Iraqi citizen wins $6.4 Million Oregon lottery

[bcla]

I agree with you, but if every other Oregon lottery winner has to have their name released publicly, then he should have to also.

I suppose one issue is the requirement. I noted that in California the requirement for disclosure is the name of the store and the name of the winner. The winner could very well have a common name in Iraq and the subsequent headache for more than just the winner.

I did hear about a lottery winner in Arizona who set up a trust to claim his prize. Only the name of the trust was reported publicly. A reporter then filed a public records request and got his name anyways since the lottery commission wouldn't release it without knowing the beneficiary of the trust.

 

[usnuzuloose]

All I will say is unbelievable. Just great

 

[okeydokey]

He is an Iraqi citizen that lives in Iraq. He traveled to the US from Iraq to claim the prize and will be returning to Iraq.

IS that against the law?

 

[dclpluto]

IS that against the law?

Nope

 

[SparklePixie]

IS that against the law?

No, but you questioned why I had Iraqi in the title. That is why.

 

[bcla]

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-iraq-wins-6-4-million-oregon-lottery-jackpot-n477441

He purchased the ticket online through some kind of lottery ticket buying service and won. Interesting that in Oregon, the law states you are not able to remain anonymous if you win a large jackpot, though this Iraqi citizen's name is not being disclosed, nor will it be according to officials.

Another story says that the decision on withholding the winner's name isn't quite final, but that the head of the Oregon Lottery decided to withhold it for now. Also - it was 25 annual payments (26 total) and not 20.

http://www.wweek.com/2015/12/09/an-...al-claims-a-6-4-million-oregon-lottery-prize/

The lottery makes the names of winners public in order to be transparent to Oregonians.

But Roberts says the man, an Iraqi national, said news of his winnings would put him in danger in his lawless homeland.

"He's told me about his situation in Iraq," Roberts says. "The situation there is dangerous. If word gets out there that someone has come into a lot of money, bad things could happen."

Roberts acknowledges that his agency always discloses the names of winners, but he is convinced the Iraqi man has made a reasonable case. Oregon's public records law permits agencies to withhold information for personal privacy reasons. The lottery still hasn't made a final decision about releasing the winner's name.​

Also - the Oregon Lottery withheld federal and state taxes even though the winner isn't a US taxpayer. I'd be curious as to how it's treated when he gets home. However, if his name isn't reported, then I'm not even sure how they would know back home. The federal government always withholds 25% even though the tax liability is typically more than that. Some states don't tax lottery winnings for games played in that state.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I'm sure he will be on some type of government watch list just to be sure he isn't supporting any terrorist regimes.

 

[mel&me]

I don't get it, So what if someone from another country won the Oregon lottery.

 

[Chocolate Cake]

I don't get it, So what if someone from another country won the Oregon lottery.

I think the issue is if you or I won the lottery, our names would be released. I would be very upset if my name was published, along with a notification of exactly how much money I won. It is not safe for anyone to have their name put out there with a dollar amount.

But, for some reason, this guy gets a Fee Pass. They won't publish his name.

 

[elphaba91]

In Australia you are always given the option of remaining anonymous if you win the lottery (and most do). This came about because in 1951 an 8 year old boy was kidnapped and held to ransom (the first in Australia) for his father's lottery winnings. Sadly he was ultimately murdered. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graeme_Thorne_kidnapping

 

[bcla]

I think the issue is if you or I won the lottery, our names would be released. I would be very upset if my name was published, along with a notification of exactly how much money I won. It is not safe for anyone to have their name put out there with a dollar amount.

But, for some reason, this guy gets a Fee Pass. They won't publish his name.

I looked up the rule. I can't find anything in the law passed by the legislature, but there is a section on lottery publicity in their administrative rules. It isn't like most states, where the name of the winner is mandatory. The state lottery reserves the rights to publicity, including a likeness of the winner. So it sounds as if they do have the discretion to withhold the name of the winner if the director wishes to do so.

http://www.oregonlottery.org/docs/d...cs/rules-statutes/10_oar_chp_177.pdf?sfvrsn=2

OAR 177-046-0130 Disclosure of Winners

(1) General: The Lottery may use the name, address, and likeness of a winner in any Lottery promotional campaign, advertisement, or press release. A winner consents to the use of the winner’s name, address, and likeness for promotional campaigns, advertising, and publicity purposes by the Lottery and Lottery retailers. A winner who receives a prize or prize payment from the Lottery grants the Lottery, its agents, officers, employees, and representatives the right to use, publish in print or by means of the Internet, and reproduce the winner’s name, address, physical likeness, photograph, portraits, statements made by the winner, and use audio sound clips and video or film footage of the winner for the purpose of promoting the Lottery and its games.

(2) Person’s Likeness: If the Lottery, its agents, officers, employees, and representatives deem it suitable for advertising, promotional or publicity use, or press use, a winner further grants the Lottery the right to use and reproduce the winner’s likeness in print either alone or in any combination with other persons. Examples of permitted uses include but are not limited to: Radio, television, newspapers, posters, billboards, commercials, magazines, print advertisements, and the Lottery web site.

(3) Release: Each winner releases the State of Oregon, its agents, officers, employees, and representatives, the Oregon Lottery, its Director, agents, officers, employees, and representatives from any liability arising out of any blurring, distortion, alteration, or use in composite form whether intentional or otherwise, that may occur, or be produced in the printing and production process towards the completion of any finished product. A winner waives any right to inspect or approve the finished products, whether it is for a promotional campaign, advertising, or publicity.

(4) Limitation: If Lottery uses the address of a winner, the address shall not contain the street or house number of the winner. ​

 

[Micca]

He is an Iraqi citizen that lives in Iraq. He traveled to the US from Iraq to claim the prize and will be returning to Iraq.

First class, no doubt

 

[bcla]

First class, no doubt

Not sure about that. He took the prize as 26 graduated payments. His first payment was about $150K. I'm not sure it would be prudent to blow through it that fast.

I'm guessing he'll probably want to set up a direct payment to his US bank account now.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I think the issue is if you or I won the lottery, our names would be released. I would be very upset if my name was published, along with a notification of exactly how much money I won. It is not safe for anyone to have their name put out there with a dollar amount.

But, for some reason, this guy gets a Fee Pass. They won't publish his name.

I agree with you that people shouldn't have their winnings published because it could cause safety concerns.
I don't really think that's the issue people have with this guy winning though.

 

[Lynne M]

I'm sure this has happened many, many times before, probably in every state that runs a lottery. I'm sure if someone won a lottery who had a potentially violent ex, for example, they would request this. Yes, the rule is on the books that your name will be publicized, but I'll bet that anyone who presents any sort of compelling reason that they should have their name kept private would get the rule waived.

Another one of those 'news' items that isn't really news to anyone.

 

[CPanther95]

I don't get it, So what if someone from another country won the Oregon lottery.

You're only saying that because he's an Iraqi. But what if he was Swiss, or heaven forbid - a Canadian! The outrage would be unbelievable.

 

[bcla]

I agree with you that people shouldn't have their winnings published because it could cause safety concerns.
I don't really think that's the issue people have with this guy winning though.

Most rationalize it as "transparency" to try to show the public that real people do win and it's not some scam that's being funneled to the lottery management or perhaps to the government.

However, it's pretty obvious that they want it for publicity. Even some of the states that allow anonymity require that winners take part in publicity. I remember seeing photos of winners wearing masks and holding a big fake check with a collective pseudonym. The states that only require the name and store have winners' handbooks that recommend going through them to supposedly relieve some of the curiosity.

 

[3 MEN AND A BOAT]

Most rationalize it as "transparency" to try to show the public that real people do win and it's not some scam that's being funneled to the lottery management or perhaps to the government.

However, it's pretty obvious that they want it for publicity. Even some of the states that allow anonymity require that winners take part in publicity. I remember seeing photos of winners wearing masks and holding a big fake check with a collective pseudonym. The states that only require the name and store have winners' handbooks that recommend going through them to supposedly relieve some of the curiosity.

I wouldn't put it past some government officials to actually try something along these lines. After all their people like everyone else and greed does strange things.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

so why is this news?

I think most of us have always assumed that to purchase an Oregon lottery ticket, you actually had to be in Oregon.

I initially skipped the thread because I assumed the guy was here on a Visa. I would have never realized purchase of state lotto tickets could be made while overseas.

 

[littleblackegg]

So I assume the next winner can also have their name not released for "safety".

Possibly. I assume if the state lottery commission determines it might be a safety issue to release the next winner's name, they'll withhold that one too.