Big Change In The Lineup: 10 New InstaPlay Games On The Way In November!

Iowa’s InstaPlay lineup is set for a BIG makeover in November, with 10 new games scheduled to hit the market.

The revamp of our InstaPlay line started a couple months ago when we introduced a few new games. It continued earlier this month when we debuted our first holiday-themed InstaPlay tickets.

Now in the next few weeks, you’ll see another 10 new InstaPlay games hitting the market as some older games end. That approach is similar to the schedules we use for scratch and pull-tab games – as new games are introduced, sales end in older games that have been on the market for some time.

The big difference on the InstaPlay side has to do with progressive-jackpot games. I’ll dig into those details later in this blog entry.

The Schedule Of New Games

The 5 InstaPlay games set to debut Nov. 3 all feature set prize amounts. Here is the list, including their ticket prices:

• $20 on the Spot ($1)
• Fast Cash Bingo ($2)
• Plus the Cash ($5)
• Crazy Wild Cash ($10)
• Top Dollar ($30).

Five more InstaPlay games are set to begin Nov. 17. Four of them have progressive jackpots, meaning that the top prize increases with each ticket sold statewide until it’s won. Only 1 game scheduled for Nov. 17 features set prize amounts. The games are:

• Big Money Doubler Progressive ($5)
• Hot Ticket Progressive ($10)
• Xtreme Multiplier Progressive ($20)
• Ultimate Winning ($20, game has set prize amounts)
• Blank Check Progressive ($30).

Some Older Games Are Ending

As the new games are introduced, some existing InstaPlay games will leave the market.

Ending dates are solid for the InstaPlay games with set prize amounts that are leaving the market. But the exact date that the Iowa Lottery plans to end an InstaPlay progressive game is dependent upon its jackpot being won.

To be fair to our players, we don’t want to end an InstaPlay game while its progressive jackpot is still growing. Someone should get to win it!

So, for example, the Cherry Twist Progressive game was put on the game-ending schedule on Oct. 19, but it’s still for sale because its current jackpot hasn't been hit yet!

Sales ended Oct. 19 in these 3 InstaPlay games with set prize amounts:

• Lucky Gems ($1)
• Bullseye Doubler ($2)
• Triple Play ($10).

As we move ahead, we anticipate it will become the norm for new InstaPlay games to regularly start and older games to end.

Comments

[Mary Neubauer]

Hi, Richard. We design any of our games, including the ticket quantity and number of prizes available in them, based upon our experience and how well we expect the game to perform in the marketplace. But not every game will it a home run. Sometimes sales don't live up to expectations. In those instances, we see that people truly are voting with their pocketbooks, and they're telling us through their lack of purchases in a particular game that they prefer something else. In those instances, we certainly will give the game a chance, but we'll eventually pull it from the marketplace so we can bring out a game that more folks prefer. We like to try new games, themes, and playstyles, but the reality is that not every one will be a big hit.

[Mary Neubauer]

Hello, D! We hear ya! The Iowa Lottery has had at least one Crossword game on the market continuously for nearly 25 years. Iowa's first Crossword game began sales on March 13, 2000. And Crossword has been one of our most popular products in all the years since! I can't imagine a time when we wouldn't have a Crossword game!

[Richard VanDerMillen]

Please tell me why some games never give out the grand prize? I have been playing $30 hit the jackpot nearly everyday but when I check to see if anyone was won the grand prize... only 1 has been given away in almost 2 years !

[D Seals]

I hope the Lottery Commission doesn't get rid of the crossword games!