The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

Opinion

Discussion

August 26, 2008

Lottery officials must find another way to sell industry

Ever wonder what you’d do if you won $100 million in the lottery?

Likely you’d take the lump sum (which takes more than half the winnings), probably get an attorney and probably form a trust to hide your identity.

This is the way its been for two of the three Oklahoma Powerball winners, and those decisions are hampering the marketing efforts of state lottery officials.

Under legislation enacted in 2007, the names of trust members must be disclosed to Lottery Commission, and checks are made to see if they owe back taxes or child support. But the law allows lottery winners to be anonymous to everyone else.

Lottery officials say while they respect that decision, it makes it harder to generate excitement about the lottery games. Part of the lure of the lottery is knowing plain Jane and Joe can be winners. Winners likely are the butcher at the meat counter, a mechanic or a schoolteacher.

When others see everyday folks winning, it makes them want to play, lottery officials say. When those people are hidden behind trust names, such as Zorro or WOW, it just doesn’t pack as much punch.

We agree it isn’t as exciting for the public because there are no stories to tell, no people to profile. There goes a lot of free publicity for the lottery games.

However, we also understand why people choose anonymity. Anytime someone wins a big sum of money, he usually is inundated with donation requests and often pestered by the media.

Lottery officials in Oklahoma are just going to have to find another way to create excitement for the games. The fact three Oklahomans have won the major jackpot in only two years should be a pretty good start.

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