Hunt is on for single winner of $456million Lotto jackpot

It's the eighth largest jackpot in Powerball game history, but the winner remains a mystery.

One single ticket sold in Pennsylvania, US, has snagged someone a cool $456.7 million (AUD $592 million), but the winner has yet to come forward.

The massive win comes after a New Hampshire woman who won a AUD $710 million jackpot on January 10 fought for and won for the legal right to keep her identity a secret.

According to The Washington Post, if the winner of the Pennsylvania jackpot wants to remain anonymous, he or she will have to go through a similar legal process, as Pennsylvania Lottery requires its winners to be named to make sure the system remains transparent.

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Those who win big payouts claim the publication of their details makes them targets for extortion, robbery or other crimes - and also constitutes an invasion of privacy.

Judge Charles Temple, who ruled in favour of suppressing the name of the New Hampshire Lotto winner, said big winners were often subjected to "repeated solicitation, harassment, and even violence."

In delivering his verdict, the judge noted that previous winner had received bomb threats, while others were continually contacted by complete strangers who wanted handouts.

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