The Iowa Lottery’s results for the past fiscal year show what an unusual and unprecedented time it truly was. Lottery sales, proceeds to state causes, prizes to players, and commissions paid to Iowa businesses all set records in fiscal year 2021.
The results were positively impacted by two main factors: a spike in scratch-ticket sales amid the global pandemic and two significant jackpots in national lotto games.
The preliminary figures released today show that the Iowa Lottery generated a record $101.7 million in proceeds to state causes for the fiscal year that ended June 30. Annual lottery sales in FY 2021 were a record $452.6 million, while prizes to players totaled a record $288.9 million. Lottery sales commissions to the retail locations that sell tickets totaled $29.7 million, also a record for traditional lottery products.
The results show that Iowa Lottery sales in FY 2021 increased nearly 22 percent from the previous year’s total of $372 million. Lottery proceeds to state causes in FY 2021 increased nearly 25 percent from the previous year, and prizes to players increased 22 percent from the previous year’s total.
Iowans found lottery tickets a safe, local entertainment option as they spent more time – often a lot more time – at home during the COVID-19 emergency.
And, the jackpots in Mega Millions® and Powerball® simultaneously topped the $700 million mark for the first time in January, with the Mega Millions prize in particular growing to more than $1 billion, the second-largest jackpot in the history of that game. The twin huge prizes generated a corresponding surge in sales in both games.
Overall, we believe that the lottery’s sales results in FY 2021 were likely an outlier driven by the unique circumstances of the past year. We anticipate that as consumer behavior continues to normalize, lottery sales in Iowa in the coming years will return to more modest growth.
The retail location with the highest lottery sales in Iowa for the year was the Jiffy at 111 S. Third Ave. in Marshalltown. That store sold more than $1.3 million in lottery tickets in FY 2021.
Five Iowa Lottery players won prizes of at least $500,000 during the year. The largest of those was a $2 million Powerball prize claimed in May by Anton Garrett of Waterloo.
To see the full details about how lottery proceeds make a difference in Iowa, click here.
Hi, Lorik. Not a problem at all: We keep that information as a permanent feature on our website under the Lottery Gives Back link. Here is a direct link to that page: https://www.ialottery.com/Pages/Pressroom/IALotteryGivesBack.aspx
Posted by: Mary Neubauer | August 10, 2021 at 07:23 AM
Where does the 101.7 million in procecceds go? Do you list who benefits ? That'd be nice to see.
Posted by: Lorik | August 10, 2021 at 05:05 AM
Thanks for giving us the facts...I appreciate it.
Posted by: Stan Caspary | July 28, 2021 at 02:01 PM
CONGRATULATIONS to The Iowa Lottery and all the Lottery players!!
Also, Congratulations to all the state programs that shared in the record profits!
The split on the dollar looks very fare, 64% to winners is a very nice share and a good thing for players to know!
Thank You Iowa Lottery for providing a fun,exciting and sometimes thrilling gambling option in Iowa.
Posted by: Kevin Pidima | July 28, 2021 at 01:26 PM