Official lottery offers a variety of games for players to enjoy. However, it is important to be aware of the potential risk associated with gambling. If you have concerns or need more information about responsible play, please contact 2-1-1 or GamblerND. The winning numbers, prize payouts and other information posted on this website are based on official drawings conducted under the supervision of an independent accounting firm. The Iowa Lottery encourages everyone to play responsibly and to never gamble more than they can afford to lose. If you feel you have a problem, call 1-800-BETS-OFF for help.

In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, private lotteries were common in the Low Countries and England for town fortifications, building houses and even paying soldiers. Government-licensed promoters also ran a number of public lotteries, including ones to raise money for the British Museum and to pay for bridges and public buildings in the colonies. Benjamin Franklin organized one in Philadelphia to fund a militia to defend the city and John Hancock ran a lottery to build Boston’s Faneuil Hall.

In the late twentieth century, states were searching for revenue sources to pay for public services without enraging an anti-tax electorate and the lottery’s appeal grew. The big jackpots—often far larger than could be won in a single drawing—encouraged players by offering them a chance at becoming multimillionaires and earned the game publicity on news sites and television. In addition, when a state adopts a lottery, its neighbors often follow suit.