Security Tips
at the Retail Level

The Iowa Lottery is committed to ensuring that all aspects of our games are conducted in a secure manner with fairness and integrity.

The first line of defense in consumer protection is always for players to arm themselves with the information they need to determine whether their tickets have won a prize. That’s much the same thing we all should be doing to ensure, for example, that a clerk has given us the proper change or that the milk we bought at the local store rang up for the right price.

There are lots of ways that you as a lottery player can check the results of your tickets:

• Watch the televised drawings in lotto games.

• Check the information here on the lottery Web site.

• Ask retailers to print out winning numbers from the lottery terminal.

• Call one of the lottery’s five regional offices around the state for information.

• Listen to lottery results on local radio stations.

• And check lottery results in local newspapers.

However, we believe there is no substitute for player responsibility and player diligence, despite all the assistance that we can provide. Listed below are some other suggestions to keep our games fun and safe.

• Always sign the back of your ticket. This can help prevent someone from trying to cash it in the event it becomes lost or stolen. If your ticket is lost or stolen, report the matter to Lottery Security and your local police or sheriff's office.

• If you select your own numbers or use a play slip, always check your tickets at the time of purchase to make sure the numbers on them match the numbers you selected.

• The Iowa Lottery has customer display units along with its sales and validations terminals in retail locations that sell lotto tickets. The customer display unit shows the results of a particular transaction, and players can see the information on the screen. If you disagree with a retailer about a particular ticket when you are trying to have it validated, you can always ask for the ticket back and send it to the Iowa Lottery, where we will check it. In fact, Iowa Lottery customers at any time are welcome to send their tickets directly to the lottery, where lottery staffers can validate them.

• If you purchase a scratch-off ticket, check it and make sure the latex has not been previously scratched anywhere on the ticket. If the ticket appears to have been tampered with, contact Lottery Security immediately.

• If you purchase a pull-tab ticket, check it to make sure the perforations along the paper tabs have not been broken. If the ticket appears to have been tampered with, contact Lottery Security immediately.

• It is illegal for Iowa Lottery retailers to charge a commission or fee for cashing a winning ticket. If this occurs, contact Lottery Security immediately.

• Only buy lottery tickets from authorized Iowa Lottery retailers. If you are approached by someone offering a “winning ticket” for cash, refuse the offer and contact Lottery Security immediately.

Click here for a PDF version of the Iowa Lottery Security Reminders that includes information on security tips at the retail level, security reminders on Iowa Lottery tickets, information on lottery scams and where to report lottery fraud.

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