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Iowa Lottery: Approves introduction of Mega Millions game in Iowa
11/17/2009

Mary Neubauer

Office: 515-725-7906

mneubauer@ialottery.com



Mega Millions Sales Slated To Begin In Late January

DES MOINES, Iowa – Plans are set for lottery players in Iowa to be able to play two big jackpot games starting in early 2010: Powerball® and Mega Millions®.

During its meeting Monday at lottery headquarters in Des Moines, the Iowa Lottery Board approved plans for the sale of Mega Millions tickets in Iowa. The Board’s vote follows an agreement in principle reached among U.S. lottery directors on Oct. 7. That agreement calls for all U.S. lotteries to work towards cross-selling of the Powerball and Mega Millions games in 2010 and development and implementation of a national lotto game for all U.S. lotteries in late fall 2010.

Powerball and Mega Millions both are lotto games with jackpot prizes that have climbed into the hundreds of millions of dollars, but to date, the games have been sold in separate jurisdictions. Powerball is sold in 30 states including Iowa, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands; while Mega Millions is sold in 12 other states, including Illinois.

Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich said Monday that many details still need to be worked through, including computer programming for the addition of the new game, but Mega Millions sales in Iowa are slated to begin on Jan. 31. The game’s first drawing that would include Iowa tickets would be Feb. 2.

“The concept we’re applying to lotto games with the addition of Mega Millions is built upon the success we’ve achieved with instant-scratch and pull-tab products by having many variations of games for sale at one time,” Rich said. “We think Iowa players will enjoy the chance to play for even more big lotto prizes.”

Under the U.S. lottery agreement, those that currently sell Powerball have the opportunity to begin offering Mega Millions tickets to their players, pending approval in each jurisdiction. And, Mega Millions states can offer the Powerball game to complement their existing mix of games. Details of the national lotto game are still being developed.

Mega Millions and Powerball are similar but separate games that both have offered headline-grabbing jackpots. The record Powerball jackpot is a $365 million prize won in the drawing on Feb. 18, 2006, by eight co-workers at a Nebraska meat-packing plant. The record Mega Millions prize is a $390 million jackpot that was split on March 6, 2007, by two tickets purchased in Georgia and New Jersey.

Mega Millions tickets cost $1 each. Players choose six numbers from two separate pools - five different numbers from 1 to 56, and another number called the Mega Ball from 1 to 46. You win the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in a drawing. Jackpots start at a guaranteed $12 million and continue to grow until they’re won. In addition to the jackpot, other prizes in the game range from $2 to $250,000. The game’s drawings are at 10 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Powerball jackpots start at a guaranteed $20 million and continue to grow until they’re won. Players choose five numbers from a pool of 59 and another number – the Powerball – from a pool of 39. Plays cost $1 and drawings are at 9:59 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays. You win the jackpot by matching all six numbers selected in a drawing. In addition to the jackpot, the game offers eight other prizes ranging from $3 to $200,000.

“We think the changes we have in store will mean entertainment for Iowa players and help for the state of Iowa during these tough economic times,” Rich said.

Lottery proceeds have three main purposes in Iowa. They provide support for veterans and their families through the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund; help for a variety of significant projects through the state general fund; and backing for the Vision Iowa program, which was implemented to create tourism destinations in Iowa, assist with community attractions and build and repair schools.

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

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