In the past month, several players have asked us about the Lotto America® jackpot – and specifically, how it could grow so long without being won. Well, all that has changed! And it goes to show something you’ve heard us say many times: You just never know when the next big winner will hit!
Wednesday’s $21.6 million Lotto America jackpot was won in that night’s drawing by someone who bought a ticket in Minnesota. The Minnesota Lottery says the lucky ticket was purchased at a convenience store in Ramsey, Minn., a suburb of the Twin Cities. The game’s jackpot had been growing since May 2018, when it was won in Iowa. Chuck Anderson of Davenport claimed that $4.38 million jackpot.
Lotto America debuted in November 2017, and its jackpot has been won three times so far. A brother and sister from Badger, Minn., split the first jackpot won in the game, a $22.8 million prize in March 2018.
So, why the long gap between jackpot wins this time around? Lotto America is played in 13 states, as opposed to Powerball®, which is sold by 47 lotteries, and Mega Millions®, which is sold by 46 lotteries. It’s designed to have a smaller jackpot than those larger games, which means that overall, fewer people are playing it.
There was a long run between Lotto America jackpot wins this time, but as the game’s 2018 winners show, that won’t always be the case! The game's jackpot has returned to its starting amount of $2 million annuity, $1.32 million lump-sum option, for tomorrow night’s drawing.
July 15 update: The Minnesota Lottery has now released the details about the Minnesota man who claimed the Lotto America jackpot from last Wednesday's drawing. Jeffery Love and his wife, Vickie, of Elk River, Minn., both called into work Friday and said they'd need the day off because they had a huge prize to claim! Click here to see to their story.
All interesting ideas, Kevin! I will share your thoughts and input with our game-planning folks.
Posted by: Mary Neubauer | July 16, 2019 at 01:24 PM
Up
Posted by: Linda Fessler | July 15, 2019 at 10:18 PM
I play Lotto America and appreciate a Lotto game that is just $1 to play. But I do agree that the payout schedule is weak and I think more people would play if the payouts were better. I think the payouts should be more like Lucky 4 Life. These are the changes that I think would generate more interest...
Match 2 = Free Play ... (currently not a win)
Match 1 + Star Ball = $3 ...(currently $2 win, the same as matching Star ball only, which is a $2 win, don't seem right??)
Match 3 + Star Ball = $40 win ... (currently a $20 win)
Match 4 = $1000 win ... (currently a $100 win)
all other win amounts not mentioned would say as they are.
I think these better payouts would generate more interest in the game and more people would play as a result of these better small win payouts. or another way to spice Lotto America up would be to payout a % of sales as win amounts so the more people that play, the bigger the win amounts are.
I realize that the Lotto needs to make money and I also know that if sales drop off to much the game will be discontinued, and as I said before "I appreciate a Lotto game you can play for just a BUCK!!
Posted by: Kevin Pidima | July 15, 2019 at 09:01 PM
Lotto America does not pay out well. I won't be playing it any further
Posted by: Wayne Schultz | July 13, 2019 at 02:43 PM
NECESITO SOLAMENTE GANAR 1 LOTTO AMERICA POR CHIQUITO QUE SEA.
GRACIAS A IOWA LOTTERY POR ESTA LINDA OPRTUNIDAD PARA TODOS.
Posted by: gilberto gomez | July 13, 2019 at 09:10 AM