ialottery blog

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.

Early Details Of Mega Millions Drawing Results In Iowa

The early details show that Iowa Lottery players won more than 78,000 prizes in tonight’s record Mega Millions jackpot drawing. The Iowa winners included two tickets that came within one number of having at least a share of the jackpot.

Strong sales nationwide pushing the giant prize to an estimated $1 billion annuity, or $565.6 million lump-sum option. We’ll have full details tomorrow, including the locations where big winning tickets were purchased in Iowa and whether there was a jackpot winner anywhere in the country.

Here’s a first look at tonight’s drawing and our results here in Iowa:

The winning numbers in tonight’s Mega Millions jackpot drawing were: 15-23-53-65-70 and Mega Ball 7. The Megaplier number was 2.

A total of 78,286 Mega Millions plays purchased in Iowa won prizes, including two tickets that came within one number of having at least a share of the jackpot. One of those tickets won a $10,000 prize and the other won a $20,000 prize. Both tickets matched four of the first five numbers and the Mega ball to win a $10,000 prize, but the person who bought the $20,000-winning ticket also added the Megaplier to the purchase, which multiplied the prize by two.

Lottery players here in Iowa bought more than $4 million in Mega Millions tickets for tonight’s drawing, including nearly $2.8 million in tickets today alone. During today’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 Iowa Mega Millions purchase today was about $6, or three plays per ticket. We’re glad to see that people had fun playing and didn’t go overboard.

Over the past several days, it has felt like we were all part of one big conversation. At the lottery, we extend huge thanks to our players and retailers for being part of this moment. It’s been a busy time, but we’ve all had fun and our joint efforts have made a difference right here at home by raising additional lottery proceeds for state causes.

And not to be left out, the Powerball jackpot for tomorrow currently stands at an estimated $470 million annuity, $268.6 million lump-sum option. We’ll have the early details about that drawing tomorrow night, and then full results for the weekend sometime on Sunday.

Mega BILLIONS? Tonight’s Mega Millions Jackpot Raised Again

Maybe the name should be changed to Mega Billions! Strong sales in Iowa and across the country have pushed tonight’s Mega Millions jackpot even further into record territory as lottery buzz continues to build. And not to be left out, the Powerball jackpot for tomorrow night also has been raised.
 
The Mega Millions jackpot is now an estimated $1 billion annuity, $565.6 million lump-sum option, for tonight’s drawing. The Powerball jackpot for tomorrow is an estimated $470 million annuity, $268.6 million lump-sum option.

The Mega Millions jackpot is now the largest prize offered in the history of that game and is second overall only to the world-record Powerball jackpot of nearly $1.6 billion that was split by three tickets in California, Florida and Tennessee in January 2016.

The Powerball jackpot currently ranks at No. 8 on the list of that game’s biggest jackpots, and No. 14 among the largest jackpots in the United States.   

Humans Who Procrastinate

We humans procrastinate about lots of things, and sales figures show that applies to lottery tickets, too. The day of the drawing in Mega Millions and Powerball always sees the highest sales. And in Iowa, the busiest stretch is generally from about 4 to 6 p.m. that day as a lot of folks leave work and run errands.

So if you’re looking to avoid lines to buy tickets for the big jackpots, plan accordingly. Remember that the deadline in Iowa to buy tickets for tonight’s Mega Millions drawing is 8:59 p.m. The deadline to buy a ticket for tomorrow night’s Powerball drawing is 8:59 p.m. tomorrow. If you buy a ticket after the deadline, it will be for an upcoming drawing, and you would not be in the running for that night’s giant prize.     

Please Play Responsibly

We continuously stress responsible play, and we’re upping the ante on those reminders this week. It only takes one ticket to have a shot at the jackpot.

Have fun playing the lottery, and remember that it’s just for entertainment. There is no guarantee you will win. Play with your head, not over your head.

 

Mega Millions Jackpot Climbs Further Into Record Territory

The Mega Millions® jackpot has climbed even further into record territory as lottery buzz continues across the country. The Mega Millions jackpot is now an estimated $970 million annuity, $548.6 million lump-sum option, for tomorrow night’s drawing. And not to be left out, the Powerball® jackpot also continues to climb. So combined, the top prizes in the two games are nearing $1.5 billion.

The Mega Millions jackpot is now the largest prize offered in the history of that game, far eclipsing the previous Mega Millions record of $656 million, which was split in March 2012 by three tickets purchased in Kansas, Illinois and Maryland. In terms of world records, the current Mega Millions jackpot is second only to the record Powerball jackpot of nearly $1.6 billion that was split by three tickets in California, Florida and Tennessee in January 2016.

And with no one winning the jackpot in last night’s Powerball drawing, that game’s big prize is now an estimated $430 million annuity, $248 million cash option, for Saturday’s drawing. That ranks at No. 12 on the list of the biggest Powerball jackpots, and No. 18 among the largest jackpots in the United States.    

Iowa Tickets That Came Close

In Iowa, players won more than 19,000 prizes ranging from $4 up to $50,000 in last night’s Powerball drawing. One ticket came close to having at least a share of that night’s jackpot, winning a prize of $50,000 by matching four of the first five numbers and the Powerball. It was purchased at the Petro Mart, 1961 U.S. Highway 30 in Missouri Valley.

The winning numbers in last night’s Powerball drawing were: 3-57-64-68-69 and Powerball 15. The Power Play number was 3.   

And in Mega Millions, Iowa players won more than 28,000 prizes ranging from $2 up to $10,000 in Tuesday’s drawing. Two Iowa tickets were just one number away from having at least a share of that night’s jackpot. They won prizes of $10,000 each by matching four of the first five numbers and the Mega Ball. Those tickets were purchased at the Big 10 Mart, 121 S. 14th Ave. in Eldridge; and Fast Avenue One Stop, 2111 Park Ave. in Muscatine.

The winning numbers in Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing were: 3-45-49-61-69 and Mega Ball 9. The Megaplier number was 5.

Easy Pick vs. Manual Play

One of the biggest debates when it comes to big-jackpot games focuses on the types of plays that can be made – easy pick vs. manual play – and whether one or the other has a better chance of winning.  The quick answer is that the odds of winning are the same for any ticket purchased in the games. But because they are so convenient to buy, easy picks make up the bulk of the plays.

When players buy an easy pick play, the computer in the lottery terminal randomly chooses the numbers that will be printed on the ticket. When players buy a manual play, they choose their own numbers.

More than 89 percent of the plays purchased in Iowa for last night’s Powerball drawing were easy picks. And easy picks accounted for more than 93 percent of the Iowa plays purchased for Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing.   

Mega Millions Jackpot At New Record For That Game & Powerball Climbing, Too

Lottery jackpots have people daydreaming here in Iowa and all across the country. Are you in that mix?

The Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to a new record for that game and is now the second-largest prize in the history of U.S. lottery games. The Powerball jackpot also is in the stratosphere.

No one won the jackpot in last night’s Mega Millions drawing, so that has sent that game’s big prize to an estimated $900 million, or $513.4 million lump-sum option, for Friday’s drawing. It’s the largest prize offered in the history of that game, eclipsing the previous Mega Millions record of $656 million, split in March 2012 by three tickets purchased in Kansas, Illinois and Maryland. The current Mega Millions jackpot is second only to the record Powerball jackpot of nearly $1.6 billion that was split by three tickets in California, Florida and Tennessee in January 2016.

And we can’t forget Powerball! That game’s jackpot for tonight’s drawing has climbed to an estimated $345 million annuity, $199 million lump-sum option. That ranks in the Top 25 for that game -- No. 17, specifically.

Two Iowa Tickets Came Close 

Here in Iowa, players won more than 28,000 prizes ranging from $2 up to $10,000 in last night’s Mega Millions drawing. Two Iowa tickets were just one number away from having at least a share of the jackpot. They won prizes of $10,000 each by matching four of the first five numbers and the Mega Ball. Those tickets were purchased at the Big 10 Mart, 121 S. 14th Ave. in Eldridge; and Fast Avenue One Stop, 2111 Park Ave. in Muscatine.

The winning numbers in last night’s Mega Millions drawing were: 3-45-49-61-69 and Mega Ball 9. The Megaplier number was 5. 

Winners This Year, Predictions For This Week

The Mega Millions jackpot has been growing since it was last won in late July, while the Powerball jackpot has been growing since mid-August.  The jackpot in Mega Millions has been won four times so far in 2018, while the Powerball jackpot has been won six times this year.

With brisk sales across the country, it’s entirely possible that the estimated amount of Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot will be raised again before the drawing takes place.

While winning both jackpots is something to daydream about, it’s probably THE ultimate long shot. That’s why we emphasize responsible play. Have fun playing the lottery, and remember that it’s just for entertainment. It only takes one ticket to have a shot at the jackpot!

 

Jackpots Continue To Climb, Powerball Drawing Should Be Back On TV Tomorrow

Mother Nature has definitely made herself known when it came to this week’s Powerball drawings! Some of our players noticed that Wednesday night’s drawing couldn't be televised and checked in with us to make sure everyone was OK.

With Hurricane Michael roaring ashore Wednesday afternoon in Florida, that night’s Powerball drawing couldn’t be held at the drawing studio in Tallahassee. It was instead conducted at a backup site in Urbandale here in Iowa and as always was under the observation of drawing officials, security personnel and independent auditors. The drawing wasn’t broadcast and only security-camera footage was available. That footage was posted online yesterday, and although there isn’t audio with it, you can see the machines selecting the drawing balls with a close-up shot on the winning numbers at the end.

We anticipate that tomorrow night’s Powerball drawing will be held as normal at 9:59 p.m. central time at the drawing studio in Florida, and it will be televised.

And although the hurricane continued to dump heavy rain across much of the South after it made landfall, tonight’s Mega Millions drawing also is expected to be televised as normal at 10 p.m. central from its studio in Atlanta, Georgia. Tonight’s estimated Mega Millions jackpot is $548 million annuity, $309.2 million lump-sum option.

Tomorrow night’s Powerball jackpot stands at an estimated $314 million annuity. $179.4 million lump-sum option.

Player Mail: What’s A Multi-Draw?

A recent question from a player has served as a good reminder that acronyms and buzzwords within any industry can be confusing to folks who aren’t on the inside. And it has made me rededicate myself to clear communications!

The question was: What’s a multi-draw? And that IS a term we use a lot here at the lottery. It applies to tickets in lotto games like Powerball® and Mega Millions® . In our lotto games here in Iowa, you have the option of buying tickets for just the next drawing, or for several drawings in a row. Tickets that are good for more than one drawing are what we call multi-draw.

The multi-draw option was added to our games as a player-convenience feature so you can stock up on tickets when you buy them if that’s easier for you. Some people prefer to buy tickets for just one drawing at a time, and they have that prerogative as well! Different strokes for different folks, as the saying goes.

So now you know the “insider” details about multi-draws, too!

Player Mail: The Ticket I Got Was For The Wrong Drawing …

A player from northeast Iowa contacted us recently after realizing the lotto ticket he bought was for a different drawing than he had expected. The man said it was a good reminder for him to double-check the details involved when he’s buying lottery tickets. He’s right, and it’s something for all of us to remember.

Think about it this way: When you buy clothes, you check that you’ve got the correct size, right? And when you buy fruit, you make sure it’s bruise-free and looks fresh, right? It’s the same thing when it comes to lottery tickets: Double-check that they’re the ones you want.

In the case of the man who emailed us, he bought a Powerball ticket he thought was for that night’s drawing. But when he got home, he realized the ticket was for a drawing 10 days later. That’s a feature we’ve added to our system that gives players more options: You can buy a ticket for the next drawing, for several drawings in a row, or you can skip a couple dates and buy for a future drawing.

So, the man had received a valid ticket, it was just for a few drawings in advance. As I said, the situation is a good reminder. Here are some other pointers:

• If it’s a lotto ticket in a game like Powerball, be sure it’s for the game you want and that it contains the numbers and plays for the drawings you selected. 

• If it’s a scratch ticket, be sure the latex covering is intact and that it covers the entire play area on the ticket, including the “Scratch 2 Cash” area. If you’re buying your scratch ticket from a vending machine, be sure that you receive one ticket and not parts of two tickets. If you receive parts of two tickets, take them to the retail counter right away to get a replacement ticket of the same price as the one you initially tried to buy.

• If it’s a pull-tab ticket, be sure that the perforations along the paper tabs are unbroken.

• If it’s an InstaPlay ticket, be sure it was printed on the spot when you asked for it. The lottery terminal plays a cash register sound whenever an InstaPlay ticket is printed, so listen for that audio when you make your purchase.

And when it comes to protecting your lottery winnings, you can have the earliest impact by signing your tickets when you buy them. That identifies the tickets – and any prizes you may win – as belonging to you!

If you ever have a concern about Iowa Lottery products, we want to hear from you. Two of the easiest ways to reach us are by calling 515-725-7900 or emailing us at wmaster@ialottery.com.

Two Big Winners This Week At Same Eastern Iowa Store

 Friday (Aug. 17) Update: The $50,000 prize now also has been claimed! Details below.  

The eastern Iowa community of DeWitt, population 5,322, is seeing a lottery winning streak this week! More specifically, it’s all happening at one store there.

On Tuesday, a Clinton County woman claimed a $30,000 prize she won on a scratch ticket she bought at the Kwik Star convenience store, 1420 11th St. in DeWitt. Sandra Sparlin of Wheatland won one of the top prizes in the “Bonus Crossword” scratch game.

Then Wednesday night, someone who bought a Powerball ticket at that same Kwik Star store won a $50,000 prize! The ticket matched four of the first five numbers and the Powerball.

On Friday, Heather Sloan of Maquoketa claimed that $50,000 prize. She works in DeWitt and said that after she bought a Powerball ticket on Tuesday, she forgot about it for a couple days until she noticed it in her wallet again Thursday night. Heather said that when she got online to check the numbers, she realized she’d won $50,000 and admits she started freaking out – in a good way.

Heather said that she and her husband have both had some car trouble recently, so they’re planning to use the winnings to buy newer vehicles, then tuck the rest away into savings.    

Heather said she’s a huge HGTV fan and likes to watch a show on that network called “My Lottery Dream Home” where lottery winners use their prize money to buy their dream home. She said that her prize may not get her on that show, but her lottery win is still amazing and kind of unreal.   

The winning numbers in Wednesday’s Powerball drawing were: 12-15-28-47-48 and Powerball 16. The Power Play number was 2. Heather’s winning ticket was an easy-pick.

 

 

Player Mail: Why Do ‘Only People From CA, FL & NY’ Win?

A player just emailed us with a question you may have wondered about as well, and the answer comes down to population.

The player wondered why it seems like more people win lottery jackpots in states like California, Florida and New York than they do in Iowa. It’s NOT because folks in those places are luckier. It’s simply due to those states’ populations compared to that of Iowa.

In a game like Powerball, the odds of winning are the same for every ticket sold, no matter where you make your purchase. But in states with bigger populations, more people live there, so there are more people buying lottery tickets – and winning prizes. Another way of putting that is that if 5 percent of lottery tickets are sold in a particular area, you expect to find about 5 percent of the prize winners there. Everyone has the same chance of winning, but there will be more winners in places where more tickets are sold.

Powerball is sold by 47 U.S. lotteries, including those in some of our nation’s biggest states.  (California is No. 1 in terms of state population, followed by Texas, Florida and New York. All of those states sell Powerball.) Iowa, with a population of about 3.1 million, is a fairly small state within the Powerball group, but the numbers show we’re doing well in terms of jackpot winners here.

Eight Iowa Lottery players have won Powerball jackpots through the years, including the largest lottery prize to date in Iowa, a $241 million Powerball prize claimed in June 2012 by a group of 20 co-workers from the Quaker Oats plant in Cedar Rapids.

Player Mail: Are The Multipliers Really Random?

A man named Mark just sent us an interesting email about the multiplier option in our lotto games. You likely already know this, but in Powerball, the multiplier feature is called the Power Play; in Mega Millions, it’s the Megaplier; and in Lotto America, it’s the All Star Bonus option.

In each of the games, adding that option to your play will multiply any prize you win (except the Match 5 prize in Powerball and the jackpot in any of the games) by the number selected as the multiplier in that night’s drawing.      

Mark wanted to know how the multiplier number is chosen in each game, and what the probabilities are for the multiplier feature being 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, etc. The quick answer is that there is a separate drawing for the multiplier number, and the odds vary. 

All this talk of multipliers might be a tad confusing, so let’s use a real-world example from the Powerball game. A Powerball ticket costs $2 per play, and you have the option of adding the multiplier option to your play for an extra $1. Let’s say that in the Powerball drawing for which you bought your ticket, you match four of the first five numbers. And the Power Play number in that night’s drawing is 3X. You normally would win $100, but because you added the Power Play feature to your ticket, your prize would be multiplied to $300.

The details about the multiplier feature are included in the game rules for Powerball, Mega Millions and Lotto America. But here are more details with Powerball as the example: Remember that when the jackpot for the next Powerball drawing is $150 million or less, a 10X is added to the Power Play pool, giving players the chance to multiply most prize levels by up to 10 times. When the jackpot in the game is more than $150 million, the 10X feature isn’t available, so the multipliers that can be selected are 2X-5X.

When the 10X is included, there are 43 numbers in the Power Play pool. Of those 43 numbers, 24 are 2s, 13 are 3s, three are 4s, two are 5s and one of the numbers is a 10. Here’s what that looks like in table form:

43 Total Numbers In Power Play Pool
2X = 24
3X = 13
4X = 3
5X = 2
10X = 1

(When the 10X isn’t included, there are 42 numbers in the Power Play pool, and the breakdown of the rest of the numbers remains the same.)

So, does it stand to reason that the Power Play number will be 2 more often than 3? Yes. But the other multipliers also have a shot.

Thanks for the question, Mark!    

$1 Million Powerball Prize Still Unclaimed After 3 Months

Today marks three months since a $1 million Powerball prize was won in central Iowa, and that prize is still unclaimed. 

Some lucky player purchased a ticket at Casey’s, 1800 S. B Ave. in Nevada, for the April 11 Powerball drawing, and the ticket ended up matching the first five numbers but missing the Powerball that night to win the $1 million prize.

Good news, there’s still plenty of time to claim the prize! Players have 365 days from the date of the drawing to claim Powerball prizes here in Iowa. It’s important to note that prizes of this size must be claimed at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Clive. But with more and more time passing and the prize still unclaimed, we’re reminding everyone to double-check their tickets.

If you think you have the winning ticket, you can check it several ways: by visiting your local Iowa Lottery retailer and using the self-checker there or having a clerk check the ticket; by visiting our website; or by using the LotteryPlus mobile app available for both Android and Apple devices.

Winning a prize of this size usually raises some questions for the winner(s). We’re glad to help, so please feel free to reach out to us at 515-725-7900 or check out our video: I won, now what?

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