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New Berlin winner of $768 million Powerball won't be able to remain anonymous

Posted at 6:24 AM, Mar 28, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-28 09:24:36-04

NEW BERLIN — The lucky New Berlin winner of the $768 million Powerball jackpot, the third largest in U.S. history, won't be able to stay in the dark for long.

According to the Wisconsin Lottery, "Wisconsin has an 'open records law.' " Most information that state government produces or controls is available to any organization or person requesting it. Only information “in the public’s interest” may be released by a government agency.

Due to strong ticket sales, the jackpot climbed to an estimated $768.4 million at the time of the drawing, with a cash option of $477 million for the New Berlin winner.

The lottery, upon request, must release the name and city of the winner. Any other information about the winner will be released only with the winner’s consent. Likewise, it is the winner's choice if they would like to speak to the media. It is not required, "nor can it be prevented."

It is part of a check and balance. It proves the Lottery had a winner and is not just keeping the money to itself in a vault. It also is good publicity for the Lottery to show other common people won.

Lou Perrine's in Kenosha has never had a big winner, and that continued with the latest drawing.

Anthony Perrine, the third-generation owner, says his father's store in Illinois had a $100,000 winner.

Perrine was close to nailing a prediction earlier Wednesday.

"We're going to have a $700 million winner (Wednesday)," Perrine said. "I feel it."

He was in the vicinity. Instead of Kenosha, the single winning ticket was sold in New Berlin.

"We're going to have a $700 million winner (Wednesday). I feel it." — Anthony Perrine, owner of Lou Perrine's in Kenosha

The $768.4 million is the third largest behind the world-record $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot shared by winners in California, Florida and Tennessee in January 2016, and the $1.537 billion Mega Millions jackpot won in South Carolina last October.