Earlier this summer, we updated our line-up of lotto games, and today we have another announcement: The Hot Lotto game will end this fall. The group of lotteries that sells the game has scheduled its final drawing for Saturday, Oct. 28.
Hot Lotto is a $1 game that offers Powerball-style play but with easier odds and jackpots starting at $1 million. It got its start back in April 2002 and is currently sold in Iowa and by 13 other U.S. lotteries. Those lotteries are working on plans for a new $1 draw game that will debut later this year.
You’ve heard us say before that as part of our business decisions, lotteries routinely replace existing games with newer offerings over time to keep our game selection fresh. That happens more often with scratch games than it does with lotto games, simply because it takes months if not years of planning and programming to bring about changes on the lotto side, like this decision to end the Hot Lotto game. Any game has a lifespan. And while Hot Lotto initially sold well and the game was updated a few times through the years to include new features, its sales have dropped down over time.
Iowa Lottery players have won eight jackpots in Hot Lotto through the years, including the largest prize offered in the game to date. That $19.97 million jackpot was won in January 2007 by John Hall of Indianola.
Lottery players in Iowa will have time to claim prizes won in Hot Lotto after the game ends. Prizes in Hot Lotto are valid in Iowa for up to 365 days from the date of the drawing in which they were won.
Also, please be aware that while you’ve been able to buy Hot Lotto plays for up to 10 drawings in advance here in Iowa, that number will gradually decrease as the end of the game approaches and the number of remaining drawings counts down.
If there is any prize money in the jackpot pool that hasn't been awarded when the game ends, here in Iowa, we'll use our portion of that money as prizes in future lottery games and promotions, so it will go pay prizes.
We’re continuing to monitor our game offerings, so look for more announcements and changes in the coming months. We’re doing our best to have variety and choices for you as players.
Always have to end the ones that are easier to win....line your pockets ..I'm fed up with lottery...if ya'll had any sense...instead of making one large win...you would spread out the chances....
Posted by: Patricia Reis | September 14, 2017 at 10:46 AM
Hi, Kevin. Thank you for sharing your perspective! One thing to keep in mind is that there is no perfect system. In the history of modern lotteries, the situations are extremely rare, but drawing fraud has occurred with both ball-drawing equipment and computer equipment. Any system has its own vulnerabilities and there needs to be proper separation of duties and security procedures in place to catch those who would try to commit crime. Those involved in the Hot Lotto fraud attempt here in Iowa were brought to justice. We here at the Iowa Lottery continually review our procedures and protocols to see what improvements we can make to stay one step ahead of those who would try to game the system.
Posted by: Mary Neubauer | September 14, 2017 at 09:27 AM
this is the one game i play all the time. I am very upset to see it go.
Posted by: deb meister | September 10, 2017 at 01:18 PM
I see a comment about Eddie Tipton. I just have to comment on that. I am also suspicious about the computer generated draw system. I would like to see a "Balls in a Hopper" style of draw system used in the Hot Lotto replacement game. I also have a hard time believing the computer generated draw system is completely random. I also would like to see numbers hand picked from the hopper and not blown to the top by air pressure. After all ball weight could be an issue with blown to the top ball system and this could be easily manipulated too. I would also like to be able to login to lotto web site and be able to watch the draw live as it happens. My Lotto playing buddies and I have had this discussion more than a few times and we all agree that computer generated draws can easily be controlled or manipulated and we think a completely random draw system would be a better way to pick winning numbers. No, I'm not paranoid! I just want a completely random game and I think many Lotto players agree. I guess maybe Lotto players should be thanking Eddie Tipton for exposing a flawed system.
Posted by: Kevin Pidima | September 06, 2017 at 10:56 PM
This is the only game I play so I guess you lost me as lotto player, after Tipton we all new these are scams anyway controlled by a computer.
Posted by: Rick Hutchins | September 05, 2017 at 07:54 PM