SLEUTHS NEAR YOU: 'SHERLOCK HOLMES'
FEATURED ON IOWA LOTTERY TICKETS

Click here for media-ready jpeg image of the Sherlock Holmes instant-scratch ticket.

New Instant-Scratch Game Celebrates Upcoming Motion Picture

DES MOINES, Iowa – One of the world's best-known detectives has arrived in Iowa.

Sales have started this week in the Iowa Lottery's "Sherlock Holmes" instant-scratch game, which is based on an upcoming motion picture about the legendary sleuth. The action-adventure film, which will be released on Christmas Day, stars Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as his trusted colleague, Watson. Filmmaker Guy Ritchie brings the mystery tale to the screen for Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures.

Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich anticipates the new game will be popular.

"Sherlock Holmes is known the world over," Rich said. "And games we've issued before based on popular themes like movies, television shows or well-known consumer brands have sold extremely well."

The lottery's $2 Sherlock Holmes tickets feature artwork associated with the movie's characters, including a bowler hat and pocket watch. Players try to match any of "your numbers" to the "winning number" in the play area on each ticket. If you find the "hat" symbol, you win that prize instantly. Prizes range from $2 up to $20,000. The overall odds of winning in the game are 1 in 3.61.

Since the Iowa Lottery's start in 1985, its players have won more than $2.4 billion in prizes while the lottery has raised nearly $1.2 billion for state programs.

Motion Picture Artwork and Photography © 2009 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. Licensing rights for the Property have been obtained from MDI Entertainment, LLC.