The Iowa Lottery is 1 of 42 US State & District Lotteries that offer the huge Mega Millions game – in this case the Iowa Mega Millions – as part of its overall portfolio of lottery games.
Mega Millions is a Multi-State USA Lottery that is run and operated by the Mega Millions Consortium – who administer and syndicate the game across the USA and is one of the largest lottery games in the world – having produced a massive record jackpot of an incredible US$ 390 Million. This huge world record jackpot was shared between 2 Mega Millions winners from New Jersey and Georgia.
The very first Mega Millions draw took place on May 17th 2002 with 6 USA Lottery companies taking part who were all members of the Mega Millions Consortium.
The game had changed its name and format from the Big Game which had started on August 31st 1996. Upon this change – 2 further State Lotteries joined and many more were to follow.
Tickets for the Iowa Lottery Mega Millions were first sold on January 31st 2010 when the Multi State Lottery Association (MUSL) who run the Powerball game – of which the IA Lottery is a member – entered into a cross-selling agreement with the Mega Millions consortium – allowing the sales of Mega Millions in Powerball states and Powerball in Mega Millions states.
Iowa Mega Millions – How It Works…
The Iowa Lottery Mega Millions works in exactly the same way as the Mega Millions works in all the States and Districts in the US that offer the game.
Jackpots start off at US$ 12 Million and ROLLOVER after each draw when the top prize is not won – making for some enormous jackpot figures.
6 numbers are drawn in total for the Iowa Mega Millions from 2 separate drawing machines – firstly 5 numbers from 56 white balls are drawn and then 1 number (the MEGAball) from 46 gold balls.
Draws for the Iowa Lottery Mega Millions take place twice every week on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10.00pm CST (11.00pm EST).
In addition to the 6 main Mega Millions numbers drawn – a further number is drawn – using a Random Number Generator…the MEGAPLIER number…
MEGAPLIER…
This separate MEGAPLIER number drawn will be either 2, 3 or 4 – and is there to give players of the Mega Millions Iowa a chance to increase their winnings on all levels of the prize structure apart from the Iowa MegaMillions jackpot itself.
With MEGAPLIER – you are able to multiply your winnings on these levels by 2x, 3x or 4x – greatly increasing the amount you can walk away with.
If a player matches the 5 main Mega Millions numbers playing with the MEGAPLIER add-on – and a MEGAPLIER number of 4 is drawn – the second tier prize of US$ 250,000 would be quadrupled and they could win US$ 1 Million.
Iowa Mega Millions – How to Play…
The aim when playing is to correctly select as many Mega Millions winning prize numbers as possible – and with 9 different ways in which you can win on the Iowa MegaMillions – you have a great chance of winning a prize.
There are principally – 4 ways in which you can play the IA Mega Millions…
1. Pick 5 of your own main (white ball) numbers from 1 to 56 plus 1 Mega Ball (gold ball) number from 1 to 46.
2. Pick 5 of your own main (white ball) numbers from 1 to 56 and use the Quick Pick option to let the computer choose your Mega Ball (gold ball) number for you from 1 to 46 – using a random number generator.
3. Use the Quick Pick option to let the computer pick your 5 main (white ball) numbers from 1 to 56 using a random number generator – and pick your own Mega Ball (gold ball) number from 1 to 46.
4. Use the Quick Pick option to let the computer choose both your 5 main (white ball) numbers from 1 to 46 and your 1 Mega Ball (gold ball) number from 1 to 46 using its random number generator.
You can use any of these methods whether you are playing the Iowa Mega Millions in-state or if you Play Mega Millions Online with an authorized online lottery ticket sales company such as TheLotter.
USA MegaMillions "Easy Pick" Random Number Generator - Click On the Button Below to Generate Some Numbers Your numbers will open in the top left in a new small window. To generate more numbers you MUSTclose "X" this small window first. Javascript must be enabled in your browser for this widget to work. The button below will not work unless it is.
MEGAPLIER…
For just an extra dollar – you can choose to increase your Iowa Lottery Mega Millions winnings on all levels except the jackpot – by adding the MEGAPLIER option when playing the Iowa Mega Millions.
If your chosen IA Lottery Mega Millions numbers match the Mega Millions winning numbers on any of these prize levels – you immediately increase your winnings by either 2, 3 or 4 times – depending on what MEGAPLIER number was drawn.
If you play Mega Millions with MEGAPLIER and you are lucky enough to correctly select the 5 main Mega Millions numbers and a MEGAPLIER number of 4 is drawn – the second tier prize of US$ 250,000 will be quadrupled and you could walk away with US$ 1 Million.
An enhancement to the way the MEGAPLIER works took place on September 14th 2010.
This can increase your winnings even further when you play Mega Millions using the MEGAPLIER option.
Now, if you match all 5 of the main Mega Millions numbers and play using the MEGAPLIER option – you will win US$ 1 Million no matter what MEGAPLIER number has been drawn.
Iowa Mega Millions – Who Can Play?
In the past – you used to have to buy your lottery ticket in Iowa itself to take part in any of the Iowa Lottery games – including the Iowa Mega Millions.
Today though – you are able to Play Mega Millions Online from right around the world due to the presence of genuine and fully authorized online lottery ticket sales companies like TheLotter.
So, if you reside outside of Iowa or the USA – but would like to play any of the Iowa Lottery games including the Iowa Lottery Mega Millions – this is easy to do using the appropriate lottery ticket sales companies – where you can quickly and simply buy lottery tickets online and save yourself a fair amount of time as well.
Unlike most other USA Lottery companies whose minimum age requirement is 18 years – the Iowa State Lottery requires that all players are a minimum of 21 years of age before purchasing any IA Lotto tickets including tickets for the Iowa Mega Millions.
The Iowa Mega Millions Lottery is drawn every week on both Tuesdays and Fridays at 10.00pm CST (11.00pm EST).
You can find the most up to date Iowa Mega Millions Results in various different ways to check your ticket – and see if you have been lucky with the latest Mega Millions winning numbers drawn.
Watch out for the IA Mega Millions winning numbers too on the following Mega Millions TV Stations that are permitted to show the results…
KTIV in Sioux City WOI in Des Moines KWQC in Quad Cities KWWL in Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and Dubuque
You will also be able to find out the Latest Iowa Mega Millions Results from select newspapers across the state and you can always come back to Global Lottery Review to check the very latest Iowa Lottery Mega Millions winning numbers – as well as any Previous Iowa Mega Millions Results that you may wish to check up on.
Iowa Mega Millions – Odds of Winning…
With 9 different ways of winning – and therefore a great chance of winning something on the IA Mega Millions – the odds vary from 1 in 175.71 million for matching all the correct Iowa Lottery Mega Millions winning numbers – right down to just 1 in 75 for matching only 1 correct number.
The overall odds of winning any prize on the Mega Millions Iowa are just 1 in 39.
Here is an easy-to-understand calculation table that shows you the odds of winning, the number of matches needed and the prizes you can win – on all different levels of the Mega Millions Iowa…
Iowa MEGA MILLIONS ODDS and PRIZES
Prize Level
Number of Matches
Win
Odds of Winning
1
5 Main + MEGA Ball
Jackpot
1 in 175,711,536
2
5 Main
$ 250,000
1 in 3,904,701
3
4 Main + MEGA Ball
$ 10,000
1 in 689,065
4
4 Main
$ 150
1 in 15,313
5
3 Main + MEGA Ball
$ 150
1 in 13,781
6
3 Main
$ 7
1 in 306
7
2 Main + MEGA Ball
$ 10
1 in 844
8
1 Main + MEGA Ball
$ 3
1 in 141
9
MEGA Ball ONLY
$ 2
1 in 75
Iowa Mega Millions Winners…
Even though the Iowa Lottery has only been selling Mega Millions tickets since January 31st 2010 – there have already been many lucky Iowa Lottery Mega Millions winners…
The biggest wins on the Iowa Lottery Mega Millions so far have been the US$ 1 Million won on April 10th 2010 by Robert Boehm from Denison and the US$ 1 Million won by Lonnie Sandberg from Mason City.
Iowa Mega Millions – How Prizes Are Paid?
If you have won a Iowa Mega Millions jackpot – you will be able to claim your prize as either a cash lump sum or as an annuity payment – you will need to make this choice within 60 days of making your claim.
If you choose the annuity option – your Iowa Lottery Mega Millions winnings will be paid to you annually over a 26 year period.
For all prizes on the Iowa Mega Millions – you will have 365 days from the date of the draw taking place – to make your claim before your Mega Millions ticket will become invalid.
If your Iowa Mega Millions win is up to US$ 100 – you can claim your prize from any Iowa Lottery retailer – up to US$ 600 if there are sufficient retailer funds.
If you’ve had an Iowa Mega Millions win of over US$ 600 – you will need to claim your prize by submitting a completed Iowa Lottery Winner Claim Form to any Iowa State Lottery office.
If you’ve been lucky enough to win an Iowa MegaMillions jackpot prize – you will need to make your claim at the Iowa Lottery Headquarters in Des Moines.
You needn’t worry if you play lottery online with one of the genuine and authorized online lottery ticket sale companies like TheLotter – as part of their role is to look after all these details for you – making sure that you receive your winnings directly and promptly.
Iowa Lottery – Other Games…
As well as the Iowa Mega Millions – the Iowa Lottery offers various other lotto games – some of which can be played just within the State of Iowa itself like its $100,000 Cash Game, Pick 3, Pick 4 plus numerous IA Lottery Scratch and Pull-Tab games.
Other Iowa Lottery games such as the huge multi-state Powerball game and the Hot Lotto can be played from anywhere in the world.
We have fully reviewed the Iowa Hot Lotto plus the Iowa Powerball which the Iowa Lottery began selling when it began on April 22nd 1992 – as the IA Lottery was already a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association who run and administer the Powerball – having been one of the original 6 members to form the MUSL on September 16th 1987.