CLIVE – The revamp of lotto games available in Iowa is continuing with announcement of plans to end the Hot Lotto game this fall. The lotteries that sell the game have decided to end it and the final Hot Lotto drawing is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 28.
Hot Lotto, a $1 game that offers Powerball-style play but with easier odds and jackpots starting at $1million, got its start back in April 2002. The game is currently sold in Iowa and by 13 other U.S. lotteries. That group is working on plans for a new $1 draw game that will debut later this year.
Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich noted that as part of their business decisions, lotteries routinely replace existing games with newer offerings over time to keep their line-up fresh. Rich said while Hot Lotto initially sold well and the game was updated a few times through the years to offer new features, its sales have tapered off over time.The game most recently was changed in 2013 to feature a cash-only jackpot with withholding taxes paid.
“Any game has a life span,” Rich said. “Lotteries are always looking for new ways to provide variety and choices for our players, and we do our best to update our game offerings over time. It takes months, if not years, of planning and programming to bring about changes in our lotto games, like this decision to end the Hot Lotto game.”
Iowa Lottery players have won eight jackpots in Hot Lotto through the years, including the largest prize offered in the game to date. That $19.97 million jackpot was won in January 2007 by John Hall of Indianola.
Lottery players in Iowa will have time to claim prizes won in Hot Lotto after the game ends. Prizes in Hot Lotto are valid in Iowa for up to 365 days from the date of the drawing in which they were won.
Iowa players also should be aware while they have been able to buy plays in Hot Lotto for up to 10 drawings in advance, the number of advance plays will gradually decrease as the end of the game approaches and the number of remaining drawings counts down.
As the Iowa Lottery continues to monitor its game offerings, players can expect more improvements and changes to its other lotto products in the coming months. Earlier this summer, the lottery made lotto-game changes, including adjustments to the drawing times in Iowa’s Pick 3 and Pick 4 games.
Since the lottery’s start in 1985, its players have won more than $3.9 billion in prizes while the lottery has raised more than $1.7 billion for the state programs that benefit all Iowans.
Today, lottery proceeds in Iowa have three main purposes: provide support for the state’s 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 and community attractions in the state and build and repair schools.