Iowa Lottery is moving its headquarters. Here's what players need to know

Iowa Lottery players who have won a prize big enough that it requires a trip to lottery headquarters will soon need to plug a new destination into their GPS. Lottery officials announced they are preparing to move their headquarters from Clive to the state Capitol Complex in Des Moines. This move is expected to take place from November 6 through November 11, according to Lottery CEO Steve Waymire.

For players, the biggest change will be where they go to claim certain winning tickets. Department of Revenue Director Mary Mosiman said officials plan to give plenty of information ahead of the move so winners aren’t left wondering where to go. Check out everything you need to know below.

Iowa Lottery is getting a new home

Currently, the Iowa Lottery operates out of a building in Clive that it purchased for $5.35 million in 2014. The total investment reportedly reached about $7 million after adding security features and a generator. Now, the Department of Administrative Services is in the process of selling that building. Lottery employees will move to the fifth floor of the Hoover State Office Building at the Capitol Complex.

So, why the move? Officials said the relocation is tied to a state government realignment that placed the Iowa Lottery and Alcoholic Beverages Division under the Department of Revenue three years ago. However, the Alcoholic Beverages Division will remain at its current building in Ankeny.

Mosiman said the lottery’s move should produce some cost savings while also improving security. That security will be especially important during the relocation. One of the biggest challenges of the move, according to Waymire, will be securely moving the lottery’s computer gaming system without disrupting operations. Waymire explained:

Our biggest obstacle is to ensure the movement of our computer gaming system and to make sure that it's done in a secure manner.

What will change for Iowa Lottery winners?

Players visiting the new headquarters should expect a different setup. The lottery’s current configuration won’t fit inside the Hoover Building. So, the new space is undergoing extensive renovations. Waymore said it will include new furniture and a sales window.

The marketing team is also working on ways to make the fifth-floor space recognizable as the Iowa Lottery and help visitors find their way once inside the building.

Mosiman stated:

We want to make sure that they know where to come to turn in their winning tickets. We want to make sure that they easily find where to park and where to find the Lottery headquarters.

This isn’t the first time the Iowa Lottery has moved its headquarters. Before they moved to Clive, the lottery operated from a building on Grand Avenue in Des Moines. That property was sold to the Des Moines School District for $1.6 million after officials determined its heating and cooling system needed significant work.

For now, players don’t need to change anything. However, with the November move approaching, anyone who needs to visit Iowa Lottery headquarters will want to check the lottery’s latest directions before heading out with that winning ticket.

Enjoy playing the Iowa Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.