Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday vetoed a bill that would have allowed lottery winners to remain anonymous.

Many Long Islanders tell News 12 that they would prefer their win to be private, whether it's to prevent family members coming out of the woodwork to ask for money or general safety.

If Cuomo had signed the bill, New York would have joined six other states that allow lotto winners to stay anonymous.

Cuomo argued that publicly identifying winners keeps the state accountable. The bill would've applied to jackpots worth more than $5,000.

Financial adviser Mitch Goldberg says he believes Cuomo vetoed the bill to keep up publicity.

"The lottery is here to enrich the state," he says. "It pays for things, so you really want that free advertising."

Even though the chances of winning the lottery are small, winners can expect the announcement to be big -- and public.