Iowa Lottery

Eagle Grove Woman Has Lucky Streak

Lois Otto Wins Top Prize of $30,000 Playing "Crossword" Scratch Game

  Hear Lois tell her story.

To download image, right click on image, then navigate to 'Save Picture As' to save this file to your computer. To download digital audio files of this story, right click here, then navigate to "Save Target As" to save this file to your computer.

DES MOINES, Iowa - An Eagle Grove woman said she feels incredibly lucky after winning a $30,000 lottery prize, followed by a few prizes at a northeastern Iowa casino.

Lois Otto, 66, was traveling to Diamond Jo casino with her sons and a couple of friends when they decided to stop and buy a few "Crossword" tickets.

"I scratched them and my son said, 'Well, you know, Mom, you need an 'O' and you have lots of letters left,'" Otto said. "By the time I was done scratching, I had eleven words!"

Otto said they made a second stop at a convenience store to have her ticket validated.

"I was so nervous and my stomach hurt," Otto said. "Everyone was so excited for me."

Otto said her luck continued that day; she cashed in almost $400 in winnings at the casino.

"It was a good day, so I shared," Otto said.

Otto said she plans to use some of the winnings toward paying for her new house and is thinking about taking a trip.

Otto claimed her prize Monday at the Iowa Lottery's regional office in Mason City. She purchased her winning ticket at Kum & Go, 1120 S. Commercial Ave. in Eagle Grove.