Anonymity Not An Option For Powerball Winners In Florida
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Remaining anonymous - a topic not usually thought about when you're buying your Powerball ticket, hoping to collect the jackpot.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the jackpot was at a whopping $1.5 billion. Meantime, locals are making their way hoping the next drawing will get them closer to cashing in.
But what if you do win? Would you tell everyone or want to stay anonymous?
You have no choice in Florida but to be out in the open as a winner.
Florida law requires a lottery winner to give his or her name, city of residence, game won, date won and the amount they won, according to the Florida Lottery website.
Who can get this information?
The site says any "third party" that requests the information can get it.
Not the best if you're trying to stay under the radar, but there is some good news other than you won a lot of money. They will not release your home addresses and telephone numbers. That's considered confidential.
It's something to think about when the numbers are being drawn Wednesday evening.
Hopefuls were making sure Tuesday they got their Powerball tickets before 10 p.m. Wednesday, fantasizing to be Florida's 11th jackpot winner.
"1.5 billion dollars oh my god how many zeros is that? Too many I don't know," said one player told CBS4's Marybel Rodriguez.
Hard to imagine but it's true. The Powerball jackpot has rolled over 19 times since November 7th, making it the game's highest and the worlds largest jackpot ever.
"I hope that the American dream of life maybe come true," said player Adam Coch.
He is one of the millions of dreamers taking a shot at the jackpot.
He bought his ticket at Mercado Miami at Miami International Airport where the most tickets are sold in Miami-Dade County.
Coch made it a priority to check there first before boarding his flight back to Germany.
"What would you do if you won," asked Rodriguez.
"I would like to help my country Thailand, Germany and of course America," he said.
Scott Schoedinger bought his Powerball ticket at the Chevron on the corner of Pine Island and Griffin Road in Davie. It's a hot spot where the most tickets are sold in Broward County.
"I didn't know. I come here every day," said Schoedinger.
Those who win can opt between getting the money in two ways. The full prize is only for those who opt to get 30 payments for over 29 years. The second option would come all at once in a lump sum payment of more than $800 million.