The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court recently ruled against the public's access to certain lottery ticket validation numbers, affecting transparency in the state's lottery operations. The court's decision, issued on July 13, 2026, reverses a previous ruling by the Office of Open Records (OOR) that had granted access to these numbers. This ruling has implications for both the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and Scientific Games, LLC, the company that provides lottery services in the state.
The case, docketed as 773 and 774 C.D. 2025, centers on a request made by Anthony Tellerinio to access specific records related to lottery ticket validations. The ruling is significant as it touches upon the balance between public transparency and the protection of proprietary business information.
Background
The dispute began when Tellerinio submitted a request to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue on November 26, 2024. He sought records that would allow him to determine the winning ticket numbers and validation numbers for top prizes in instant lottery games from 2020 to 2024. This request included detailed information about ticket sales and revenue.
The Department initially denied Tellerinio's request, arguing that the validation numbers were part of a trade secret and confidential proprietary information belonging to Scientific Games, the vendor that manages the lottery's ticket validation system. Following this denial, Tellerinio appealed to the OOR, which initially sided with him but later reversed its decision upon reconsideration.
The OOR's May 22, 2025, ruling directed the Department to provide the requested records within 30 days, stating that the validation numbers were not trade secrets. Both the Department and Scientific Games then appealed this decision to the Commonwealth Court, leading to the current ruling.
The Ruling
The Commonwealth Court, led by Judge Anne E. Covey, ultimately reversed the OOR's decision. The court found that the validation numbers requested by Tellerinio were indeed part of Scientific Games' proprietary information. The court stated, "the requested information is a trade secret" and emphasized that these numbers are integral to the security and validation of lottery tickets.
Judge Covey highlighted that the validation numbers are not merely random numbers but are part of a complex algorithm designed to protect the integrity of the lottery system. The court noted that releasing these numbers could allow competitors to undermine Scientific Games' business model, thus harming its competitive position.
Impact
This ruling has significant implications for transparency in Pennsylvania's lottery operations. It reinforces the idea that certain business information, even when related to public services like the lottery, can be protected from public disclosure to safeguard competitive interests. This decision may set a precedent for future cases involving the Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) and the balance between public access to information and the protection of proprietary business data.
Moreover, the ruling affects not only the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue but also other entities that may seek similar information in the future. It raises questions about what constitutes a trade secret and how public interest is weighed against private business interests in cases involving public records.
What's Next
As it stands, the decision can be appealed further, but details about any potential next steps were not available in the court filing. It remains to be seen whether Tellerinio or any other party will pursue further legal action regarding this ruling.