# lottery winners **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 6, 2004, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lottery-winners/223108 "2004-01-06T23:55:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Headcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@Headcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headcoat)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lottery-winners/223108/1 "2004-01-06T23:55:27Z")
Are they obligated to participate in that public ceremony where they stand there like jackasses with a giant check? What if I won a huge jackpot and refused to do that? ---
**Author:** ![bootytp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2acd7d/32.png) [@bootytp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bootytp)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lottery-winners/223108/2 "2004-01-07T00:06:50Z")
i bet you don’t have to do it ---
**Author:** ![Cillasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@Cillasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cillasi)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lottery-winners/223108/3 "2004-01-07T00:20:06Z")
If you refuse, the press will “investigate” and smear the minutest details of your life all over the front page of every rag across the country. It’s just easier to give the fifth estate their photo opportunity and be rid of them. I’m sure there are plenty of folks who opt out on the publicity, but the bigger the jackpot, the smaller the number of winners, the harder it becomes. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lottery-winners/223108/4 "2004-01-07T00:37:15Z")
It depends on state law. Look on the back of your lottery ticket. It will sometimes say that by buying it you agree to participate in any public, winning ceremonies in order to collect etc… ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lottery-winners/223108/5 "2004-01-07T00:41:55Z")
Ok, so I have to participate in any public ceremonies in order to collect, but answer each question with either “I don’t know” or “None of your damn business”. Do I still get to collect? ---
**Author:** ![adirondack\_mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@adirondack\_mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adirondack_mike)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lottery-winners/223108/6 "2004-01-07T00:43:40Z")
Here it is for powerball. Click on _Anonymous Winners._ No Information on the Megamillions game. ---
**Author:** ![adirondack\_mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@adirondack\_mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adirondack_mike)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lottery-winners/223108/7 "2004-01-07T00:46:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by adirondack\_mike \* > \*\*Here it is for powerball. > > Click on _Anonymous Winners._ > > No Information on the Megamillions game. \*\* :smack: [powerball.](http://www.powerball.com/pb_faq.asp#special) ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lottery-winners/223108/8 "2004-01-07T01:15:34Z")
For some of the lotteries here in Canada, there is a clause that states that you agree to let them use your “name and likeness” to promote the lottery etc (also on the back of the ticket in fine print). It’s usually pretty vague, but generally means they want your smiling face so they can say “Jane OrdinaryFolk won a gazillion! You can too!” If you give them some soundbite quip like “this is almost enough to cover my student loan!” they would be over the moon. My mom made a big deal when she found out about that clause because she thought it was unsafe. (True enough, they release your name and photo to the world, someone figures out where you live and holds your poodle for $100,000 ransom…) Different lotteries have different requirements, you have to look at the ticket and or all the “literature” they have at the point of purchase.