In the UK, lottery winners are allowed to be anonymous if they prefer. To date, six of the ten winners of the largest EuroMillions jackpots have chosen to do just that. Winners are under no pressure to go public, and contrary to popular belief, there are no extra prizes up for grabs if you publicise your win. In this post, we’ll examine some of the reasons people choose to enjoy their 15 minutes of fame and let the world and its wife know about their win.
There’s No Pressure in the UK to Go Public
It might come as a surprise, but in the UK, lottery winners are within their rights to remain anonymous if they want to. It might also surprise you to learn that only 5 to 10 per cent of £50k+ winners choose to go public.
According to a Camelot spokesperson, the winners’ decision to be anonymous or share their news is completely down to them. The decision often depends on who they might have already told, what they plan to do with their win, and various other factors.
A common question that pops up is “Why do lottery winners have to go public?” Well, the truth of the matter is that in the UK, lottery winners don’t have to if they prefer to keep their win quiet.
One UK ticketholder who won a record jackpot of £195 million on the EuroMillions lottery chose not to come forward, and that was one of the biggest lottery wins in the UK of all time. While two months earlier, Joe and Jess Thwaite from Gloucester scooped over £184 million in the EuroMillions, and they chose to reveal their identity to the press.
Of course, it’s always good news for the lottery organisers when winners go public. After all, what’s better than free publicity? Camelot says that it’s up to each individual, and they offer support whatever winners decide.
US Lottery Publicity Rules
In the United States, things are a little different when it comes to publicity rules. Remaining anonymous is not so easy, and some states demand that the winners of large jackpots show their faces at news conferences.
States that allow winners to keep their identity out of the press include Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Texas, North Dakota, and Ohio. However, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, this only applies when winnings exceed a certain dollar amount.
In some other states, such as New York, it is possible to collect winnings under the cover of an LLC or an entity. There are even lawyers who specialise in representing lottery winners who want to remain out of the limelight.
Why Do Lottery Winners Go Public?
Winning a big lottery prize can lead to changes in a person’s life. Suddenly, they’ve got the money to travel, buy a luxury car, or even buy a new house, among other things.
Such changes can be very difficult to hide from friends and family and are possibly one of the main reasons online lottery winners choose to go reveal their win. Let’s see if we can answer the question “Why do National Lottery winners go public” but share some reasons.
Not Wanting to Lie to Friends and Family
Many lottery winners don’t want to be in a position that means they have to lie to family and friends. Also, it shouldn’t have to be an experience enjoyed alone. Enjoying the prize with family and friends is all part of winning. Even if you bought your winning ticket at one of the UK’s best online lottery sites, you’ll struggle to hide your win from those close to you.
For the latest lottery winners, revealing a win, rather than keeping it a secret, allows them to get their head around the win. It also allows them to move on and enjoy it, rather than trying to spend it secretly.
For Camelot’s Support
Another reason why lottery winners go public is because of Camelot – an organisation that provides tremendous amount of support. If you choose not to accept publicity, Camelot isn’t able to acknowledge your existence or offer the same level of support and backup. Camelot can offer its handling media requests and organising a press conference.
For 15 Minutes of Fame
For a very small number of winners, that 15 minutes of fame is what they’re craving. Some winners simply want to enjoy the attention that comes with their win. People are going to want to take photos, celebrate to remember the occasion, and what’s not to like about that?
At the time, it can seem very exciting, but not all winners are happy with their decision to go public. The youngest lottery winner of all time, Jane Park, recently explained in an episode of Dr Phil that she wouldn’t wish a lottery win on anyone. She also claims she was encouraged to go public, and this led to massive invasions of her privacy.
What Happens When Winners Go Public?
You might be wondering what happens when you win the lottery. Let’s explain what happens when a winner decides to go public. Camelot’s PR team are on hand to e press conferences and handle other forms of media interests.
A large lottery win can put a person under a lot of strain, but it’s reassuring to know support is available. For all £500k winners, whether they choose to go public or not, there is the following support:
- Banking advice: A private banking representative can visit the winners at home and discuss available services.
- Expert financial advice: Winners can meet with a panel of independent and legal financial experts who will offer practical guidance and impartial advice.
- Contact with previous winners: If they want, winners can be put into contact with other winners to ask for their real-life advice and learn how they dealt with their sudden increase in wealth.
Lottery Winner Publicity Risks
As you might expect, one of the biggest risks is that you’re likely to receive a lot of media attention. There are also going to be lots of second cousins coming out of the woodwork and knocking on your door as well as “friends” you’ve not seen for many years turning up out of the blue.
Personal privacy is hard to maintain in our daily lives anyway. Imagine how hard it might be once you’ve claimed your winnings. The temptation to share your good news with the world might be hard to resist.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the decision to announce a lottery win is a personal thing. Accepting lottery winner publicity might seem odd to some people, but in many cases, it could be better than anonymity. Your 15 minutes of fame will be relatively short-lived, and if you can weather the two-week publicity storm, you’ll be free to enjoy your life without any unwanted interruptions.
Popular Questions
We hope you found this post interesting and are now a little more informed about why lottery winners go public. Just in case you’d like to know more, we’ve taken the time to provide answers to some of the most asked questions.
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