Ontario lottery agency to limit winner names in releases, citing privacy concerns

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Ontario’s lottery agency says it has begun limiting how it identifies winners in public releases, using only first names and last initials in an effort to better protect privacy while maintaining transparency.

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) spokesperson Tony Bitonti said the change took effect last week and applies to winner news releases, which will now identify recipients as, for example, “John S. of Toronto” instead of using full names.

Bitonti said the move responds to longstanding concerns from winners about having their identities widely circulated online, where information can persist indefinitely.

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“We’ve been hearing from our winners for a while about the need to protect their privacy,” he said, adding the agency must balance that with its obligation as a government body to be transparent about payouts.

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He said full names of winners will still be published on a list on the agency’s website that includes prize amounts and in which community and business establishment the person bought their winning ticket, ensuring public accountability.

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The agency has long publicized winners through news releases, photos and promotional materials, but Bitonti said the digital age has heightened privacy risks, including scams that impersonate lottery winners online.

He said the organization works with social media platforms like Meta to…

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