ialottery blog

Des Moines-Area Man Claims $2 Million Powerball Prize

A Des Moines-area man is Iowa’s fourth big winner of the year. Robert ‘Rob’ Maser of Urbandale is a regular lotto player. When he realized he’d won a $2 million prize in Wednesday’s Powerball drawing, he called to tell his family and friends. Problem was, they didn’t believe him!

Rob called his dad and told him he’d won the lottery and said he was keeping his promise to buy him a boat if he ever won big. His dad called him a liar.

Rob then took photos of his winning-ticket receipt and sent them to his dad, wife and others so they’d know it was real.

He said this win will be going toward retirement. He doesn’t have plans to quit his day job but he does plan to take care of a few things around the house, like new carpet and paint.

Rob bought his winning ticket at Kum & Go, 4585 156th St. in Urbandale, where's he's a regular. He went there to scan his ticket first thing this morning and even the staff there didn’t believe it at first. Once they realized he really did win, they were very happy for him and took a few photos. The Kum & Go store will receive a $2,000 bonus check for selling the $2 million-winning ticket at one of its stores.

He said he always adds the multiplier options to his lotto tickets in case a win just like this came up. He said he would have been disappointed if he’d only won  $1 million knowing it could have been $2 million for an extra buck. He initially matched the first five numbers but missed the Powerball to win a $1 million prize. But sine he added the Power Play® option to his purchase, it multiplied his prize to $2 million.

Wednesday’s winning numbers were: 7-17-33-61-68 and Powerball 4. The Power Play number was 2. No one matched all six numbers to win the jackpot, so the big prize climbs to an estimated $270 million annuity ($168.9 million lump-sum option) for Saturday. The Urbandale ticket was the only one in the country to win a $2 million prize in Wednesday’s drawing.

Des Moines-Area Ticket Wins $2 Million Powerball Prize

Someone who bought a Powerball® ticket at a Des Moines-area convenience store won a $2 million prize in last night’s drawing.

It’s the fourth prize of at least $1 million won in Iowa so far this year.

The $2 million-winning ticket was purchased at Kum & Go, 4585 156th St. in Urbandale. The ticket came within one number of having at least a share of last night’s $250.3 million Powerball jackpot.
 
The ticket initially matched the first five numbers but missed the Powerball to win a $1 million prize. But whoever bought the ticket also added the Power Play® option to the purchase, which multiplied the prize to $2 million. The Urbandale ticket was the only one in the country to win a $2 million prize in last night’s drawing.

Last night’s winning numbers were: 7-17-33-61-68 and Powerball 4. The Power Play number was 2. No one matched all six numbers to win the jackpot, so the big prize climbs to an estimated $270 million annuity ($168.9 million lump-sum option) for Saturday.
 
Kum & Go will receive a $2,000 bonus from the Iowa Lottery for selling the $2 million-winning ticket at one of its stores.

Prizes of $2 million must be claimed at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Clive. The lottery’s offices are open Monday through Friday. If you think you’re the big winner and you have questions before coming forward to claim the prize, please feel free to give us a shout at the lottery at 515-725-7900 or wmaster@ialottery.com.

This latest big win in Iowa comes about a month after the last one. In late April, a Sioux City woman claimed a $1 million prize she’d won in the Mega Millions® game.

Later This Spring, We’ll Give Away That $1 Million Unclaimed Prize

Lottery players in Iowa will get another shot at the money from that $1 million prize that expired last week without being claimed.

On Thursday, the prize-claim deadline passed for a $1 million Powerball® prize won in April 2018 in central Iowa. We had issued several reminders about the unclaimed prize and held events at the Nevada store where the winning ticket was purchased, but a winner never came forward.

So later this spring, the lottery will give players another chance to win the money.

From May 29 through June 18, 2019, Iowa Lottery players will be able to enter a promotion called the “Woo Hoo A Million For You Giveaway” for a chance to win the $1 million prize. Any Powerball ticket purchased in Iowa during that three-week period will be eligible for entry. The drawing for the promotion’s $1 million prize will be held June 19. (You likely already picked up on the fact that the promotion’s name is a nod to the lottery’s long-time catch phrase of “Woo Hoo For You.”)

We believe this is the first time that a $1 million prize has gone unclaimed in the lottery’s 34-year history. Under Iowa law, the money from unclaimed lottery prizes goes into the lottery’s prize pools for future games and promotions. So with this one-time, $1 million giveaway, we’re putting that into action!

The $1 million prize was won in the Powerball drawing on April 11, 2018, with a ticket purchased at Casey’s, 1800 S. B Ave. in Nevada. The ticket matched the first five numbers that night but missed the Powerball. The winner or winners had until the close of business at 4 p.m. on Thursday (April 11, 2019) to claim the $1 million prize at lottery headquarters in Clive. We repeatedly called attention to the unclaimed prize during the past year, and now we’ll dedicate our efforts to making sure that this prize money finds its way to a new Iowa Lottery winner.

Casey’s received a $1,000 bonus from the lottery for selling the $1 million prize at one of its stores, and that payment was made shortly after the prize was won.

There’s another distinction that also applies to this particular unclaimed prize money: When a jackpot prize in Powerball expires without being claimed, the money is returned to the states in the game in proportion to the percentage of sales that came from each state. But because the $1 million prize that expired was at Powerball’s Match 5 level, the entire $1 million will remain in Iowa to be given away as a prize here.    

When the promotion starts on May 29, we’ll have the rules and full details on our website at www.ialottery.com.

That $1 Million Prize Expired Without Being Claimed. So Now What?

We tried and we tried and we TRIED to find the winner of that $1 million prize in central Iowa, but it expired yesterday without being claimed. It’s a sad-but-exciting moment because it means you’ll get another shot at that money.

We’re working out the final details now about how we’ll give away the unclaimed prize money. Check back here for our big announcement at 10:30 a.m. Monday!

We’re Down To The Final Days For An Unclaimed $1 Million Prize In Central Iowa

Just a few days are left for a $1 million Powerball® prize won in central Iowa to be claimed, and this is our last-chance reminder for players to double-check their tickets.

We’ve been talking about it for nearly a year now, we’ve held events at the store where the winning ticket was sold, and we’ve had a sign in the window there for months about the prize, but so far, no one has come forward to claim it.

The winner has until the close of business at 4 p.m. this Thursday (April 11, 2019) to claim the $1 million prize at lottery headquarters in Clive.

Here are the details about it: The $1 million prize was won in the Powerball drawing on April 11, 2018, with a ticket purchased at Casey’s, 1800 S. B Ave. in Nevada. It came close to winning that night’s $89.7 million jackpot, matching the first five numbers but missing the Powerball. The winning numbers that night were: 16-18-27-55-67 and Powerball 18. The Power Play® number was 3.

In fiscal year 2018, more than $1.4 million in lottery prizes expired without being claimed here in Iowa. The money from unclaimed prizes in our state goes into the lottery’s prize pools for future games and promotions, so it will be used to pay prizes, just not those prizes that have expired.

All Those Awesome ‘Bucket List’ Answers

We’ve had a question posted on social media for the past couple days, asking folks what they’d cross off their bucket list if they won tonight’s Powerball jackpot (estimated $750 million annuity, $465.5 million lump-sum option). The answers have been off-the-charts awesome!

A woman named Angie just replied with a GIF of an airplane flying all around the world. A woman named Mindy said she would go to see every volcano in the world. A guy named Chris said he’d immediately donate at least $250K to his favorite charity. A woman named Jaci said she’d take a “long, long, long sandy vacation.”

The answers just kept getting better:

Linda said she’d buy her town a new water tower with the community’s name on it and use her winnings to save the bees. Brandon said he’d use his winnings to buy land so he could make his own neighborhood for his family. Brian said he’d just enjoy being worry free about finances.

Heidi said she’d help stray animals. Jamilynn said she’d buy a huge building and turn it into a homeless shelter while also paying for college for her own children and nieces and nephews. Rick said he’d do whatever he wanted. Christian is looking forward to a flying Ironman suit and a personal space shuttle. 

As always, Iowans’ generosity came through in their answers, with person after person saying they’d help family and friends, charity, their church and their community.

One of the most creative answers I saw was from a man named Scott, who applied a little psychology to the situation: If he wins the Powerball jackpot tonight, he says he’ll be able to cross winning the lottery off his bucket list. Well played, Scott. Well played!

$1 Million Powerball Prize About To Expire!

Here is video from our event yesterday to highlight the $1 million prize that’s nearing its expiration date in central Iowa! We’re hoping to jog someone’s memory who purchased a Powerball ticket at this Casey’s in Nevada for the drawing on April 11, 2018, and won $1 million! The deadline to claim the prize is at 4 p.m. on April 11, 2019. Is it YOU?

Just 1 Month Is Left For Unclaimed $1 Million Prize In Central Iowa

It’s crunch time now.

There’s just a month to go for a $1 million Powerball® prize won in central Iowa, so we’re issuing another reminder for players to double-check their tickets. We held a news conference today in Nevada at the store where the $1 million-winning ticket was sold in the hopes that we can jog someone’s memory that they may have the winning ticket.  

The $1 million prize was won in the Powerball drawing on April 11, 2018, with a ticket purchased at Casey’s, 1800 S. B Ave. in Nevada. It came close to winning that night’s $89.7 million jackpot, matching the first five numbers but missing the Powerball. The winning numbers that night were: 16-18-27-55-67 and Powerball 18. The Power Play® number was 3.
 
The winner or winners have until the close of business at 4 p.m. on April 11, 2019, to claim the $1 million prize at lottery headquarters in Clive.

Casey’s received a $1,000 bonus from the lottery for selling the $1 million prize at one of its stores.

One other ticket that won a prize of at least $50,000 is unclaimed in Iowa and will expire within the next six months if the winner(s) don’t come forward in time to claim it. Here are details about that ticket:

Game           Prize Drawing                      Amount Won            Retailer                            Expiration
Powerball     Sept. 1, 2018                        $50,000                      Fareway, Pleasant Hill     Sept. 2, 2019 

If you think you’ve won an Iowa Lottery prize and have questions before coming forward to claim it, please reach out to us at the lottery at 515-725-7900 or wmaster@ialottery.com.
  
In fiscal year 2018, more than $1.4 million in lottery prizes went unclaimed in Iowa. The money from unclaimed prizes in our state goes into the lottery’s prize pools for future games and promotions, so it will be used to pay prizes, just not those prizes that have expired.

 

Illinois Woman Claims $2 Million Powerball Prize She Won In Burlington

The winner of the $2 million Powerball prize this month in southeast Iowa is an Illinois woman who was in Burlington shopping when she decided to buy a Powerball ticket.

Lisa Hays of Monmouth, Ill., said she plans to buy a house and a new car and get a big jump start on her retirement planning now that she’s claimed her lottery prize.

Lisa said she was shopping when she decided to buy two Powerball plays on one ticket for the Feb. 9 Powerball drawing. She won $12 on the first play by matching just the Powerball, and $2 million on her second play by matching the first five numbers but missing the Powerball. She said she realizes that if the numbers from the two plays had been combined differently, she could have won that night’s jackpot.

But she also says that $2 million is great, and she’s been freaking out about her win!

Lisa said she looked up the winning numbers the day after the drawing and initially was happy with a $12 win. Then she noticed what she’d matched on the next line of numbers on her ticket. She said she was having trouble believing her eyes, so she called her mom and had her double-check the results.

Lisa bought her winning Powerball ticket at Hy-Vee, 3140 Agency St. in Burlington. Because she had added the Power Play® option to her purchase, her initial winnings were multiplied. The $4 she initially won for matching just the Powerball was multiplied to $12, while her $1 million prize for matching the first five numbers on a different play was doubled to $2 million.   

Lisa, 49, who works as a teacher, said she buys Powerball tickets when the jackpot really gets up there, and she generally uses the easy-pick option, which lets the lottery terminal determine the numbers printed on her ticket.  

The winning numbers in the Feb. 9 Powerball drawing were: 1-2-3-7-39 and Powerball 25. No one matched all six numbers that night to win the jackpot and the big prize has continued to climb since then, now standing at an estimated $282 million annuity ($171.4 million lump-sum option) for Wednesday.

Hy-Vee will receive a $2,000 bonus from the Iowa Lottery for selling the $2 million-winning ticket at one of its stores.

Earlier this month, a Quad-Cities man claimed a $1 million Mega Millions prize with a ticket he purchased at a central-Iowa convenience store for that game’s Jan. 15 drawing. Danny Lovett, a trucker driver from East Moline, Ill., claimed his $1 million prize on Feb. 4. 

And, another big Powerball prize in central Iowa is still unclaimed 10 months after it was won. That $1 million prize was won with a ticket purchased in Nevada for the Powerball drawing on April 11, 2018. Powerball prizes won in Iowa must be claimed within 365 days of the drawing for which they were won, so the Nevada prize will expire in about two months – at 4 p.m. on April 11 – if it’s not claimed before then.

Burlington Ticket Wins $2 Million Prize

Someone who bought a Powerball® ticket at a Burlington supermarket won a $2 million prize in last night’s drawing. It’s Iowa’s second big lottery winner in a month.
 
The $2 million-winning ticket was purchased at Hy-Vee, 3140 Agency St. in Burlington. The lucky ticket came within one number of having at least a share of last night’s $223.6 million jackpot.

The ticket initially matched the first five numbers but missed the Powerball to win a $1 million prize. But whoever bought the ticket also added the Power Play® option to the purchase, which multiplied the prize to $2 million. The Burlington ticket was the only one in the country to win a $2 million prize in last night’s drawing.
 
Last night’s winning numbers were: 1-2-3-7-39 and Powerball 25. No one matched all six numbers to win the jackpot, so the big prize climbs to an estimated $242 million annuity ($148.1 million lump-sum option) for Wednesday.

Hy-Vee will receive a $2,000 bonus from the Iowa Lottery for selling the $2 million-winning ticket at one of its stores.

Prizes of $2 million have to be claimed at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Clive. The lottery’s offices are closed on the weekend, so tomorrow is the first day that the prize can claimed. If you think you have the winning ticket and have questions, please feel free to contact us at the lottery at 515-725-7900 or Wmaster@ialottery.com.

Earlier this month, a Quad-Cities man claimed a $1 million Mega Millions® prize with a ticket he bought at a central-Iowa convenience store for that game’s Jan. 15 drawing. Danny Lovett, a trucker driver from East Moline, Ill., claimed his $1 million prize on Feb. 4.
 
And, another big Powerball prize in central Iowa is still unclaimed 10 months after it was won. That $1 million prize was won with a ticket purchased in Nevada for the Powerball drawing on April 11, 2018. Powerball prizes in Iowa have to be claimed within 365 days of the drawing, so the Nevada prize will expire in about two months – at 4 p.m. on April 11 – if it’s not claimed before then.

These Lucky Ducks Have Gotten A Break From Winter

I will admit this photo makes me jealous right now as we brave snow and frigid temps here in Iowa.
 
This bunch of Iowa winners has been someplace much, MUCH warmer this week, enjoying the Caribbean cruise vacation they won in last year’s “Power Cruise” promotion.

We got this group shot of our winners onboard the Royal Caribbean® “Majesty of the Seas®.” They’re just getting back today to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., from their five-night cruise!

Seriously. Is It YOU? Unclaimed $1 Million Powerball Prize Hits 9-Month Mark

As of today, it’s been nine months since a $1 million Powerball prize was won in central Iowa, and it’s still unclaimed.

Someone bought the lucky ticket at Casey’s, 1800 S. B Ave. in Nevada, for the Powerball drawing on April 11, 2018, and ended up matching the first five numbers but missing the Powerball that night to win the $1 million prize. In a community of about 6,800, we know people have been talking about it! The staff at the Casey’s store say it’s something they’re asked about nearly every day.     

Since the prize was won, we’ve held a news conference at the store, put up signs there, and issued several other reminders, all in the hope that we’d jog the winner’s memory and they’d come to lottery headquarters with the lucky ticket. But so far, we’ve heard nothing but crickets!

There’s still time to claim the prize. Players have 365 days from the date of the drawing to claim Powerball prizes here in Iowa. So, the $1 million prize must be claimed at our headquarters office in Clive by 4 p.m. on April 11. But with more and more time going by, we’re afraid that the ticket may have been lost or thrown away. We’re reminding everyone to double-check their tickets. Heck, triple- and quadruple-check them! 

The winning numbers in the drawing on April 11, 2018, were: 16-18-27-55-67 and Powerball 18. The Power Play number was 3.

So what will happen to the money if the prize isn’t claimed in time? Here in Iowa, unclaimed prize money goes into the lottery’s prize pools for future games and promotions. So, it will be used for prizes, just not that particular prize that expired.     

Winning a prize of this size can raise questions for the winner(s). If you think you have the winning ticket, you’re welcome to reach out to us at 515-725-7900 or wmaster@ialottery.com.

2 Powerball Prizes Of $100,000 Won At Stores Less Than 2 Miles Apart

It’s a week where we’ve seen patterns emerge here at the lottery! On Monday, I blogged about two winners who both talked about fake tickets as they claimed their prizes. (Their tickets were real, and they both took home big prizes). Today, a different pattern has jumped out at us: Two big Powerball prizes were won in the past week at central Iowa stores less than 2 miles apart!

Yesterday, Jacob Carpenter of Des Moines claimed a $100,000 prize he won in last Saturday’s Powerball drawing with a ticket he bought at Casey’s, 2070 NW 100th St. in Clive.

And in Wednesday’s Powerball drawing, someone who bought a ticket at the QuikTrip at 9915 Douglas Ave. in Urbandale also won a $100,000 prize. That ticket is still unclaimed.

We mapped it out, and the two stores are a little more than a mile apart.

Both tickets initially won $50,000 by matching four of the first five numbers and the Powerball. But the Power Play option had been added to both tickets and the Power Play number in both drawings was 2, so the $50,000 prizes doubled to $100,000.

Congrats on your big win, Jacob! And we’re excited to meet the winner of the $100,000 prize from Urbandale when that person comes forward!

Player Mail: I Prefer The Megaplier vs. The Power Play …

A man from southeast Iowa recently emailed us to say that he prefers the Mega Millions game vs. Powerball because he thinks the multiplier feature in Mega Millions is better. He said he buys Mega Millions because of what he noticed and wanted us to know.

And he’s right: There ARE differences between the two games. The odds of winning are different in each game and the prize levels are different as well. The two games also have drawings on different nights (Tuesday & Friday for Mega Millions, Wednesday & Saturday for Powerball). And that IS the whole point.

Years ago, the two games were sold by different sets of lotteries, so each state sold either Powerball or Mega Millions. But after a new agreement among U.S. lotteries, beginning in 2010 states had the option of offering both games rather than just one or the other. The idea was to give players more choices, and the man’s email seems to say to me that we’ve achieved that. He has the choice to play Powerball or Mega Millions rather than just one option.

In addition to the multiplier feature that the man pointed out, another big difference between the games comes at the third-tier prize level for matching four of the first five numbers and the Mega Ball or the Powerball, depending on the game involved. At that level, the prize in Powerball is $50,000 vs. $10,000 in Mega Millions. With the multiplier feature added to your ticket for an extra $1 per play, you can win up to $50,000 at that prize level in Mega Milllions compared to $500,000 in Powerball.

The play style obviously is similar between the two games, but their designs do offer some variations that set them apart. There are a lot of players for whom Mega Millions is the go-to game, while others prefer Powerball. It’s all about choices, and you definitely have them!

Player Mail: Why Is There A Sales Cut-Off Before A Drawing?

One of our players contacted us about the sales cut-off times before the drawings in our lotto games like Powerball and Mega Millions, and wondered why they couldn’t be eliminated. The man said he wants people to be able to buy tickets right up until one minute before the drawing. The short answer is that wouldn’t work from a security perspective. Here’s the back story:

 

Sales cut-off times are just one of the security features in our games. They’re one of the processes that lotteries use to help ensure that everything is ready to go. With millions – and sometimes billions – of dollars involved in our drawings, it’s obviously important that mistakes be avoided!  

 

Before one of our drawings can be held, all of the lotteries in that game have to verify that their sales figures balance and that all plays are recorded in the system. It’s a meticulous process, and we know it’s what the public expects from us.

 

The good news is that as computer speeds and technology have improved through the years, it now requires much less time to accomplish that work before the drawing. Today, our sales cut-off times are an hour or less before our lotto-game drawings. Years ago, the sales cut-off time was often two hours before the drawing, but we’ve been able to reduce that and we hope it’s a convenience for our players and retailers.

 

I would imagine there will always be some time required for balancing and verification before a drawing can happen, but maybe in the future, the time involved will be even shorter than it is now.

 

The exact sales cut-off times vary from state to state, depending upon the requirements in that particular state. Check your state lottery’s website for the information that applies in your area.

 

We’ll keep doing our best to keep the sales cut-off period involved here in Iowa as short as possible.

I Don’t Want To Buy Tickets In A Lottery Game If Players In Other States Are Part Of It, Too…

An email from one of our players highlights the balancing act that goes into the design of our lottery games.

 

In her email, the woman said she wants to see a game that’s only offered in Iowa because she doesn’t like playing our multi-state games, knowing that the jackpot could be won by someone in a different state. The woman’s perspective made us smile because on some level, we’d like it if ALL the winners were from Iowa. But that wouldn’t make players in other states very happy, would it?

 

This player’s viewpoint is why we do our best to have a variety of games available in the market. What appeals to one person may not appeal to someone else, so we keep lots of choices out there.

 

Games like Powerball and Mega Millions are sold by lotteries all across the country because that’s how they purposefully were designed. It takes a big population base playing those games to produce the giant jackpots involved, and you can’t have one without the other.

 

But we also have games that are exclusive to Iowa. Our Pick 3 and Pick 4 games are Iowa-only, as are our scratch games, pull-tab games and InstaPlay games.

 

We hope our game selection achieves the goal of different strokes for different folks. So, if you don’t want to play a multi-state game, you do have other choices!

Player Mail: Walk Me Through Buying The ‘Play ‘Em All’ Option

An eastern Iowa man’s email is behind this blog entry, and I’ll do my best to walk you through how to find the ‘Play ‘Em All’ feature on the lottery terminal, in case you ever run into trouble when you try to buy it.

 

The man emailed to let us know that he was having trouble buying the ‘Play ‘Em All’ option, which is available in the Powerball, Mega Millions and Lotto America games. The man said that employees in some of the stores in his area didn’t seem to know about the option or how a customer could buy it.

 

In case you’re ever in that same situation, I want you to have the inside scoop about how to find the screen for that option on the lottery terminal. We’ll keep working with our retailers to provide the latest details we can about the lottery, but sometimes the best plan is to have the information yourself.

 

If you’re not familiar with the Play ‘Em All option, it allows you to buy plays for all of the numbers for the Powerball, Mega Ball and Star Ball in the three different games involved. For example, if you buy the Play ‘Em All option in Mega Millions, you’ll get 25 plays with all of the Mega Ball numbers available (1-25). In Powerball, the Play ‘Em All option will give you 26 plays to cover all of the numbers in the Powerball pool; and in Lotto America, you’ll get 10 plays, one for each of the 10 Star Ball numbers available.

 

Here in Iowa, the clerk can find the Play 'Em All feature on the lottery terminal by touching the "Special Offers" tab in the top right-hand corner of the terminal's main screen. That tab brings up the Play ‘Em All screen, and you can then choose the game you want to buy.

 

Or, if you’re buying a ticket at a self-service kiosk here in Iowa, after you select a play option in Powerball, Mega Millions or Lotto America, in the upper right of the screen, you'll see a button that says: Play 'Em All. By touching that button, you can play that option.

 

I hope these “insider” tips can help you walk through the process – and make it easy!

Iowa Powerball Winner Will Be On "Ellen Show" Today

Our newest Powerball jackpot winner will be on "Ellen" today!

The Ellen DeGeneres Show has posted its first look at Lerynne West on the show today, so click here to see the details.

On the show, Lerynne announces that The Callum Foundation, the charitable organization she established in memory of her late grandson, will donate $500,000 to the Travis Mills Foundation in honor of her father, a veteran.

Casey’s Donates Lottery Jackpot Bonus To Central-Iowa Organizations

We braved the cold this morning to share more good news in central Iowa: Casey’s General Stores is donating its jackpot bonus to three civic organizations. And, we’re spreading the fun even further with some bonus prizes for all addresses in the Redfield zip code.

When the lottery announced a couple weeks ago that a ticket purchased in Redfield had won a share of the Oct. 27 Powerball jackpot, we also announced that Casey’s would receive a $10,000 bonus from the lottery for selling the jackpot-winning ticket at one of its stores.

So this morning outside the Redfield Casey’s store, we presented Casey’s with a ceremonial check for $10,000, and Casey’s in turn identified the three local organizations among which it will split the bonus money. The Redfield EMS and Redfield Fire Departments will each get a $2,500 donation from Casey’s, while the local high school, West Central Valley High School in Stuart, will get a $5,000 donation from Casey’s.

Redfield Mayor Dustin Lantz said that his whole community has been buzzing about the jackpot win, and it’s gratifying to see that the situation is already making a local difference. He said that having a jackpot winner is definitely a boost for a small town.

To celebrate the excitement with the whole community, Casey’s and the Iowa Lottery in the next couple weeks will mail bonus prizes to all addresses with a Redfield zip code. Inside will be two free coupons: one for a free Casey’s pizza, valid only at the Redfield Casey’s; and the other for a free, easy-pick Powerball play.

It’s our way of saying thank you as the national spotlight shines on Redfield and the state of Iowa.

Mayor Lantz got in the spirit today, challenging New York Mayor Bill de Blasio to do something equally fun for those in the 10027 zip code where the other jackpot-winning ticket was purchased for the Oct. 27 Powerball drawing. Lantz said it’s amazing to see the good that is happening in his community because of the jackpot win.

The Redfield and New York tickets split the Oct. 27 jackpot, with each receiving $343.9 million annuity, or $198.1 million lump-sum option.

Central Iowa Woman Claims $343.9 Million Powerball Jackpot

Lerynne West truly has inspired us all in claiming her Powerball jackpot and announcing plans to make a difference for others.   

The central-Iowa woman stood at the podium today at lottery headquarters in Clive and said she knows she’s had a life-changing moment. She said she’s excited to share her winnings with family and friends, to purchase a new car, and to take a long vacation -- or several.

The 51-year-old Redfield woman and her family also have established a charitable foundation to help causes important to them. The Callum Foundation is named after West’s grandson, Callum, who was born prematurely in April and lived just a day. The charitable foundation (www.callumfoundation.org) will be focused on making grants in the core areas of alleviating poverty and hunger; education; animal welfare; and veteran’s affairs.

West said that once it is fully established, the Callum Foundation will begin accepting requests for help in 2019.

She said that she and her three daughters daydreamed for years about winning the lottery, and the plans they ultimately put together are a result of all that dreaming.

West’s ticket split the Powerball jackpot in the Oct. 27 drawing with a ticket purchased in New York City. Her half of the jackpot – the third-largest prize in the 26-year history of the game – is $343.9 million annuity, or $198.1 million lump-sum option. The New York ticket has yet to be claimed.

West bought her jackpot-winning ticket at Casey’s, 425 Second St. in Redfield, a Dallas County community of about 830, where she recently bought a house. She was moving into her new home on Oct. 26 and she and her sister stopped at Casey’s for pizza and coffee. While they were there, West bought an easy-pick Powerball ticket. And the rest, as they say, is history.

West is Iowa’s ninth Powerball jackpot winner.

Prize Details

Annuity
Payments Totaling:  $343.9 million
The annuity total would be paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years. Federal withholding of 24 percent and state withholding of 5 percent would be applied to each payment.

Chosen To Receive As Lump-Sum Option
Prize:                            $198.1 million
Federal Withholding:    $47.5 million (24 percent)
State Withholding:        $9.9 million (5 percent)
After-tax prize:              $140.6 million

 

No Word From Iowa Jackpot Winner Yet & Other Latest Details

Iowa’s latest Powerball jackpot winner is the talk of the entire state even though we don’t know who they are yet! With so much talk going on, here are the latest factoids from us at the Iowa Lottery:

You’ve likely already heard by now that a ticket purchased in Redfield, a Dallas County community of about 830 west of Des Moines, split Saturday’s giant Powerball jackpot with a ticket purchased in New York. Iowa’s half of the grand prize breaks down to $343.9 million annuity, or $198.1 million lump-sum option, before taxes.

The Redfield ticket was one of 33,536 Powerball plays in Iowa that won prizes in Saturday’s drawing. Those prizes ranged from $4 up to the jackpot!  We at the lottery remind our players to check their tickets for any prize they may have won, not just the jackpot. There are nine prize levels in the Powerball game, and your ticket may have won at one of the other levels, even if you didn’t win the jackpot.

People have asked us which is better: lump-sum vs. annuity. And it truly is up to the winner involved – they get to choose. That’s why we always suggest that our winners consult with a trusted financial advisor or lawyer to make plans for their winnings before they step forward to claim the prize.

What do the two options look like for this jackpot?

If the winner chooses the annuity option, they’ll receive 30 payments over 29 years. The money on hand from the sale of tickets for the jackpot plus the interest that would be earned over all those years adds up to $343.9 million. The payments to the winner would increase over time to accommodate for inflation. The first payment would be about $5.2 million, while the 30th and final payment would be about $21.3 million. The first annuitized payment would be made when the prize was claimed, and the other payments would then be made each October, the anniversary date of the jackpot being won. Withholding would apply to each payment made, with a current federal rate of 24 percent and state rate of 5 percent.

If the winner chooses the lump-sum option, they’ll receive a one-time payment of $198.1 million before taxes. Federal withholding of 24 percent ($47.5 million) would automatically apply to that total, along with state withholding 5 percent ($9.9 million). The lottery would make an after-tax payment of $140.6 million to the winner by wire transfer.

Iowa Lottery players bought nearly $1.9 million in Powerball plays for Saturday’s drawing. Nearly all of them (91 percent) were easy picks, meaning the player let the lottery terminal randomly select the numbers printed on the ticket. 
 
We had fun today prepping for our winner to come see us at lottery headquarters in Clive. We made a “money brick road” that the winner can follow in our auditorium as they make their way to the stage. Hey, this kind of thing likely only happens once in a person’s life, and we want the winner's jackpot claim to be a fun and memorable day! (P.S. The road is not made of real money.)

Snapshot Of Jackpot-Winning News In A Small Town

 

Here’s a look at our visit today to Redfield, where we made the announcement that a ticket purchased in the Dallas County community of 835 split Saturday’s giant Powerball jackpot with a ticket in New York.   

Staffers and customers at the Casey’s store in Redfield are VERY excited about the big news. And now we wait to see who the winner will be!

Ticket In Central Iowa Community Of Redfield Wins Share Of Powerball® Jackpot

 
A ticket purchased in the central Iowa community of Redfield split last night’s giant Powerball jackpot with a ticket in New York. It is the largest lottery prize ever won in Iowa and is one of the largest lottery prizes ever offered in the world.

Iowa’s jackpot-winning ticket was purchased at Casey’s, 425 Second St. in Redfield, a community of about 830 west of Des Moines. Along with the New York ticket, the lucky Redfield ticket split last night’s Powerball jackpot of an estimated $687.8 million annuity, or $396.2 million lump-sum option.

Iowa has now had nine Powerball jackpot winners.

Even we at the lottery are a bit awestruck at times like this. It goes to show what we’ve said so many times: You just never know when the next big winner will hit. And, this is definitely the time to double-check your lottery tickets!

The Iowa and New York jackpot-winning tickets both matched all six numbers selected in last night’s Powerball drawing to split the grand prize. Last night’s winning numbers were: 8-12-13-19-27 and Powerball 4. The Power Play number was 3.

Casey’s will receive a $10,000 bonus from the Iowa Lottery for selling the jackpot winning ticket at one of its stores.

Powerball jackpot winners can choose to receive their prizes in annuitized payments over time or as a one-time, lump-sum payment. The New York and Iowa winners do not have to choose the same option, as each will receive half of last night’s jackpot, which breaks down to $343.9 million annuity, or $198.1 million lump-sum option for each.

If the winner(s) choose the annuity option, it will be made in 30 payments over 29 years, with the annual payment increasing over time to accommodate for inflation. If the winner(s) choose the lump-sum option, that amount in Iowa will be made by a wire transfer. 

Here are a few key reminders for the Iowa winner(s) as they prepare to claim the prize:
1. Sign the ticket if you’ve not already done that. Taking that step identifies the ticket and the prize involved as belonging to you.
2. Keep the winning ticket in a secure place until you present it to claim the prize. The ticket is required for the prize to be paid. 
3. Consult with a trusted financial planner or legal advisor before coming forward to claim the prize. This is a life-changing amount of money and we want our winners to have the information they need as they make decisions about handling their winnings. 
  
We’re also giving a general reminder that under Iowa law, information concerning lottery winners is public. The Iowa Lottery is required to release the details about who won this prize and we’ll work with our winners to ensure that is done.

Jackpot prizes in Iowa must be claimed at Iowa Lottery headquarters at 13001 University Ave. in Clive. If the winner or winners have questions before claiming the prize, they’re welcome to contact the lottery at 515-725-7900.

Here are the prize and withholding details for Iowa’s share of last night’s Powerball jackpot:

Annuity Option
Payments Totaling:  $343.9 million
The annuity total would be paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years. Federal withholding of 24 percent and state withholding of 5 percent would apply to each payment.

Lump-Sum Option
Prize:                            $198.1 million
Federal Withholding:    $47.5 million (24 percent)
State Withholding:        $9.9 million (5 percent)
After-tax prize:              $140.6 million

Last Night’s Giant Powerball Jackpot Split By Tickets In Iowa, New York

Last night’s giant Powerball jackpot, the third-largest prize in the history of the game, was split by two tickets in Iowa and New York. It’s the largest lottery prize ever won in Iowa and one of the largest lottery prizes ever offered in the world.
 
The Iowa Lottery will hold a news conference at 10:30 a.m. today at the central Iowa store where the winning ticket was purchased. The lottery will provide further details later this morning about the event.

The winning tickets in Iowa and New York split last night’s Powerball jackpot of an estimated $687.8 million annuity, or $396.2 million lump-sum option.

It's Iowa’s ninth Powerball jackpot winner in the history of the game.

The two jackpot-winning tickets matched all six numbers selected in last night’s Powerball drawing to split the grand prize. Last night’s winning numbers were: 8-12-13-19-27 and Powerball 4. The Power Play number was 3.
 
Powerball jackpot winners can choose to receive their prizes in annuitized payments over time or as a one-time, lump-sum payment. The New York and Iowa winners do not have to choose the same option, as each will receive half of last night’s jackpot. That breaks down to $343.9 million annuity, or $198.1 million lump-sum option, for each.

If the winner(s) choose the annuity option for the jackpot, it will be made in 30 payments over 29 years, with the annual payment increasing over time to accomodate for inflation. If the winner(s) choose the lump-sum option, that amount in Iowa will be made in one wire transfer.
 
The Iowa Lottery stresses a few key points for its jackpot winner(s) as they prepare to claim the prize:

1. Sign the ticket if you have not already done so. That identifies the ticket and the prize involved as belonging to you.
2. Keep the winning ticket in a secure place until presenting it to claim the prize. The ticket is required for the prize to be paid. 
3. Consult with a trusted financial planner or legal advisor before coming forward to claim the prize. This is a life-changing amount of money and the lottery wants its winners to have the information they need as they make their decisions.   

We also give a general reminder that under Iowa law, information concerning lottery winners is public. The lottery is required to release the details about who won this prize and will work with its winner(s) to ensure that is done.

Iowa’s eight previous Powerball jackpot winners are:

• Brian and Mary Lohse of Bondurant, who won a $202.1 million Powerball jackpot in September 2012.
• The Shipping 20, a group of co-workers in the shipping department at the Quaker Oats plant in Cedar Rapids, who split a $241 million jackpot in June 2012. That was the largest lottery prize won in Iowa until today's news.
• Tim and Kellie Guderian of Fort Dodge, who claimed a $200.8 million jackpot in October 2006. 
• Hugh Hawkins of Des Moines, who won a $113.2 million jackpot in December 2005. 
• Jacquelyn Moore of Omaha, Neb., who won a $14.4 million jackpot in October 2004 (she bought her ticket at a convenience store in Carter Lake in western Iowa).
• The Larry Hasken family of Sabula, who claimed a $31.8 million jackpot in January 2000.
• Tim Schultz of Des Moines, who won a $28 million jackpot in February 1999.
• Ed Brown of Washington, who split a $10.4 million jackpot with a Missouri woman in December 1992.

Jackpot prizes in Iowa need to be claimed at Iowa Lottery headquarters at 13001 University Ave. in Clive. If the winner or winners have questions before claiming the prize, they’re welcome to contact the lottery at 515-725-7900.

Prize and withholding details for Iowa's share of the jackpot:

Annuity
Payments Totaling:  $343.9 million
The annuity total would be paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years. Federal withholding of 24 percent and state withholding of 5 percent would be made on each payment.

Lump-Sum Option
Prize:                          $198.1 million
Federal Withholding:  $47.6 million (24 percent)
State Withholding:      $9.9 million (5 percent)
After-tax prize:            $140.6 million

Powerball Jackpot Climbs To Estimated $750 Million For Saturday

We’re apparently not done with this jackpot hub-bub just yet!

 

Even though the huge Mega Millions jackpot was won in Tuesday’s drawing, Powerball’s top prize continues to climb, and it also has reached an eye-popping level: It’s an estimated $750 million annuity, or $428.6 million lump-sum option, for Saturday.

 

The Powerball jackpot is now the fourth-largest lottery prize ever offered in the United States and the third-largest in the history of the game.

 

The winning numbers in last night’s $602.5 million Powerball drawing were: 3-21-45-53-56 and Powerball 22. The Power Play number was 2.

 

A total of 43,097 plays purchased by Iowa Lottery players won prizes in last night’s drawing, and the other trends we have seen from other recent drawings continued to hold true. Nearly all of the plays purchased in Iowa for last night’s Powerball drawing were easy picks (91.5 percent to be exact), meaning that players let the lottery terminal randomly pick the numbers on their tickets.

 

And what about that ‘coverage’ issue you’ve heard us talking about? The odds of winning the jackpot in Powerball are about 1 in 292.2 million because that’s how many different ways you can combine the numbers available in the game to make a play. By looking at nationwide sales, lottery officials can estimate how many of all the possible combinations have been purchased for a particular drawing. About 36 percent of all the possible combinations were purchased for last night’s drawing.

Current Snapshot From The Field Amid This Jackpot Fever

Lottery retailers across the state are having to order more paper for their lottery terminals and self-service kiosks so they can keep up with the demand for tickets in Mega Millions and Powerball this week. We’re working with our vendors to fulfill the orders, because a lot of paper certainly is moving through lottery equipment right now!
  
With the jackpots continuing to climb and changing almost daily, the lottery and its retailers are often improvising with hand-written signs at sales counters to show customers the latest jackpot amounts. In the case of Mega Millions, the word “million” is simply being marked out and the word “billion” is being written in. It’s all about adjusting in real time!

But there are some neon lottery jackpot signs here in Iowa that will continue to display a Mega Millions jackpot amount of $999 million until the current world-record prize is won and the jackpot resets to its starting amount of $40 million for the next drawing. The digital signs are in about 700 of the lottery’s 2,400 retail locations, and display the jackpots in Powerball and Mega Millions, but they’re only designed for amounts of up to $999 million. We’re into new territory with this world record, and the situation with the signs just emphasizes the “uncharted” quality of it all!

A NOTE ABOUT ‘COVERAGE’

The odds of winning the jackpot in Mega Millions are about 1 in 302.6 million because there are about 302.6 million ways you can combine the numbers in the game to make a play. By tracking sales, lottery officials can estimate how many of the possible combinations have been purchased for a particular drawing. It’s estimated that about 75 percent of all the possible combinations will be purchased for tonight’s world-record Mega Millions drawing.

And in Powerball, it’s estimated that about 38 percent of all the possible combinations in that game will be purchased for tomorrow night’s drawing.

Iowa Jackpot Winners On The 'Today' Show This Morning

 

Proud Iowa moment today! Thank you to Brian and Mary Lohse for showing the nation the difference they have made in their hometown of Bondurant, and that winning a lottery jackpot can allow you to do incredibly good things. The Lohses were on the "Today" show this morning. Click here to see the video!

Wrap-Up On Both Big Weekend Drawings

The jackpots in Powerball and Mega Millions both continue to climb into the stratosphere, with Mega Millions now at a world record and Powerball’s top prize the third largest ever offered in that game. With strong sales across the country, it’s likely that both prizes with climb even higher before their next drawings this week.

LAST NIGHT’S POWERBALL RESULTS

No one won the jackpot in last night’s Powerball drawing, pushing the game’s big prize to an estimated $620 million annuity, or $354.3 million lump-sum option for Wednesday. That ranks No. 3 on the list of the biggest jackpots in Powerball and No. 6 among the largest lottery jackpots in the United States.
 
The winning numbers in last night’s $476.7 million Powerball jackpot drawing were: 16-54-57-62-69 and Powerball 23. The Power Play number was 2.
 
A total of 32,359 plays purchased by Iowa Lottery players won prizes ranging from $4 up to $50,000. Two tickets purchased in Iowa were just one number away from having at least a share of last night’s jackpot, matching four of the first five numbers and the Powerball to win prizes of $50,000 each. They were purchased at: Kwik Star, 201 Greenwood Ave. in Nashua, and Casey’s, 701 32nd Ave. in Council Bluffs.
  
Iowa Lottery players bought nearly $1.9 million in Powerball tickets for last night’s drawing, including nearly $650,000 in tickets yesterday alone. However, the average Iowa Powerball purchase for the day remained about $5, or two to three plays per ticket. It’s good to see that Iowa players had fun with their purchases and didn’t go overboard.

More than 91 percent of all of the plays purchased in Iowa for last night’s Powerball drawing were easy picks, meaning that the lottery terminal automatically generated the numbers on the ticket.

MEGA MILLIONS DETAILS
    
The Mega Millions jackpot for Tuesday now stands at an estimated $1.6 billion annuity, $905 million lump-sum option. That has pushed it just past the previous world record, a Powerball jackpot of nearly $1.6 billion that was split by three tickets in California, Florida and Tennessee in January 2016.
    
Iowa Lottery players bought tickets that won more than 78,000 prizes in Friday’s Mega Millions drawing, including two plays that were just one number away from having a share of the giant jackpot.

The winning numbers in Friday’s $1 billion Mega Millions jackpot drawing were: 15-23-53-65-70 and Mega Ball 7. The Megaplier number was 2. A total of 78,286 plays purchased by Iowa Lottery players won prizes that night ranging from $2 up to $20,000.

Two tickets purchased in Iowa came within one number of having at least a share of Friday’s jackpot, with one winning a prize of $10,000 and the other winning $20,000. They each matched four of the first five numbers and the Mega Ball, but one of the tickets had added the Megaplier option, which doubled its prize.
 
The $20,000-winning ticket was purchased at EZ Go convenience store, 2723 Grand Ave. in Des Moines, while the $10,000-winning ticket was purchased at Casey’s, 1100 Eagle View Drive in Marion.

Iowa Lottery players bought more than $4 million in Mega Millions tickets for Friday’s drawing, including nearly $2.8 million in tickets on Friday alone. During Friday’s busiest stretch from about 6-7 p.m., Mega Millions tickets were selling at nearly $5,800 per minute in Iowa. However, the average Mega Millions purchase on Friday remained about $6, or three plays per ticket. Lottery officials were pleased that Iowans played at a fun level and didn’t go overboard.

More than 94 percent of all of the plays purchased by Iowa Lottery players for Friday’s drawing were easy picks.

CHECK FOR ALL POSSIBLE PRIZES

As more occasional and first-time players jump into the games with the jackpots climbing, the Iowa Lottery reminds everyone to check their tickets for all possible prizes they may have won.
 
The jackpots generate headlines, but Powerball and Mega Millions both have nine prize levels, and winnings at the games’ lower levels also can be significant. That’s why it’s important to check for all the prizes you may have won. 

Currently in Iowa, there are 52 unclaimed prizes ranging from $800 up to $1 million in the Mega Millions and Powerball games. As more time passes and those prizes remain unclaimed, it becomes more likely that the ticket involved may have been lost or thrown away.

A $1 million Powerball prize in central Iowa is still unclaimed after six months. It was won in the April 11 drawing with a ticket purchased at Casey’s, 1800 S. B Ave. in Nevada. The prize will expire on April 11, 2019, if it’s not claimed before then.

Players in Iowa have up to 365 days after the drawing involved to claim Mega Millions and Powerball prizes.

On our website, we have a complete list of all unclaimed prizes in Iowa of more than $600, the level at which you have to claim a prize directly from the lottery.    

PLEASE PLAY RESPONSIBLY

We mean it when we say that playing smart is a lot more fun. Please play responsibly. It only takes one ticket to have a shot at a prize, and we don’t want anyone to get in over their heads while playing the lottery.

Early Details Of Tonight’s Iowa Powerball Results & The Latest On Mega Millions

Early details show that Iowa Lottery players won more than 32,000 prizes in tonight’s Powerball jackpot drawing, and the game’s top prize surged past the latest estimates that had been made beforehand.

Jackpot buzz seems to be everywhere right now, with the Mega Millions jackpot reaching a world record and Powerball’s top prize also way up there. The Mega Millions jackpot for Tuesday now stands at an estimated $1.6 billion annuity, $905 million lump-sum option. It has edged just past the previous world record for a lottery prize, a Powerball jackpot of nearly $1.6 billion that was split by three tickets in California, Florida and Tennessee in January 2016.
With strong sales nationwide, the Mega Millions jackpot likely will go even higher before Tuesday’s drawing occurs.

Here is an initial look at tonight’s Powerball drawing and its Iowa results, followed by the details of yesterday’s Mega Millions drawing. We’ll have a full report available tomorrow for both big weekend drawings.

THE LATEST ABOUT POWERBALL

The winning numbers in tonight’s Powerball jackpot drawing were: 16-54-57-62-69 and Powerball 23. The Power Play number was 2. The estimated jackpot amount was $476.7   million annuity, $272.4 million lump-sum option. That ranks at No. 8 on the list of Powerball’s biggest jackpots and No. 14 among the largest jackpots in the United States.
 
A total of 32,359 plays purchased by Iowa Lottery players won prizes ranging from $4 up to $50,000. Two tickets purchased in Iowa were just one number away from having at least a share of tonight’s jackpot, matching four of the first five numbers and the Powerball to win prizes of $50,000 each. Complete overall results for the drawing, including whether there was a jackpot winner nationwide, are not yet available, as some lotteries across the country are still processing records to determine their in-state results.  

Iowa Lottery players bought nearly $1.9 million in Powerball tickets for tonight’s drawing, including nearly $650,000 in tickets on Saturday alone. However, the average Iowa Powerball purchase for the day remained about $5, or two to three plays per ticket. We’re glad to see that our players had fun buying tickets and didn’t go overboard.

More than 91 percent of all of the plays purchased by Iowa Lottery players for Saturday’s drawing were easy picks, meaning that the lottery terminal automatically generated the numbers on the ticket.

DETAILS FOR MEGA MILLIONS

Iowa Lottery players bought tickets that won 78,286 prizes in yesterday’s Mega Millions drawing.

The winning numbers in yesterday’s $1 billion jackpot drawing were: 15-23-53-65-70 and Mega Ball 7. The Megaplier number was 2. A total of 78,286 plays purchased by Iowa Lottery players won prizes last night ranging from $2 up to $20,000.
Two tickets purchased in Iowa came within one number of having at least a share of yesterday’s jackpot, with one winning a prize of $10,000 and the other winning $20,000. They each matched four of the first five numbers and the Mega Ball, but one of the tickets had added the Megaplier option, which doubled its prize. 

The $20,000-winning ticket was purchased at EZ Go convenience store, 2723 Grand Ave. in Des Moines, while the $10,000-winning ticket was purchased at Casey’s, 1100 Eagle View Drive in Marion.

Iowa Lottery players bought more than $4 million in Mega Millions tickets for Friday’s drawing, including nearly $2.8 million in tickets on Friday alone. However, the average Mega Millions purchase on Friday remained about $6, or three plays per ticket.

More than 94 percent of all of the plays purchased by Iowa Lottery players for Friday’s drawing were easy picks.

PLEASE PLAY RESPONSIBLY

We mean it when we say that playing smart is a lot more fun. Please play responsibly. It only takes one ticket to have a shot at a prize, and we don’t want anyone to get in over their heads while playing the lottery.

Mega Millions Jackpot Now At World Record, Will Likely Go Even Higher

No one won the jackpot in last night’s Mega Millions drawing, sending the giant prize to a new world record. It is now an estimated $1.6 billion annuity, $905 million lump-sum option, for Tuesday’s drawing. Strong sales across the country likely mean it will go even higher by the time that drawing occurs.

The Mega Millions jackpot has edged just past the previous world record for a lottery prize, a Powerball jackpot of nearly $1.6 billion that was split by three tickets in California, Florida and Tennessee in January 2016.    
   
LAST NIGHT’S WINNING NUMBERS

The winning numbers in last night’s $1 billion Mega Millions jackpot drawing were: 15-23-53-65-70 and Mega Ball 7. The Megaplier number was 2. A total of 78,286 plays purchased by Iowa Lottery players won prizes last night ranging from $2 up to $20,000.

IOWA’S BIG WINNERS

Two tickets purchased in Iowa came within one number of having at least a share of last night’s jackpot, with one winning a prize of $10,000 and the other winning $20,000. They each matched four of the first five numbers and the Mega Ball, but one of the tickets had added the Megaplier option, which doubled its prize.
 
The $20,000-winning ticket was purchased at EZ Go convenience store, 2723 Grand Ave. in Des Moines, while the $10,000-winning ticket was purchased at Casey’s, 1100 Eagle View Drive in Marion.

MEGA MILLIONS SALES IN IOWA

Iowa Lottery players bought more than $4 million in Mega Millions tickets for last night’s drawing, including nearly $2.8 million in tickets yesterday alone. During yesterday's busiest stretch from about 6-7 p.m., Mega Millions tickets were selling at nearly $5,800 per minute in Iowa. However, the average Mega Millions purchase yesterday remained about $6, or three plays per ticket. At the lottery, we were pleased that Iowans played at a fun level and didn’t go overboard.

EASY PICKS VS. MANUAL PLAYS

More than 94 percent of all of the plays purchased by Iowa Lottery players for last night's drawing were easy picks, meaning that the lottery terminal automatically generated the numbers on the ticket.

CAN’T FORGET POWERBALL

Not to be left out, the Powerball jackpot also is climbing into the stratosphere. That game’s jackpot for tonight’s drawing is an estimated $470 million annuity, or $268.6 million lump-sum option. It ranks at No. 8 on the list of Powerball’s biggest jackpots and No. 14 among the largest jackpots in the United States.

We’ll have the Iowa–related Powerball details following tonight’s drawing.
  
PLEASE PLAY RESPONSIBLY

While we’re all having fun in this shared moment surrounding the giant jackpots, we at the Iowa Lottery stress to our players to please play responsibly. It only takes one ticket to have a shot at a prize.

Remember that playing the lottery is something that’s just for entertainment – there’s no guarantee that you’ll win the jackpot or any prize at all. Please play with your head, not over your head.