TWO IDA GROVE RESIDENTS CLAIM BIG PRIZES
IN SCRATCH GAMES ON SAME DAY

For media-ready jpeg image of Curtis Sahl click here.

For media-ready jpeg image of Devra Ray click here.

Winners Claim Prizes In Two Different Games

DES MOINES, Iowa – Ida Grove has been on a winning streak in lottery instant-scratch games! Two Ida Grove residents claimed top prizes in two different scratch games on the same day.

On Monday, Curtis Sahl claimed a $30,000 prize in the "Crossword" instant-scratch game, while Devra Ray claimed a $25,000 prize in "Wild Bingo."

The two bought their winning tickets at two different stores: Sahl made his lucky purchase at Marcus Junction, 406 U.S. Hwy 3 in Marcus and Ray bought her winning ticket at Ida Grove Cenex, 400 Moorehead Ave. in Ida Grove.

Crossword is a $3 scratch game. Players win a prize by uncovering at least three complete words in the ticket's puzzle. If a player uncovers 10 words, he/she wins $30,000. The overall odds of winning in the game are 1 in 3.82.

Wild Bingo is a $2 scratch game. Players try to match any complete horizontal, vertical or diagonal line, four corners, or an "X" pattern on one of the four Bingo cards to win the corresponding prize in the prize arrow that points to their card. The overall odds of winning a prize in the game are 1 in 3.57.

Since the Iowa Lottery's start in 1985, its players have won more than $2.2 billion in prizes while the lottery has raised more than $1.1 billion for state programs.