News writer
For the first time in Iowa Lottery history, one lucky ticket matched all the numbers in the multi-state Lucky for Life draw game to win the game's top prize of $1,000 a day for life.
A first in Iowa
Lucky for Life made its debut in Iowa in January 2016. Since that time, the state has seen 22 big winners in the draw game. However, the other big winners happened to win the game's second prize level, which is $25,000 a year for life.
For this top-prize winning ticket, the lucky player matched all six of the winning numbers drawn during the Friday, November 8, 2024, draw to win $1,000 a day for life. The winning numbers for that draw were 2, 7, 19, 42, and 47, and the Lucky Ball number was 4.
The winning ticket was purchased at Quik Trip, located at 1501 E. Grand Ave. in Des Moines. For selling the winning ticket, the lucky lottery retailer will receive a $5,000 bonus from the Iowa Lottery.
Lucky for Life's top prizes
For these top prizes in the Lucky for Life game, the Iowa Lottery describes them as “lasting as long as you do,” or otherwise saying they are truly for life.
The minimum guaranteed payout for these two prize levels is 20 years. In addition, winners have the option of taking their money as a one-time lump sum payment instead of annuity payments.
For the payouts, the game's top prize of $1,000 a day for life is won by matching all six of the numbers drawn in one of the drawings. For the second prize, players need to match the first five numbers drawn but miss the Lucky Ball. This would give them $25,000 a year for life.
In addition, players can win other prize levels ranging from $3 up to $5,000.
Other Lucky for Life Iowa winners
While this is the first top-prize winner from Iowa for the Lucky for Life game, the state has seen 21 previous second-prize winners. Since the debut in January 2016, the $25,000 a year for life prize has been won in Iowa during these drawings:
- October 23, 2024
- August 19, 2024
- June 27, 2023
- February 23, 2023
- January 12, 2023
- October 22, 2022
- July 24, 2022
- June 27, 2022
- November 4, 2021
- October 13, 2021
- June 28, 2021
- November 6, 2020
- June 15, 2020
- April 27, 2020
- December 9, 2019
- February 18, 2019
- August 30, 2018
- March 1, 2018
- September 25, 2017
- August 29, 2016
- March 28, 2016
Have other states won the game's top prize?
Currently, 23 jurisdictions participate in the Lucky for Life multi-state draw game. In the past, South Carolina, Minnesota, and Missouri also participated, but they no longer do.
For these jurisdictions, here is a breakdown of which ones have won the top prize of $1,000 a day for life:
- Arkansas - 2 top prize wins since joining in January 2015
- Colorado - 2 top prize wins since joining in July 2016
- Connecticut - 3 top prize wins since joining in January 2015
- Delaware - No top prize wins
- District of Columbia - No top prize wins
- Idaho - No top prize wins
- Iowa - 1 top prize win since joining in January 2016
- Kansas - 1 top prize win since joining in November 2016
- Kentucky - 3 top prize wins since joining in January 2015
- Maine - No top prize wins
- Massachusetts - 2 top prize wins since joining in January 2015
- Michigan - 2 top prize wins since joining in January 2015
- Minnesota - No top prize wins while it participated
- Missouri - 1 top prize while it participated
- Montana - 1 top prize win since joining in January 2015
- Nebraska - No top prize wins
- New Hampshire - 2 top prize wins since joining in January 2015
- North Carolina - 5 top prize wins since joining in February 2016
- North Dakota - No top prize wins
- Ohio - 8 top prize wins since joining in November 2015
- Oklahoma - 1 top prize win since joining in February 2018
- Rhode Island - 1 top prize win since joining in January 2015
- South Carolina - 1 top prize win while it participated
- South Dakota - 1 top prize win since joining in June 2017
- Vermont - 1 top prize win since joining in January 2015
- Wyoming - 1 top prize win since joining in December 2016
Claiming your prize
If you happen to be the lucky ticket holder from Des Moines, then you have some options when claiming your prize.
You can claim it as an annuity, meaning you would get annual payments of $365,000 ($1,000 a day) for life. You may also choose the lump sum option, which would give you a one-time payment of $5.75 million.
If you are holding onto the winning ticket, then you must claim your prize at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Clive within 180 days of the drawing.
Enjoy playing the Iowa Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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