0 Lottery winner vows to stay anonymous after $5M win
BRONX, N.Y. - An unemployed Bronx man won a life-changing jackpot, but he doesn’t want to tell anyone about the good news.
But New York Gaming Commission says that’s not an option, and that the unidentified man will have to accept his $5 million mega check in front of cameras, the New York Post reported.
The 24-year-old man bought a $20 scratch-off in April, the New York Daily News reported.
But the state says winners of $1 million or more have to appear at a press conference announcing their windfall, and accept their giant check. Each ticket has the rules spelled out on the back, the Daily News reported.
The new multimillionaire from the Bronx tried to claim his winnings but was told that he had to be part of the press conference in his honor. But he told the New York Post that he doesn’t want his neighborhood to know how much cash he’s sitting on.
If the Gaming Commission doesn’t change its mind, then the man said he will sue to keep his identity secret, the Post reported.
Once he collects his winnings he wants to do something for his mother, who raised him as a single mother and who worked two jobs at fast food restaurants to pay the bills. He plans to buy a house for his mother and a second one for him and his brother to share. He also has a 4-year-old daughter for whom he will save some of his winnings. The man also says he’ll invest $1 million, the Post reported.
A lawyer who specializes in the lottery says the man’s case against the Game Commission may not be as easily won as it sounds.
“I think it is a heavy lift,” Jason Kurland told the Daily News. “But sometimes the lottery commission will work with you. If they determine his life is in jeopardy, they have the flexibility to revise their regulations. But it is very difficult.”
Earlier this year, a judge in New Hampshire ruled that the winner of a $560 million Powerball jackpot could stay anonymous, ABC News reported.
PaxVobiscuit on May 23rd, 2018 at 20:46 UTC »
The worst part of that article is that the New York Gaming Commission is forcing him to accept publicly. Nice way to paint a target on a winner you jackasses.
nobodytrickedme on May 23rd, 2018 at 20:45 UTC »
I hate that the lottery wont let you keep your name private. Why cant they say The Winner of the five million dollar jackpot is say 37 year old married man who works in Education and has one child." That lets people know something about the winner- or at least something more than "The winner chose to be anonymous" while still shielding the winners identity.
2GoldDoubloons on May 23rd, 2018 at 19:53 UTC »
OP's title is a bit misleading. The article says he won $5 million and is going to use some of the winnings to buy 2 houses, one for himself and his brother to share, and one for his mom. He is going to then invest $1 million and put some down for his daughter's schooling. He isn't buying a $5 million house.
What I think sucks is that the State won't allow him to remain anonymous. He is talking about suing for his privacy but it looks like that might not work either.