Here’s the latest in our Truth vs. Myth series to test your lottery know-how. People can get crabby with us on this particular point, so this is a good time to talk about it!
Here goes: It’s fine for children to buy lottery tickets in Iowa as long as the parents are okay with it.
That’s a myth.
Iowa law specifies that you have to be at least 21 years old to buy lottery tickets in this state. There is no wiggle room on that.
The crabby part I referenced can come into play when people are buying tickets and their child with them wants to be involved by handing the money to a clerk or putting it into the bill acceptor on a lottery vending machine. In those instances, there could be a question about who is actually buying the tickets. And when that happens, we ask the adult involved not to let the child handle the money.
You can imagine that if it’s a small child, they can become unhappy that they’re not allowed to be part of the process. Cue a meltdown by the child and a subsequent exasperated parent.
Please know we’re not trying to be mean! We’re just ensuring that the law is being followed. (Apologies for any meltdowns involved.)
While those under 21 can’t purchase lottery tickets in Iowa, it is legal for them to claim a prize, provided that the ticket involved was legally purchased, legally possessed, and legally presented; and that the intent of those involved is not to circumvent the law.
That particular point has to do with property rights. Once someone buys a lottery ticket, it becomes their property, and they can give that property to someone else if they choose.
For example, we’ve seen grandparents give winning lottery tickets to their grandchildren to claim to help pay for college expenses. Another time, a parent gave a winning ticket to a child to claim as a birthday gift.
If the person claiming the prize is younger than 18, a parent or minor also has to sign the lottery claim form. And when the prize is being claimed at a lottery office, our Security team will review the details to ensure that the law is being followed.
Whether you play the lottery or not, we want everyone to have an accurate understanding of how the lottery works. This Truth or Myth series is part of that effort.
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