Text Messaging FAQs

• I am new to text messages. How do I begin?
• Will I be charged for text messages?
• How do I get to the ialottery.com mobile Web site?
• Does going to a mobile Web site cost money?
• Is my carrier one that you support?
• My phone is not compatible with your service. What can I do?
• How do I send a text message?
• What is a Short Code?
• What is a Keyword?
• What happens after I have sent the keyword to the Short Code?
• What if I do not receive a confirmation message?
• Do the text messages you send me count against my monthly messaging allotment?
• I have a prepaid phone. Can I subscribe to the service?
• How do I cancel my Iowa Lottery Mobile subscription?
• Why did I receive a message requesting confirmation of my birth date?
• I sent my birth date confirmation reply and nothing happened. What do I do?

Mobile FAQs

• What is a wireless Web site?
• What is a Web-enabled mobile phone?
• How do I know if my mobile phone is Web-enabled?
• What exactly is an Internet access plan?
• Will I be using my monthly minutes to access the wireless site?
• Can I access the wireless Web site from anywhere?

Your cell phone MUST BE text enabled and text message functionality must be part of your mobile phone plan to get text messages. Check your phone's user guide or ask your service provider if you do not know if your mobile package includes text messaging. Text messages are also referred to as "SMS", Short Message Service.

Standard text messaging rates will always apply to any text message received or sent. If you are not sure what your messaging plan is, ask your provider.

In order to go to our mobile Web site, you need to have a phone with an Internet browser. On most phones, you can access the Internet browser from your phone's menu and then text in the address, "www.ialottery.com". Add ialottery.com to your Bookmarks to save time.

The Iowa Lottery does not charge for visiting its site. However, your normal data rates will still apply. Check with your carrier to find out what plans are available.

The Iowa Lottery mobile site currently works with Alltel, AT&T Mobility (formally Cingular Wireless), Sprint/Nextel/Boost, T-Mobile®, Virgin Mobile, US Cellular "Dobson" and Verizon.

Visit your local carrier store and purchase a phone that is compatible with our service.

Please consult the help option or user's guide for your phone.

All phones have different menu options and buttons and you should consult your user manual for specific instructions for your phone. There are, though, some general steps to send a text message. First, by going to the MESSAGE option and selecting NEW MESSAGE, your phone will open a new text message (your phone may also say "Create new SMS message". In the message area use the keypad to type in the keyword associated with the mobile service you would like (you may have to press the numeric key more then once to display the letter you would like to type). In the area where it asks for the phone number type in the 5-digit short code and press SEND/SELECT.

A short code is 5- or 6-digit number that is like a phone number or Web site address. For example, to get alerts when the Powerball jackpot is $100 million or larger, you would text the keyword "ALERT" to the short code 97063 to join.

The keyword is the word you send in your text message that identifies the service your message goes to. For example, to get twice-weekly alerts when the Powerball jackpot is $100 million or more, you would text the keyword "ALERT" to the short code 97063 to join.

After you have successfully sent the keyword to the short code, you will receive a message back about the service you are trying to use. It usually takes less than a minute. However, sometimes there are delays on the network and it can take several hours to receive a confirmation back.

If you are sure you sent the correct keyword, it can be that it is delayed at the network. Network congestion and bandwidth will sometimes slow the sending/receiving of text messages. Also, it could be your cell phone carrier is not one that participates in our text services programs. For further assistance, contact support@sivacommunications.com or via the Customer Support Number at 1-800-760-7140.

Please consult with your provider as it varies from provider to provider.

Some carriers do not allow prepaid subscribers to subscribe to premium text services. Check with your carrier for product availability.

You can cancel or "opt out" by sending a text message with the opt-out keyword in the message body to the short code designated with that service. You will find the opt-out keyword in all text messages you receive through this subscription process. Also, you can send STOP to the keyword at any time to stop all messaging from the short code. You will get a message back asking to confirm your wish to unsubscribe from the service.

Subscribers are 21 years of age or older. We require that subscribers confirm their birthday by entering their birth date as mmddyyyy. For example, if your birth date is 11-28-1978, you would text: 11281978.

Some mobile phones automatically inserting the term "RE:" in the subject line of messages that are sent in reply to incoming texts. Having any information in the subject line can interfere with the software used to sign up for the lottery's text-messaging service, leaving you unable to complete the process. However, there is a simple fix.

If you do not receive a welcome message after you have sent a text providing your age and birth date for age verification, please check to see if your phone or mobile device is automatically inserting "RE:" in the subject line of replies. If it is, simply access the subject line and delete the "RE:" before you send the text so that the subject line is clear.

Some Web sites are now specially formatted to display their content on mobile phones. The Iowa Lottery has its own wireless site. These wireless Web sites allow you to browse or navigate using the keys on your mobile phone.

A Web-enabled mobile phone is a phone that has a built-in Web browser and the capability of connecting to wireless Web sites.

Please check with your mobile phone manufacturer to see if your cellular phone can access wireless Web sites.  Web-enabled simply means the phone has the built-in capability of accessing the Web. You will also need an Internet access plan from your carrier to use this wireless Web site.

An Internet access plan, provided by your cellular phone carrier, allows you to browse the Web via your handheld device.

In most cases, your mobile Web browser won't use up minutes on your calling plan. Check with your carrier for specific details of your plan.

Access is limited to the coverage area of your carrier.  Consult your carrier's coverage map for limitations on service.