Politics & Government

Governor Vetoes Bill That Would Shield Lottery Winners' Names

Hassan says if lottery winners' names are kept secret "then accountability and oversight is ultimately diminished and the opportunity for potential corruption is born."

Gov. Maggie Hassan has vetoed a bill that would have prohibited the NH Lottery Commission from publicly disclosing lottery winners' names.

Hassan said the bill was not in another tradition of New Hampshire: transparency.

Her veto message:

"In New Hampshire, we have a long history and tradition of open and transparent financial stewardship of our publicly funded, government-administered operations and funds. Since 1964, the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire Lottery has served our state and local communities well by providing players with a well-regulated and secure recreational gaming experience while providing more than $1 billion in revenues to public education. The Lottery owes much of its success to a reputation built on public confidence and trust, and that reputation has been well preserved by the Commission’s current executive director and his staff.

"HB 1244 seeks to prohibit the Lottery Commission from publicly disclosing the names of lottery winners in all instances, asserting a personal right of privacy as the primary justification.

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"While this consideration is a well-intentioned one, transparency in the administration and operation of our New Hampshire Lottery games and sweepstakes, and the Lottery Commission that oversees it, is paramount to ensuring continued trust and confidence in our Lottery and all of our public institutions.

"Current law recognizes the privacy interest of those individuals who have had the good fortune of winning the New Hampshire Lottery by not requiring the Commission to disclose the names of winners proactively. However, if the names of lottery winners are entirely precluded from the light of public disclosure then accountability and oversight is ultimately diminished and the opportunity for potential corruption is born.

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"In New Hampshire, we value personal privacy, as well as integrity and trust in our public institutions, and both are critical to our democracy. Balancing these interests is something we strive to do on an ongoing basis and something that the current system for disclosure at the Lottery Commission does well. House Bill 1244 would change that balance to the detriment of the public's confidence in the Commission's integrity and transparency, and therefore I have vetoed HB 1244."


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