It works in almost all cases, if you're prepared. Virginia is an exception. There are a few others. A few states (like 5 or 6) allow you to remain anonymous without doing anything other than telling them you want to remain anonymous. But even in Virginia you can remain virtually anonymous.
In Kentucky winners cannot be anonymous. So there ya go. Can't do it, right? But you can. Lawyers all over the state routinely create corporations for winners while protecting their identity. The first one to do it was Bowling Green, KY attorney Steve Thornton about 15 years ago. Ever since then it's almost routine for KY winners of $100,000 or more.
In Kentucky (and most states) the lottery people cannot require you to participate in photo shoots or press conferences or anything like that. They'll beg and plead, but ytou only have to do what is required of you, not simply what they want you to do. Your name and the location where you bought the ticket would be released through a freedom of information request (the lottery is a state entity, after all), but address, phone number and other information is protected.
Here's the kicker if you live in a state which requires you to be public about it and you can't hide most or all of your information behind an LLC or a trust. Before you redeem the ticket, change your name. Legally. It takes at most 90 days to do so, and you have 180 to redeem the ticket. Get a new driver's license in your name, and send the name change to the Social Security Administration and get a new SS card. THEN redeem the ticket. After you redeem the ticket, reverse the name change process. People will be chasing a ghost, a phantom, a shadow that exists only on paper, and only for a short time.
It's amazing how many lottery winners end up changing their name AFTER they've won, because they're constantly hounded by everyone. Much easier to do it before redeeming the ticket.
Whether it's a single-state lottery or a national megamultipowerballmillions lottery, the laws of the state in which the ticket is purchased apply.
