New Hampshire’s $559.7 Million Powerball Winner to Finally Bank Prize
Wednesday March 7th 2018The mystery New Hampshire woman who won Saturday January 6th’s $559.7 million Powerball jackpot will finally bank her prize today (Wednesday March 7th). The handover of the winning check will take place at New Hampshire Lottery headquarters in Concord, although the winner will not attend as she continues her quest to remain anonymous.
What Happened With the New Hampshire Powerball Winner?
New Hampshire’s latest Powerball winner struck gold with a ticket bought at Reeds Ferry Market on Daniel Webster Highway in Merrimack. The jackpot had been rolling since the previous October, allowing it to bust through the half a billion dollar mark, the biggest win ever recorded in the Granite State.
Although New Hampshire does not allow lottery winners to remain anonymous, there is a loophole that permits players to collect big wins through blind trusts set up by lawyers. This can disguise the identity of the lucky player and allow them to keep their win a secret if they wish.
However, in her excitement at winning, and wanting to ensure no one else could take the ticket and claim the prize, she signed the back of the slip under her own name. Lottery officials informed her that this meant she could no longer use a trust to claim the prize under the state’s Right to Know law. In addition, any attempt to remove the signature would invalidate the ticket completely.
The winner decided to challenge this decision in court and is currently known only as Jane Doe in legal papers.
What Happens Now?
A superior court judge is yet to rule on the case, but the lottery and the winner’s legal team from Shaheen and Gordon have agreed that the funds will be placed into a trust and any identifying information will remain a secret until a decision is made.
The lottery will host an event to mark the transfer of the sum, with Jane Doe’s representatives expected to announce a series of charitable donations she wishes to make to local causes.
Powerball Anonymity
If you want to remain anonymous after a Powerball jackpot win, you can only do so in Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio and South Carolina. In states like New Hampshire and Texas you can organize a blind trust to receive the award, but as the most recent Powerball winner discovered, you should consult legal experts before signing your ticket or contacting your state lottery.
Current Powerball Jackpot
The New Hampshire Powerball winner was the last player to match all five main numbers and the Powerball. There have been 16 rollovers since then, setting up a huge $348 million top prize pot for tonight’s drawing.
You can play at retailers in each of the participating states and jurisdictions, and you can even choose your Powerball numbers online too, which is the most convenient way to get involved.
Latest News