Iowa Lottery

First Top Prize in "Tropical Treasures" Scratch Game Sold In Council Bluffs

Janice 'Jaymie' Burns Wins First Top Prize of $30,000 Playing the "Tropical Treasures" Scratch Game

  Hear Jaymie tell her story.

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DES MOINES, Iowa - An Omaha, Neb. woman was traveling through Council Bluffs when she decided to pick up one of the Iowa Lottery's new "Tropical Treasures" instant-scratch tickets and ended up winning the top prize.

Janice 'Jaymie' Burns, 35, said she picked up a ticket while she was having her tire changed, but she never expected to win the $30,000 top prize.

"It was the first one I scratched off. I was thinking, 'Gosh it would be nice to win that. All of a sudden I saw the third treasure chest and I had to have my brother down and double check it for me," she said.

Burns said her brother, Chad Flynn, didn't believe her at first, but once he saw the ticket he changed his mind very quickly. Burns also shared the news about her win with her grandpa.

"He said he just wants me to appreciate it, which is what everyone has been saying," she said.

Burns, an account manager for GEM Financial, claimed her prize Friday at the Iowa Lottery's regional office in Council Bluffs, the same day she purchased the ticket. She purchased her winning ticket at Darrah's, 3607 Ninth Ave. in Council Bluffs.

Burns plans to use some of her winnings to pay bills.