ialottery blog

We’ll Be On the Grand Concourse Today At The State Fair

It’s Veterans Day at the Iowa State Fair, and we’ve got a whole day’s worth of activities to celebrate the difference you’ve helped us make through the lottery proceeds for Iowa veterans and their families.

First up, our State Fair booth that you can see in the photo here is open at the State Fair today from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. We’re in the big white exhibition tent along the Grand Concourse. The map at the end of this blog entry shows you the tent’s spot in front of the Fair’s Service Center.

We’ll be selling and cashing scratch, lotto, and InstaPlay tickets, and we can help you enter our promotions if you need those details. We’ll have the scratch games available that can get you entries into our Iowa Ironmen Suite promotion, Fly with Cy promotion, and Explore Iowa promotion.

The Polaris vehicles that are the top prizes in our Explore Iowa promotion also will be on display at our tent, so feel free to check them out!

Anyone who makes at least a $10 lottery purchase at our booth gets to spin the prize wheel for merchandise prizes, and we’ve got pull-tab tickets as prizes on that wheel!

And remember that a portion of each $1 spent on lottery tickets in Iowa goes right into the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund to benefit our state’s veterans and their families. We’re proud to share that to date, the Iowa Lottery has raised nearly $35 million for that meaningful cause!

We’ll also be making a couple presentations at the State Fair today to recognize the Veterans Trust Fund and spread the word about the help available through it. One presentation will be just before the Veterans parade at 11 a.m. this morning and the other will be just before the Iowa Military Veterans Band performs at 3 p.m. at the Susan Knapp Amphitheater.

Please join us in thanking and honoring veterans today to make their day at the Fair that much more special!

Russell Smith Wins Again … Or Did He?

It’s apparently a really good time to be Russell Smith in Iowa!

Not one but TWO Iowa men named Russell Smith have claimed big lottery prizes this month.

First up was Russell Smith of DeWitt, who claimed a $10,000 prize in the Extreme Green Progressive InstaPlay game on Aug. 1. He got his real check and an oversized, ceremonial one for fun at the Iowa Lottery’s regional office in Cedar Rapids.

Then yesterday, Russell Smith of Des Moines claimed a $25,000 top prize in the “Wild Bingo” scratch game. He visited lottery headquarters in Clive to get his real check and an oversized, ceremonial one.

Not the same guy, just a happy coincidence. And hey, there’s still a lot of time to go in August! Maybe even MORE Russell Smiths will win big prizes by the end of the month!

Congratulations to both Russell Smiths!

Black Hawk County Man Claims Prize of $25,000 a Year for Life

For more than a week, a Black Hawk County man knew he’d won a prize of $25,000 a year for life in the Lucky for Life game, but waited to claim his prize until he had a plan.

Joe Kapaun of Hudson says whenever a lottery jackpot gets really huge, he reads the articles that pop up about what to do if you win. And he’s taken to heart the advice that it’s smart to have a plan for the money.

So, Joe made his plan. He’s going to pay off debts, invest a big chunk of his winnings and maybe make one big “mad money” purchase: a hot tub.

Joe, who’s 67 and owns an engineering consulting firm, says a hot tub would just be a nice thing to have.

His easy-pick ticket matched the first five numbers but missed the Lucky Ball in the Lucky for Life drawing on July 24 to win the game’s second prize of $25,000 a year for life.

Joe bought his winning ticket at the Git N Go Convenience Store, 124 Wood St. in Hudson. Git N Go will receive a $500 bonus from the lottery for selling the winning ticket.

The winning numbers in the Lucky for Life drawing on July 24 were: 11-27-37-38-48 and Lucky Ball 16.

Joe said he checked his tickets the morning after the drawing while he was having some coffee and a cigar. He reviewed the numbers and then just to be sure, he scanned the lucky ticket on the Iowa Lottery’s mobile app. It showed that he had hit big!

He went inside right away to show his wife, Lola, the ticket and scan it again on the app. They both concluded it was real!

Kapaun is Iowa’s 15th big winner in the game since its January 2016 debut in our state. He’s also the second big winner in the game just this summer. In late June, a Davenport man claimed a prize of $25,000 a year for life that he won in the Lucky for Life drawing on June 27.

Kapaun chose to receive his prize in the lump-sum amount of $390,000.

He gives what may be the best answer ever when someone asks why he plays the lottery: “The chances of winning something increase in your favor when you buy a ticket.”

I’m going to borrow that one, Joe!

Ticket To Austin: How You Can Have A Chance To ‘Fly With Cy’

Last month, we announced the Iowa Ironmen Suite promotion giving folks the chance to win football prize packages to two big rivalry games for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Today, the focus turns to Iowa State, and specifically, the chance to win an exclusive VIP trip to Austin for the Iowa State -Texas football game.

The Fly with Cy promotion has started today! Members of our free VIP Club can enter the promotion with nonwinning tickets in the “Hit It Big!” scratch game. We’ll draw for the Fly with Cy winners on Sept. 15.

Fifty winners and their guests will get to go on a private chartered flight that leaves Des Moines on Oct. 14 and returns from Austin on Oct. 16. Included in the trip package are:

• a 2-night hotel stay for two at the Hilton Garden Inn in the Austin University Capitol District,
• a reception at the hotel on the evening of Oct. 14,
• 2 tickets to the Iowa State - Texas football game on Oct. 15 at DKR Texas Memorial Stadium,
• Hotel and stadium transfers,
• Merchandise swag bag.

Each trip package is valued at nearly $7,300!

Entries can be made into the promotion until just before 10 a.m. on Sept. 13. We’ll post the winners’ names as soon as we have the details available after the drawing on Sept. 15.

Last year, Fly with Cy winners and their guests had a ball going to an ISU game in Las Vegas! We look forward to the fun this year in Austin.

(And for Hawkeye fans, remember that the entry period in the Iowa Ironmen Suite promotion runs through 8:59 a.m. on Aug. 17. You’ve still got time to enter!)

$2 Million-Winning Ticket In Bettendorf, IA Players Won Nearly 99,000 Total Prizes

Last night’s giant Mega Millions jackpot was won with a ticket purchased in Illinois, while five tickets in Iowa were just one number away from a share of the big prize.

The Iowa tickets matched the winning numbers in different ways, with one of them winning a $2 million prize and the other four winning prizes of $10,000 each. The $2 million-winning ticket purchased in Bettendorf was one of six across the country to win at that prize level in Friday’s drawing.

The winning numbers in last night’s drawing were: 13-36-45-57-67 and Mega Ball 14. The Megaplier number was 2.

The jackpot amount ended up at $1.337 billion annuity, $780.5 million cash. The final value was pushed higher based on actual sales than the latest estimates heading into the drawing.

The Mega Millions jackpot returns to $20 million annuity, $11.6 million cash option, for the game’s next drawing on Tuesday.

Total Prizes Won In Iowa

Iowa Lottery players won a total of 98,939 prizes in last night’s drawing ranging from $2 up to $2 million.

The $2 million-winning ticket, purchased at the Big 10 Mart, 999 Middle Road in Bettendorf, matched the five white balls but missed the Mega Ball to initially win a $1 million prize. But the player who bought the ticket added the Megaplier option to the purchase, which multiplied the prize to $2 million.

Big 10 Mart will receive a $2,000 bonus from the Iowa Lottery for selling the $2 million-winning ticket.

The four Iowa tickets winning $10,000 prizes last night matched four of the five white balls and the Mega Ball. They were purchased at:

• New Star Newton, 702 First Ave. E. in Newton
• Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh Express, 1260 Lake Ave. N. in Storm Lake
• Casey’s, 1305 W. Commercial St. in Manchester
• Hy-Vee Gas, 1702 E. Washington St. in Mount Pleasant.

The $2 million-winning ticket must be claimed at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Clive while the $10,000-winning tickets can be claimed at any of the lottery’s offices. In addition to lottery headquarters location in Clive, there are regional lottery offices in Cedar Rapids, Mason City and Storm Lake.

If the winners have questions before coming forward to claim their prizes, they can call the lottery at 515-725-7900 or email to Wmaster@ialottery.com.

Iowa Sales For Last Night’s Drawing

Iowa Lottery players bought more than $5.6 million in Mega Millions tickets for last night’s drawing, including more than $3.4 million in tickets yesterday alone.

But the average Mega Millions purchase in Iowa for the drawing was about $7, or about three plays per ticket. Lottery officials were pleased that Iowans had fun playing and didn’t go overboard.

Giant Mega Millions Jackpot Raised Again, Now Est. $1.28 Billion Annuity

Update at 10:15 p.m. on Friday July 29

Here are the winning numbers in tonight's Mega Millions® drawing: 13-36-45-57-67 and Mega Ball 14. The Megaplier® number was 2. We'll have full Iowa results from the drawing in the morning. Thank you to everyone who played and was part of the fun. Good luck on your tickets!     

The giant Mega Millions jackpot tonight was an estimated $1.28 billion annuity, $747.2 million cash option.

That is the second-highest jackpot in the history of the Mega Millions game and the third largest ever offered in the United States.

When the jackpot reaches this level, it becomes harder to predict the grand-prize estimate heading into the next drawing. Stronger sales mean the jackpot will go even higher, and that’s what has happened this week!

What’s That About ‘Coverage’?

By tracking sales, lottery officials can estimate how many of all the possible combinations in the game have been purchased for a particular drawing. It’s called coverage – how many of the combinations have been “covered.” The coverage estimate for tonight’s Mega Millions drawing is about 64 percent. (The odds of winning the jackpot in Mega Millions are about 1 in 302.6 million because that’s how many ways the numbers in the game can be combined in a play.)

Remember The Sales Cut-Off Time

If you’re buying a Mega Millions ticket, remember that there is a sales cut-off time for tonight’s drawing! Here in Iowa, the sales cut-off time is at 8:59 p.m. on the night of the drawing. If you buy a ticket after that, you’ll still have a valid play, it will just be for a future drawing and you won’t be in on tonight’s big money! The cut-off deadline is an automated procedure and it can’t be pushed back.

What If I Win?

The Iowa Lottery has a video for its biggest winners to help provide an overview of the process when someone wins a sizeable prize. The video gives details about the forms required for a prize claim, the cash vs. annuity decision for a jackpot prize, the withholdings involved, and the open records requirements for lottery winners in Iowa. I have included the video above with this blog post and it's online here for anyone looking for more details as they dream about hitting it big.

Reminders About Group Play

With the jackpot at its current level, a lot of lottery players are buying tickets in office pools or with family and friends. The Iowa Lottery has Group Play Reminders on its website to help keep lottery pool play fun and hassle free.

Among the suggestions: Keep an accurate list of everyone who puts in money for a particular drawing and how much they contribute. And, provide everyone in your pool with photos or copies of the group’s tickets before the drawing.

Please Play Responsibly

And as always, the Iowa Lottery reminds everyone that it only takes one ticket to win. Please play responsibly.

FY 2022 Results: Lottery Proceeds Top $97 Million, Near Previous Year’s Record

The Iowa Lottery’s annual results are out today, with sales, proceeds to state causes, and prizes to players all finishing near the previous year’s record highs despite strong inflationary headwinds in recent months. Fiscal year 2022 ultimately yielded the lottery’s second-highest results in its 37-year history.

The preliminary figures show that the Iowa Lottery generated $97.9 million in proceeds to state causes in the fiscal year that ended June 30. Annual lottery sales in FY 2022 were $432.7 million, while prizes to players totaled $274.2 million. Lottery sales commissions paid to the local Iowa businesses that sell tickets totaled $28.3 million for the year.

FY 2022 is just the second time that annual Iowa Lottery sales topped $400 million and the third time that its total proceeds to state causes exceeded $90 million.

High fuel costs have historically had the most direct impact on the sale of lottery scratch games, and that was evident again in FY 2022. Fuel prices in Iowa began to climb in the spring and by mid-May, the average retail diesel price was above $5 a gallon and retail unleaded gasoline had topped $4 a gallon.

Scratch-ticket sales in May were down 17.5 percent compared to the same month in 2021, and down 14.7 percent in June compared to the same time period the previous year.

Annual scratch-ticket sales were down 7.5 percent in Iowa, with the product category representing about 2/3 of total Iowa Lottery sales.

At the same time, the lotto category was positively impacted by the Powerball® and Lucky for Life® game groups’ decisions to increase the number of weekly drawings in those games. In July 2021, Lucky for Life moved from two drawings per week to daily drawings. In August of that year, Powerball moved to three drawings per week with the addition of Monday drawings.

Both games saw marked sales increases in FY 2022, with Lucky for Life sales increasing 45.3 percent and Powerball sales increasing 22.2 percent.

The biggest prize won in Iowa for the year was a $2 million Powerball prize claimed in January by a New Hampton woman.

The Top 10 retailers for lottery sales were in seven different communities, with the Hy-Vee on Johnson Avenue in Cedar Rapids topping the list. That store sold more than $1.2 million in lottery tickets during FY 2022.   

Another highlight for the year was the $2.5 million the lottery raised for the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund to benefit our state’s veterans and their families. The lottery now has raised more than $34.8 million for the Veterans Trust Fund since it began providing proceeds to that cause in 2008. The lottery also raises proceeds for the Public Safety Survivor Benefits Fund and Department of Corrections Survivor Benefits Fund, which help with insurance costs for the families of Iowa peace officers, fire fighters and corrections employees who die in the line of duty.

Here is a year-to-year comparison of annual sales by lottery product.

Product	FY 2022 Sales	FY 2021 Sales
Scratch games	$293.1 million	$316.9 million
InstaPlay games	$23.4 million	$23.5 million
Pick 3	$9.3 million	$9.5 million
Powerball	$53.1 million	$43.4 million
Mega Millions	$20.4 million	$29 million
Pick 4	$5.6 million	$5.5 million
Lucky for Life	$8.1 million	$5.6 million
Lotto America	$7 million	$6.4 million
Pull-tab games	$12.7 million	$12.8 million

Even Bigger: The Mega Millions Jackpot Has Been Raised Again!

The giant Mega Millions® jackpot has climbed even higher for tomorrow night’s drawing. The latest projection for the game’s grand prize was raised today, with the jackpot now at an estimated $1.1 billion annuity, $648.2 million cash option.

The jackpot is now the second highest in the history of the Mega Millions game and the third largest ever offered in the United States.

When the jackpot reaches this level, it becomes harder to predict the grand-prize estimate heading into the next drawing. Stronger sales mean the jackpot will go even higher.

The game’s jackpot has gotten this high because it’s been growing for a few months. Mega Millions was last won on April 15 with a ticket purchased in Tennessee.

Reminders About Group Play

When a jackpot reaches into the stratosphere, a lot of lottery players decide to pool their money to buy tickets as part of office pools or with groups of family and friends.

The Iowa Lottery keeps group play reminders on its website that are designed to keep lottery pool play fun and hassle free.

Among the suggestions: Keep an accurate list of everyone who puts in money for a particular drawing and how much they contribute. And, provide everyone in your pool with photos or copies of the group’s tickets before the drawing.

3 Iowa Tickets That Came SO Close On Tuesday

A total of 48,996 plays purchased by Iowa Lottery players won prizes in Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing ranging from $2 up to $30,000.

Three Iowa tickets were just one number away from having at least a share of Tuesday’s giant prize. They each matched four of the five white balls and the Mega Ball to win a $10,000 prize. However, the Megaplier® option was added to one of the plays, which multiplied that prize to $30,000.

The $10,000-winning tickets were purchased at Kum & Go, 3215 Seventh Ave. in Marion; and Kwik Stop, 185 Peosta St. in Peosta. The $30,000-winning ticket was purchased at Casey’s, 1759 Madison Ave. in Council Bluffs.

The winning numbers in Tuesday’s drawing were: 7-29-60-63-66 and Mega Ball 15. The Megaplier number was 3.

Deadline To Buy Tix For Tomorrow Night’s Drawing

If you’re buying a Mega Millions ticket for tomorrow night’s drawing, remember that there is a sales cut-off time.

Here in Iowa, the sales cut-off is 8:59 p.m. on the night of the drawing. If you buy a ticket after that, you’ll still have a valid Mega Millions play, it will just be for a future drawing and you won’t be in on that night’s big money. (And yes, there have been people who waited too long and missed the cut-off. It’s an automated procedure and can’t be pushed back.)

Please Play Responsibly

As always, we at the Iowa Lottery remind you to play with your head, not over your head. It only takes one ticket to win. Please play responsibly.

All The Latest About The Mega Millions Jackpot

The giant Mega Millions® jackpot has climbed even higher for Friday’s drawing. No one won the big prize in last night’s drawing, so the jackpot currently stands at an estimated $1.025 billion annuity, $602.5 million cash option for Friday.

That’s the 3rd-largest jackpot in the history of the game, and the 4th-largest jackpot ever offered in the United States.

When the jackpot reaches this level, it becomes harder to predict the grand-prize estimate heading into the next drawing. Stronger sales mean the jackpot will go even higher, so the initial jackpot estimate for Friday’s drawing could be raised again in the next few days.

3 Iowa Tickets That Came SO CLOSE

A total of 48,996 plays purchased by Iowa Lottery players won prizes in last night’s Mega Millions drawing ranging from $2 up to $30,000.

Three Iowa tickets were just one number away from having at least a share of the jackpot. They each matched four of the five white balls and the Mega Ball to win a $10,000 prize. And the Megaplier® option was added to one of the tickets, which multiplied that prize to $30,000.

The winning numbers in last night’s drawing were: 7-29-60-63-66 and Mega Ball 15. The Megaplier number was 3.

The $10,000-winning tickets were purchased at Kum & Go, 3215 Seventh Ave. in Marion; and Kwik Stop, 185 Peosta St. in Peosta. The $30,000-winning ticket was purchased at Casey’s, 1759 Madison Ave. in Council Bluffs.

Our New Signs Are Keeping Up!

In recent years when a jackpot reached into the billions of dollars, the Iowa Lottery’s jackpot signs in retail locations couldn’t display amounts that large. The lottery would display the current jackpot amount until it topped $999 million, then the signs would continue to display $999 million until the jackpot was won and returned to its starting amount.

When the Iowa Lottery updated its statewide gaming system last September, we also replaced our jackpot signs in retail locations. This is the first time that the “billions” option has been used since the new signs were installed in retail locations last year. And it makes me smile to see that they’re keeping up with the current jackpot amount! (The picture you see with this blog entry was taken today of one of the signs.)  

Easy Picks vs. Your Own Numbers

The vast majority of tickets purchased in lotto games like Mega Millions and Powerball® are easy-pick plays, meaning that the lottery terminal assigns the numbers printed on the ticket. About 94 percent of the plays purchased in Iowa for last night’s Mega Millions drawing were easy picks.

But you also have the option of choosing your own numbers. You choose five numbers from a pool of 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from a separate pool of 25.

You win the jackpot if the numbers on your play match all six of the winning numbers in a Mega Millions drawing. But there are a total of nine prize levels in Mega Millions ranging from $2 up to the jackpot, so be sure to check your tickets for all the prizes you may have won.

And as always, remember that it only takes one ticket to win. Please play responsibly.

The Jackpot’s Been Raised Again! And The Facts About Cash vs. Annuity

It’s gone up again! The estimated jackpot for tonight’s Mega Millions drawing now stands at an estimated $830 million annuity, $487.9 million cash option.

It’s now the 3rd-largest jackpot in Mega Millions history, and the 4th-largest jackpot ever offered in the United States. (The record jackpot in the Mega Millions game was $1.537 billion, won in October 2018 in South Carolina.)

When the jackpot reaches this level, it becomes harder to predict the estimate heading into the next drawing. Stronger sales mean the jackpot will go even higher, and that’s what happened this week! The initial jackpot estimate was raised yesterday, then raised again this morning. I think it’s safe to say a whole lot of people are dreaming about a big win.

With all the buzz, a lot of folks have reached out to us with questions about cash vs. annuity, and the tax implications of winning the jackpot. Here are details to clear up a few misconceptions we’ve heard:

1. The cash option is NOT the annuity amount minus taxes. They are separate amounts. Here’s why: If the player chooses the annuity option (currently estimated $830 million), they receive 30 payments over 29 years that add up to the annuity total. The cash on hand in the jackpot pool from the sale of tickets in the game is invested in securities, and the winner receives payments over time. The initial amount invested + the interest generated by the investment adds up to the total annuity amount. Withholdings are applied to each payment that the winners receives. If a winner passes away, the money goes into that person’s estate. The lottery will make future payments as determined by the estate or the court.

2. If the winner chooses the cash option (currently estimated $487.9 million), they receive the lump-sum amount in the jackpot pool from the sale of tickets in the game. There is no interest that is generated because the money is not invested. Another way of putting it is that the “rest of the money” does not exist in that scenario. The winner receives the lump-sum amount in one payment, with withholdings applied to that entire amount.

3. Here in Iowa, 24 percent federal withholding applies to a jackpot prize along with 5 percent state withholding. The federal withholding rate is universal across the country, but state withholding rates vary, so check with the lottery where you bought your ticket if you have questions about that. Withholdings are automatically applied before the payment is made to the winner. The amount can’t be changed or waived.

4. Withholdings are designed to cover the jackpot winner’s tax liability from winning a large lottery prize. However, the exact taxes that the winner will owe vary from person to person depending upon their individual financial circumstances outside of winning the lottery. In some instances, the withholding is not enough, in other instances, it’s too much. The details will be sorted out in your income taxes for the year. That is why we always encourage our winners to consult a lawyer or financial planner before they claim their prize. Have a plan. Know and understand the details that apply to you!

If you’re buying a Mega Millions ticket for tonight’s drawing, remember that there is a sales cut-off time. Here in Iowa, the sales cut-off is 8:59 p.m. on the night of the drawing. If you buy a ticket after that, you’ll still have a valid play, it will just be for a later drawing and you won’t be in on tonight’s big money. (And yes, there are people who wait too long and miss the cut-off. It’s an automated procedure and can’t be pushed back.)

And as always, remember that it only takes one ticket to win. Please play responsibly.

NE Iowa Ticket Wins Prize Of $25,000 A Year For Life

Someone who bought a lottery ticket at a convenience store in Black Hawk County has won a prize of $25,000 a year for life in the Lucky for Life® game. Last night’s big win comes about a month after a Davenport man claimed that same prize he’d won in a drawing in June.

The Black Hawk County ticket matched the first five numbers but missed the Lucky Ball in last night’s Lucky for Life drawing to win the game’s second prize of $25,000 a year for life. The winning ticket was purchased at Git N Go Convenience Store, 124 Wood St. in Hudson.

It’s Iowa’s 15th big win in the game since it debuted here in January 2016. It’s also the second big win in the game this summer.

In late June, Doug Schlickman of Davenport claimed a prize of $25,000 a year for life that he won in the Lucky for Life drawing on June 27.

The winning numbers in last night’s Lucky for Life drawing were: 11-27-37-38-48 and Lucky Ball 16. Git N Go will receive a $500 bonus from the lottery for selling the winning ticket.

The prize won in Hudson has to be claimed at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Clive. The lottery currently offers prize claims by appointment at its offices. Full details are available on the How To Claim A Prize page of our website.

If the winner or winners of the Hudson ticket have questions before coming forward to claim the prize, they’re welcome to call us at the Iowa Lottery at 515-725-7900 or email us at Wmaster@ialottery.com.

Players in Lucky for Life have up to 365 days from the date of the drawing to claim prizes won in Iowa.

Weekend Destination: See You At The Iowa Speedway In Newton!

We’re gearing up for a weekend of fun in Newton! The Iowa Lottery will be at the Iowa Speedway starting later today for the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend.

We’ll have a tent in the vendor area behind the Grandstand at the Iowa Speedway where we’ll be selling tickets and giving away fun merchandise prizes to the folks who get to spin our prize wheel. And with tonight’s huge Mega Millions® jackpot on the line, it’s a perfect time to get a ticket! We’ll be selling lotto tickets, scratch tickets, and InstaPlay tickets at our tent.

We also get to be part of presentations on the Speedway’s main stage to highlight the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund, one of the most important uses of lottery proceeds in our state. The Iowa Lottery has raised more than $34.8 million for the Veterans Trust Fund to date, and that money goes directly to help Iowa veterans and their families in need.

Sure, you play for the fun and the chance to win a prize. But you also know that a portion of every $1 spent on lottery tickets in Iowa goes to worthy state causes. We’re excited to join veterans and their advocates for these presentations tomorrow and Sunday!

And of course, the winners from this spring’s Powerball® INDYCAR Race Weekend promotion will be at the track for the headline concerts and races. Some of our promotion winners get VIP infield access for tomorrow’s concerts while another group of winners get to take two-seater race car rides on Sunday. It should be an action-packed weekend, all the way around! (Will Iowa will see a big jackpot winner to add to the excitement?!)

The Iowa Lottery’s tent at the Iowa Speedway will be open during these hours at the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend:

• 2-9 p.m. on Friday, July 22
• 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday, July 23
• 9 a.m.-7 p.m. on Sunday, July 24

We hope to see you there!

Fast Facts About Tonight’s Big Drawing In Mega Millions

Update on Thursday, July 21: The jackpot is still on its big climb! The official jackpot estimate for Friday's Mega Millions® drawing has been raised to $660 million annuity, $376.9 million cash option.   

Lots of people hoping their ticket will be the one to hit the bullseye tonight!

With that in mind, here are some fast facts about tonight’s big Mega Millions® drawing, with a jackpot of more than half a billion dollars on the line.

The estimated jackpot for tonight’s drawing is $555 million annuity, $316.9 million cash option.

The jackpot has climbed into the stratosphere because it’s been growing for a few months now. It was last won in mid-April with a ticket in Tennessee.

It’s the 5th-largest jackpot in Mega Millions history. The record jackpot in the Mega Millions game was $1.537 billion, won in October 2018 in South Carolina.

Two Iowa tickets came oh, so close in Friday’s Mega Millions drawing! They were just one number away from the big jackpot, matching four of the first five numbers and the Mega Ball to win a $10,000 prize. But one of the players added the Megaplier® to their ticket, which multiplied the prize to $50,000! The $50,000-winning ticket was purchased at Hy-Vee Gas, 1512 Flammang Drive in Waterloo. The $10,000-winning ticket came from Gary’s Foods, 715 First Ave. SW in Mount Vernon.

The Mega Millions jackpot has been won four times so far in 2022. It was won six times last year.

Most tickets for a particular drawing are purchased on the day of the drawing. (Is it a sign of procrastination?) Remember that there are sales cut-off times for Mega Millions drawings. Here in Iowa, the sales cut-off time for tonight’s drawing is 8:59 p.m. If you buy a ticket after that, you’ll still have a valid play, but it will be for a later drawing and you won’t be in on tonight’s big money.

The majority of tickets purchased in Mega Millions are easy picks – more than 90 percent, in fact. And, it’s because they’re easy! You just ask for a play and the lottery terminal chooses the numbers that are printed on your ticket. You also can choose your own numbers. You’ll choose five numbers from a pool of 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from a separate pool of 25.

You win the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in a drawing. But there are a total of nine prize levels in Mega Millions, so be sure to check your tickets for all the prizes you may have won. Prizes in the game range from $2 up to the jackpot.