Winning the lottery in Oregon may bring piles of cash, but it could also bring unwanted public attention for the winner.

House Bill 3389 proposes to make the name and address of a lottery winner confidential in Oregon. The bill also allows that a prize may be paid to the trustee of a trust.

Some states allow lottery winners to remain confidential, but that doesn’t mean Oregon should do it, too. Public money is being spent. The public has a right to know where the money is going. And without public disclosure, there will be suspicion that something fishy is going on. It could also make the lottery easier to rig.

Interviews with big lottery winners can be fascinating. Some surely do well. Many don’t become happier. Many don’t handle the money well. Some end up bankrupt. They can go through terrible fights with family and be preyed upon by scammers or worse. Some even declare that they wish they never won.

The publicity following winners may be fun for some. But big winners are often advised to change their phone numbers and to get out of town until any frenzied interest dies down.

In Oregon, the state has shown some flexibility in its policy of transparency for winners. It did grant anonymity to a winner from Baghdad in 2016 because he presented a case that his family would be endangered by publicity. That was an isolated, extreme case.

It’s easy to understand why lottery winners may wish to remain anonymous. But it’s the public’s money they are getting. Winners in Oregon should be publicly disclosed. HB 3389 should die.