Scratch Games And The Last Top Prize

There has been a lot of media coverage lately focusing on the issue of the top prizes in instant-scratch games and whether a game should remain on sale after the last top prize has been claimed. If you do a search, I’m sure you can find several examples of recent media coverage, but here is one example, a link to a USA Today article.

The Iowa Lottery has had a long-standing policy regarding the last top prizes in its scratch games. And interestingly, we’ve received inquiries from players on both sides of the issue.

We provide information about the prizes in our games in a lot of different ways, including in lists here on our Web site. If you click on the “Games” link along the left side of our site, you can find information about all the products we offer, including lists of our scratch games and the prizes remaining in them. 

When the last top prize in one of our scratch games has been claimed, the lottery’s computerized sales and validations system automatically sends out a message to all of the lottery terminals in the state, announcing that the last top prize has been claimed and any remaining tickets in the game should be removed from sale. The process of ending the game starts immediately.

As I referenced earlier, we’ve gotten complaints from players who don’t like that idea, as well as inquiries from players who do like it and want to make sure we’re doing it. It just goes to show that you can’t please all of the people all of the time, so you just have to concentrate on doing what you think is right.

Players who don’t like the idea of our games being removed from sale after all of the top prizes have been claimed have told us they don’t think that’s fair because even though the top prizes are gone, there are other prizes still available in the games and they want to be able to keep playing for them. On the other side are players who say it wouldn’t be fair for the lottery to leave the games on sale after the top prizes are gone.

Throughout the Iowa Lottery’s history, we’ve designed our policies to try to err on the side of players as much as possible. A good example of that has to do with the expiration dates of prizes in our games. If a prize expires on a weekend or holiday when our offices are closed, we give you until the following business day to claim the prize. We believe that’s the best way to go to err on the side of the player. 

When approaching the issue of the last top prize in one of our games, we again decided to do what we thought would err most on the side of our players. That’s why we remove our scratch games from sale when the last top prize in them has been claimed.

All lotteries don’t approach the issue the same way, in part because of the different sides to the argument that we’ve discussed here. Laws also differ from state to state, which can affect the approach. Individual lotteries are addressing the issue as they believe is best.

The Iowa Lottery’s policy regarding last top prizes has been in place for years, and we hope you now understand the rational behind our approach.

Comments

[Lorraine]

I want to know why we in Iowa don't have keno maybe a keno scratch game where you pick 10 numbers and depends how many to win.

[Sheryl]

I agree with the comment by Karen! It would be so much more fun if the BIG jackpots were split between mustiple players.

[Mary Neubauer]

It looks like Gary and Karen are both asking the same question, just in slightly different ways. Powerball has been redesigned a few times over the years to add new features and keep the jackpots growing. One thing that has never changed, however, is Powerball’s focus on big jackpots. For all those who say they’d like to see the jackpot split amongst more people when it reaches a certain level there are just as many folks who says they only play when the jackpot gets up there. I know that for now, Powerball will remain a big jackpot game. But we’re always looking for feedback and ideas, so I’ll keep your comments on hand and share them with other folks in the Powerball system. Love your comments! Keep them coming. Mary N.

[Connie Bosier]

I loved the super sampler!!! It was like getting so much more than I usually purchase. Could they have that more often? And when they first came out with the birthday club, I signed both my husband and myself up. When we moved and I sent a change of address, I didn't receive anymore mailings or birthday offers. Is there a reason why? But love the sizzler on the Hot Lotto game. Keep them coming!!! Thanks, Connie

[Karen]

If you would split the big jackpots amoungst several players it would benifet more players.