. It remains the only state lottery that dedicates all proceeds to programs supporting older residents. The lottery has generated more than $1 billion annually for seniors for 13 consecutive years, the senator adds.
By Christina Lengyel of the The Center Square
Republished, and supplemented with additional information, by Travels With The Post
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