Iowa Lottery

You are gambling when you play the lottery

It may seem obvious, but it's an important reminder we often emphasize: Playing the lottery is gambling. You could win, break even, or lose on any ticket you buy. And every time you play, real money is at stake. There is never a guarantee that you'll win.

Only buy tickets with disposable income

Lottery games should always be about entertainment, not financial gain. Playing the lottery is not an investment strategy. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), players who set a clear budget ahead of time and stick to it experience significantly fewer gambling-related issues.

• Avoid financial strain: Gambling with money meant for necessities can lead to stress and hardship.
• Stay in control: Know how much you're willing to lose, how long and how often you're going to play, then stick to it to help prevent overspending.
• Treat lottery play like any other form of entertainment. If you buy lottery tickets, make sure they are optional purchases from your entertainment budget.
• If playing the lottery is causing you stress or making you unhappy, take a break — or stop playing altogether.

The truth about your chance of winning

The odds of winning on a lottery ticket show you the likelihood that you'll win a prize. Understanding how the odds work means you can make healthy, informed decisions when you play.

How lottery odds are determined

• The odds of winning in our scratch, InstaPlay and pull-tab games are determined by dividing the total number of tickets in a game by the number of winning tickets in it.
• The odds of winning in our lotto games are based upon the set of numbers on your ticket matching the winning numbers in the drawing. For example, the odds of winning the Powerball® jackpot are about 1 in 292.2 million because that's how many ways you can combine the numbers available in the game to make a play.

Debunking myths about lottery odds

• Odds tell you the likelihood of winning, but they don't guarantee a prize.
• Odds apply to each ticket in a game, not a series of tickets. You could buy five tickets in the same game and have all winners, or 10 tickets with no winners.
• Odds do not change with the size of the jackpot or the number of people playing.
• Your odds do not increase after you've bought several nonwinning tickets.
• The odds of winning are exactly the same whether you're in a tiny town or big city, but there will be more winners in places where more tickets are sold.

Where to find the odds for each game

We provide the odds of winning for all of our games at ialottery.com. On each individual game page, you'll find the overall odds of winning any prize in that game along with the odds of winning at each prize level.

Visit our YouTube page for more information about what the odds mean in lottery games.

Lottery tickets are only sold at retail

Iowa Lottery tickets are sold at 2,500 licensed retailers statewide. Those are the only places it is legal in Iowa to buy lottery tickets. Retailers must go through an application process that includes security and financial reviews in order to obtain a license to sell our products.

Once licensed, lottery retailers need to follow specific guidelines to uphold the integrity of our games. Lottery staffers ensure standards are being maintained with unannounced, undercover security checks. Our employees pose as customers and present winning lottery tickets to see how those tickets are handled.

Claiming a prize at retail

• Retailers are required to pay prizes of up to $100. The lottery asks that they pay prizes of up to $600, but not all stores have that much cash on hand so they may not be able to pay an amount that large. Prizes of more than $600 have to be claimed at an Iowa Lottery office.
• Retailers are not allowed to charge any sort of fee for cashing a winning ticket. They also can't include any additional charges for the purchase of lottery tickets, such as sales tax, debit card processing or service fees.
• Another way to tell you're at a licensed retailer: They have a lottery terminal that plays the "You're a winner!" sound when a winning ticket is cashed.

Any concerns about retailers should be reported to the Iowa Lottery's security team at wmaster@ialottery.com or 515-725-7900.

Check your tickets when you buy them

When you purchase a ticket from an Iowa Lottery retailer, you are responsible for making sure you have received the product you wanted to buy. That can be done by reviewing the ticket itself and the transaction details displayed on the screens of lottery terminals and self-service kiosks.

Before leaving the store, double-check that your ticket is in satisfactory condition.

Always sign your ticket

Signing the back of your ticket identifies that ticket - and any prize you may win - as belonging to you. Click here to see some common questions we hear about signing tickets.

Tools to determine the outcome of your ticket

You should save your player receipt, which is automatically printed and shows the result for every ticket that is checked or cashed at a lottery terminal or kiosk. It's your responsibility to determine whether your ticket is a winner and you should confirm that before trying to claim a prize.

You can independently verify the results of your ticket by scanning it with the lottery's mobile app on your smart device or by using a self-checker at a retail location.

While the lottery and its retailers keep winning tickets for record-keeping and security purposes, nonwinning tickets can be returned to the player.

Only one lottery is legal in Iowa

The Iowa Lottery is the only lottery authorized in Iowa. Unless you specifically entered an Iowa Lottery promotion or contest, we will never reach out to say you've won a prize.

How to report a scam

When in doubt, you can always email the Iowa Lottery at wmaster@ialottery.com, or speak with our Security Department by calling 515-725-7900.

• Visit the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for tips on how to report a scam.
• You can also make a report to the Consumer Protection Division of the Iowa Attorney General's Office.

Pooling your money to play

Some of the Iowa Lottery's most memorable winners have been groups of people. It's a fun way to dream big! Here are some good practices to keep in mind when you're buying tickets as part of a lottery pool.

Details matter

Make sure everyone in your group is at least 21 years old, the legal minimum age to buy lottery tickets in Iowa. Once your group is formed, create a list of names and contact information for everyone in your lottery pool.

For each drawing, keep a list of everyone who takes part and how much they contributed. Once tickets are purchased, send everyone a picture of the group's tickets, including the identifying numbers on them.

Establish official rules for the group in writing and share them with all members. We'll get you started with a handful of typical issues to consider.

Claiming a prize as a group

If your group wins a prize, you'll need to fill out an IRS Form 5754 to document that the prize is being claimed by more than one person. That form is available at lottery offices and on our website.

The prize will actually be paid to just one person, and the group will need to decide how the winnings are divided.

Winning the lottery is exciting

Here are some suggestions as you navigate the next steps when you win.

When you're ready to claim your winnings

• Come see us. Prizes of more than $600 must be claimed at a lottery office. Prizes of more than $250,000 must be claimed at the lottery's main office in Clive.
• The paperwork: Once you arrive and our team verifies your win, you'll need to fill out a Winner Claim Form and Federal Form W-9. You can find both of those documents on our website here, if you want to complete them in advance.
• Behind the scenes. While our team works to process your prize claim, you may be asked to speak with a member of the lottery's security team to verify details of your win.
• There's no anonymity. Here in Iowa, state law dictates that lottery winners' information is public. Winner details will be published by the Iowa Lottery.

How you'll be paid

• Automatic withholdings: By law, lottery prizes of more than $600 won in Iowa are subject to a 3.8 percent state withholding tax. For prizes of more than $5,000, an additional 24 percent federal withholding applies.
• Lump sum or annuity? For some prizes, you have the choice to claim your winnings as an annuity, where you'll receive annual prize payments over a period of years; or as a lump-sum option, meaning a one-time payment. You decide which option is best for you.
• Check it out. Nearly all Iowa Lottery prizes are paid by check, except for the very largest prizes in our lotto games, which are routinely paid by wire transfer.

After your prize claim

• Deposit your winnings appropriately. Many accounts at financial institutions are federally insured up to $250,000. If your prize is larger than that, please talk with your financial institution about your options to protect your winnings.
• For the future: The Iowa Lottery will mail a W-2G tax form to you for the prize you won, with the mailing postmarked no later than Jan. 31 the following calendar year. You will need that form to complete your income taxes for the year in which you won. If you move after claiming your prize, please let us know your new address, or your tax form will be sent to your previous address.

Everyone has a limit

If you find yourself spending too much money on lottery tickets, playing is no longer fun, or the lottery is causing you any sort of distress, it may be time to take a break.

There are several ways to get back to feeling better, or to find answers if you're concerned about a friend or family member.

It can be difficult to recognize when gambling has become something you may want to address. If you're questioning whether your behavior has become unhealthy, the Your Life Iowa Program has a list of warning signs.