Since we made the announcement last week about the start of the "Cash Blowout" promotion and the upcoming transition for our VIP Club, we've gotten some follow-up questions on a couple points that I want to share with you here on the blog as well.
A few people have wondered about the points in their VIP Club accounts, how often they can use them, and just how they can enter the Cash Blowout promo.
First things first: The only way to enter the Cash Blowout is by using some or all of the points in your VIP Club account. You have until June 30 to enter because we wanted folks to have plenty of notice that there’s a new option for their points! There isn't a specific ticket or game that's tied to the promotion – it just takes at least 100 VIP Club points to enter, and you build up points in your account by entering nonwinning scratch tickets.
Some folks also asked if they could use the same points to enter the promotion AND order from the VIP Club store. The short answer is: No. You can choose to either use your points to enter the promotion OR to order something from the store. Here's an example: Let's say you have 250 points in your VIP Club account. If you use 100 of those points for an entry in the Cash Blowout promotion, those 100 points will be deducted from your account total. You would then have 150 points left to use as you wished.
We had heard over time from folks who said they’d like more options for their points, and we're trying to provide that with the Cash Blowout promotion.
You can enter eligible nonwinning scratch tickets for points in the VIP Club until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15. And, you can use any of the points in your account right up until the Cash Blowout ends and the Points For Prizes store closes at 11:59 p.m. on June 30. So, please feel free to continue to enter tickets to build up points until May 15. And then you'll have another month and a half after that to use your points.
On July 1, we will move away from a points-based system and into one that focuses on tickets as entries into drawings. Points will cease to exist as of 11:59 p.m. on June 30, so please feel free to use the points in your account before then to enter the Cash Blowout promotion or order from the VIP Club store.
Hi, Robert. Just to clarify, here is the requirement for entering the Cash Blowout: You must be within the state of Iowa at the time you make your entry for it to be eligible. Some folks mistakenly have thought we were requiring Iowa residency of those who enter, but that is not the case. Your residence can be outside of Iowa, but as long as you are inside the state’s borders at the time you make your entry, it is valid.
Posted by: Mary Neubauer | May 21, 2013 at 10:38 AM
Hi, Kay. We're ironing out the final details for what our upcoming promotions will be through the VIP Club. They'll be keyed off nonwinning tickets just as our past promotions have been, so if you want to hang onto your tickets, please do so. I anticipate we'll make our next promotion announcement this summer.
Posted by: Mary Neubauer | May 21, 2013 at 10:37 AM
Itried to enter my points for the 20,000 dollar drawing but wasn't able to since I live in Nebraska. I really don't think this was fair,as the Iowa lottery has no problem with me spending money on your scratch tickets. Care to comment
Posted by: ROBERT RITONYA | May 17, 2013 at 04:06 PM
WHAT DO I DO WITH THE NON-WINNING TICKETS THAT I HAVE---WILL THERE BE A PROMO WHERE I CAN USE THEM OR SHOULD I JUST "THROW" THEM OUT???
Posted by: KAY | May 17, 2013 at 02:51 PM
really do not loke your chance drawings at least we know we can get something for our points I do not agree most of the people want it this way
Posted by: Jerry Anderson | May 14, 2013 at 03:00 PM