If you're holding a big New York ticket, the realistic goal is to manage the publicity, not avoid it. Here is what becomes public, what an entity claim can and can't do, and how New York's rules compare with nearby states.
Does New York let lottery winners stay anonymous?
No. Unlike New Jersey or Delaware, New York has no statute that keeps a winner's identity confidential. The New York Lottery regularly issues announcements naming big winners, where they live and what they won, and that information is treated as public. You can turn down a press conference or a photo with a giant check, but turning those down doesn't stop the announcement.
That could change. A bill requiring the Lottery to keep winners' identities confidential unless they consent, S2613, passed the state Senate in February 2025 and again in March 2026. It is still in the Assembly's Ways and Means Committee and has not become law.
Can you claim a New York lottery prize through an LLC or trust?
This is the main tool lawyers look at for New York winners. When a prize is paid to a legal entity such as a trust or an LLC, the public announcement can name the entity rather than the person behind it. That's how some of the biggest jackpots in other states have been claimed; Florida's record $1.602 billion Mega Millions prize, for example, was claimed by a company called Saltines Holdings LLC.
Before you count on it, be clear about the limits:
- Whether the New York Lottery will accept your particular structure, and exactly what it will release about the entity, is something your attorney should confirm with the Lottery before you file the claim.
- The people behind the entity are still identified to the Lottery and to tax authorities. Reporters sometimes trace business filings back to individuals.
- The structure has to be in place before you claim. Signing the ticket in your own name and filing a personal claim first can make an entity claim pointless, so get advice before you sign anything beyond what's needed to secure the ticket.
Our guide to the first steps after a big win explains why the lawyer comes before the claim.
Which states let lottery winners stay anonymous?
Several of New York's neighbors are more private. New Jersey has let winners remain anonymous since a 2020 law, and Delaware and Maryland allow it as well. Virginia's law, section 58.1-4029 of the Code of Virginia, as amended in 2026, bars its lottery from disclosing an individual winner's identity without the winner's written consent. Some other states protect only winners above a set prize amount. The full list is in our state-by-state anonymity guide.
Where you live doesn't change which rules apply. A prize is claimed in the state that sold the ticket, so a Powerball ticket bought in Manhattan is a New York claim under New York's disclosure practices, even if you live in New Jersey.
How long do you have to claim, and how much tax comes out?
The New York Lottery says winning draw-game tickets expire one year from the date of the draw. Scratch-off deadlines depend on the game and are listed in each game's report on the Lottery's site. A year gives you time to hire a lawyer and decide how to claim, but until then the ticket is a bearer instrument: whoever holds it can try to claim it, so sign it and lock it away.
The claiming structure doesn't change the tax. On prizes over $5,000, the Lottery withholds 24% for federal tax under the IRS Form W-2G rules (generally 30% for nonresident aliens). New York's Publication 140-W says the Lottery must also withhold state tax at the highest state rate, which is 10.9%, and New York City tax at the city's highest rate, 3.876%, if you lived in the city when you won. Yonkers residents have Yonkers tax withheld too. We work through the numbers in why New York lottery taxes are among the highest in the country.
What to do if you're holding a big New York ticket
- Sign the back of the ticket or, if you may claim through an entity, ask a lawyer first how it should be signed. Photograph both sides and store the ticket somewhere secure.
- Hire a New York attorney who has handled lottery claims, and a tax adviser, before you contact the Lottery.
- Decide whether to claim personally or through an entity, then follow our step-by-step claim guide.
- Assume the win will become known. Changing your phone number and locking down social media before the announcement is easier than doing it after.
You can check recent Powerball, Mega Millions and New York LOTTO numbers here, or see every New York game on our New York results page.
Frequently asked questions
Can lottery winners stay anonymous in New York?
No. New York has no law keeping winners' identities confidential, and the Lottery announces large winners publicly, usually with name, hometown and prize amount.
Can you claim a New York lottery prize with an LLC or trust?
It's the main option lawyers consider for privacy, because an entity claim can put the entity's name on the announcement instead of yours. Have an attorney confirm with the Lottery that your structure will be accepted before you claim, and expect the people behind it to be identified to the Lottery and tax authorities.
How long do you have to claim a New York lottery prize?
One year from the draw date for draw games. Scratch-off deadlines vary by game and are posted on the New York Lottery's site.
Which states near New York allow anonymous lottery winners?
New Jersey has allowed winners to remain anonymous since 2020, and Delaware and Maryland allow it too. A ticket bought in New York is still claimed under New York's rules, wherever the winner lives.
If gambling stops being fun, the national problem gambling helpline is 1-800-MY-RESET. New Yorkers can also call the state HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY.
Sources: New York Lottery prize-claim page; New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Publication 140-W and 2025 IT-201 rate schedules; IRS Instructions for Forms W-2G and 5754; Code of Virginia section 58.1-4029.
