We made the announcement and blogged about why we were making the change earlier this month, but we’re still getting questions from players, so I’m touching on the topic again today. On April 16, the Iowa Lottery began conducting its own drawings in the Pick 3 and Pick 4 games. We now have winning numbers in those games that are unique to Iowa, and we no longer share results with the Illinois Lottery.
Some folks initially thought we were providing the wrong results when they saw that Iowa’s winning numbers in Pick 3 and Pick 4 were different than those in Illinois, but we’ve assured them that the information is, in fact, correct. We’ve added reminder messages on our website – they’re in red on the main pages for the Pick 3 and Pick 4 games – so those will hopefully help spread the word as well.
In addition to the details that we provide directly to you, many media outlets around the state provide the winning numbers in lottery drawings as a public service. We’ve been reaching out to newspapers, televisions stations and radio stations to make sure they’re aware of the change so they can double-check that they are providing the results correctly.
There’s an adjustment period when any change occurs. It makes me think of that old saying, “I like progress, I just don’t like change.” We’re about a week into this particular change and it seems like things are working out just fine. The good news is, people like the Pick 3 and Pick 4 games and are paying close attention to the winning numbers in them!
Thank you for playing and good luck on your lottery tickets!
Changes are important for progress in the games.Game rules are changed time to time and we should accept these changes.
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Posted by: Lottery Agent | May 26, 2014 at 12:23 AM
Hello again, Jim. Thank you for the comments. Just to clarify, ball-machine drawings are used in some lottery drawings today, but others are conducted with computerized random-number generators. In any case, the level of scrutiny and security applies to ensure the veracity of the games. That's our job and we understand that. Have a good Thursday.
Posted by: Mary Neubauer | May 01, 2014 at 02:46 PM
It's a comfort that Iowa still has the balls in use rather than electronically generated winning numbers. The ability to manipulate electronic systems nowadays is a disturbing fact of life. The alarming lack of public transparency associated with technologically advanced "linked" electronic computer systems, has left most individuals without any recourse, but to accept outcomes and information that cannot be easily and accurately verified. So it's reassuring that Iowa has the balls to make it a much more transparent process. Thank you.
Posted by: Jim | May 01, 2014 at 01:47 PM
Hi, Patrick. Great question. There is a staggering amount of security that goes into a lottery today to ensure the integrity and security of the games. We know people depend on the fact that when they buy a lottery ticket, they've got the same fair shot at winning as any other player. And we understand it's our job to ensure that happens. For example, did you know that the drawing balls are X-rayed and weighed to ensure that nothing is amiss with them? And that drawing staff wear white gloves when handling them to ensure that oils from their skin do not inadvertently compromise how the balls might perform? I've blogged about the security behind lottery games a few different times. Here's a link to one of my earliest entries to provide more details if you'd like to read them: http://www.ialotteryblog.com/2008/11/the-security-be.html
Posted by: Mary Neubauer | May 01, 2014 at 11:22 AM
I come from around the Iowa Midwest area and realize we are shut out, and almost all big winners are selected from just two States, quite often MD. I also realize with your computer system you can generate sequences that have not been picked, and those that you chose to pick by using different weight balls of a size that will fit through the selection tube, while all other numbers can be on a larger ball that will not fit. Taking chance out of the game completely. Corruption is the true name of the game just like the electronic vote that falsely installed Obama as the US President. I want to know just how you can prove otherwise, not with words of propaganda, but with positive proof every player can see for themselves with their own eyes?
Posted by: Patrick | May 01, 2014 at 11:06 AM