Iowa Lottery

The state of Iowa operates the Iowa Lottery. The state of Iowa is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) and the state is also the MUSL headquarters. The MUSL operates multi-jurisdictional games that include Powerball, on behalf of the member jurisdictions. Some of the other games that the MUSL administers is the Hot Lotto, 0,000 Cash Game, a multitude of pull-tab and scratch games.

The state has a Pick 3 and Pick 4 lottery game where the numbers are picked by the state if Illinois, who also uses those numbers for its games.

Iowa Lottery History

In April of 1985, legislation was signed into law that created the Iowa Lottery. On August 22, 1985, at the Iowa State Fair, the Lottery began selling tickets the first of which were an instant scratch game called "Scratch Match and Win." During its first week, more than 6.4 million tickets were sold.

Since the creation of the lottery, more than .4 Billion dollars have been paid to players as prizes and over .2 Billion dollars have been raised for state programs. In March of 2006, the Iowa Lottery sold a ticket that has pushed lottery profits to state programs over the Billion dollar threshold.

The lottery has helped the state in various ways. When the legislation was created in 19985 to create the lottery, the proceeds were earmarked for a long-term economic development plan called the Iowa Plan. However, in 1991, the lottery profits were re-designated to cultural and environmental programs. In 1992, the proceeds were re-directed again to the state general fund that benefits all Iowans. The legislature and governor of Iowa directs this money to the areas of the state that need it the most.

The state of Iowa currently has three uses for lottery proceeds, which are providing support to veterans, backing the Iowa Vision Program and helping a variety of significant programs in the state.

The Veterans Fund receives each year the profit from two scratch-off and pull-tab games. Iowa estimates that this fund receives approximately to Million dollars each year. This trust fund was created to help qualified veterans receive assistance in form of job training, college tuition, dental vision and hearing coverage, as well as individual and family counseling.

The Iowa Vision Program also receives proceeds from the lottery. This fund was created in 2000 to create and promote tourism in the state, as well as assist with community attractions or events, and build and repair schools. The lottery proceeds are the direct funding source for the Iowa Vision Program. To ensure that this program remains viable, million dollars in lottery revenue is contributed annually on top of percentage of proceeds it is already allocated.

The legislation approved law that dedicated Million in lottery revenues that are specifically for community attractions and events in Iowa with another Million of revenues being dedicated to the Iowa Vision Program to build and repair schools if gambling revenues do not reach that amount. The lottery funding to the Iowa Vision Program will continue over the 20 year payback period of its bonds.

There are over 2,500 retailers throughout Iowa that sell three types of lottery tickets and they are pull-tab, scratch-off and lottery tickets.

The headquarters of the Iowa Lottery has 117 employees and is located in Des Moines. There are regional offices that are located in Cedar Rapids, Mason City, Storm Lake and Council Bluffs.

Iowa Lottery Facts

The state of Iowa has a strict minimum age to purchase a lottery ticket and that is 21. The age limit was raised from 18 in 1994.

A new game called, Midwest Millions, was started by the Iowa Lottery and the Kansas Lottery which is the first U.S. multi-jurisdictional scratch game.