Would you pay $50 for a lottery ticket.

Currently, the highest-priced Iowa Lottery scratch-offs are two $30 games that offer top prizes of $300,000. The new $500,000 Cash scratch game will offer prizes ranging from $50 to $500,000.

Check out the largest prizes in Iowa history. Iowa Lottery spokesperson Mary Neubauer said that although the $50 game is new to Iowa, the games have been around in some other states for years.

“Iowa retailers with locations in other states that already have a $50 scratch game note high player interest in the product, and a strong performance for it in the other jurisdictions.”. Texas introduced the first $50 scratch-off ticket in 2007, when only five state lotteries sold scratch tickets for more than $20, according to lottery trade publication La Fleur’s Magazine.

In May, Texas upped the ante again as it began selling $100 scratch-off tickets with a top prize of $20 million. The appeal of the high-dollar scratch-off games is that they come with lower odds.

That compares to the current odds of winning the 45-state PowerBall game: 1 in 38.2 for any prize and 1 in 292,201,338 for the top prize. But Lia Nower, the director of the Rutgers University Center for Gambling Studies & Addiction Counselor Training Program, said that while the odds may be lower, it’s who they attract that concerns her and others in her field.

Texas itself concurs. Scratch-off game are more likely to be played by “less educated and lower income” residents, according to the Texas Lottery Commission’s research.

Lotteries appeal to people with lesser means because they “represent some hope of making money without a significant investment,” Nower said, characterizing them as a “regressive tax on the poor.”. “These high-dollar tickets are an effort on the part of the lottery to get their primary patrons — people who don’t have a lot of money to spend — to spend more,” she said.

The lottery’s Neubauer said Nower’s argument against the high-dollar games “makes no sense from a real-world perspective.”. More:’It’s way out of line’: With ad spending up 1,000%, sports betting firms entice kids.

“Throughout its 38-year history, the Iowa Lottery has taken seriously its commitment to responsibly raise proceeds for state causes while providing a local entertainment option across the state. About 80 percent of adult Iowans play the lottery, and we therefore have always considered all Iowans 21 and older to be our audience.”.

Philip Joens covers retail, real estate and RAGBRAI for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached at 515-284-8184, [email protected] or on Twitter @Philip_Joens.

LAKELAND — As Charlene Gumble sat at the counter of the Lake Morton Market and Deli on her lunch break, she delayed consumption of the sub sandwich she had just bought. Using a dime as her implement, Gamble began scratching away the coverings on seven rows of numbers on a black-and-pink Florida Lottery ticket.

The ticket, 500X The Cash, is the first scratch-off ticket in Florida costing $50. Did Gumble hesitate to spend half a C-note on a game of chance.

“No,” she said casually. “That’s my lunch money.”.

The Florida Lottery introduced the $50 game in late February, marking an increase of 66.7% in price over the most costly scratch-off tickets previously available, a pair of $30 games. The new 500X The Cash ticket promises a maximum prize of $25 million — the largest amount ever offered in a scratch-off game — but the state is printing only two tickets with that payout.

The $50 ticket also offers the potential for prizes ranging from $100 to $1 million. The Florida Lottery reported that three players claimed $1 million prizes last week, most recently a Plant City man who opted for a lump-sum award of $820,000 rather than deferred payments totaling the full prize amount.

Florida voters approved a ballot measure the previous year to allow a lottery after state officials promised that the revenue from sales would bolster funding for public education. That first game, Millionaire, sold for $1.

In considering new products, the Florida Lottery uses “market research, industry performance standards, product specialists and contract gaming vendors,” spokesperson Meredyth Hope Norrman said by email.

Davis does not need approval from the governor or the Legislature to introduce new games or increase the price of tickets. Most states have adopted lotteries since the 1980s as a source of government revenue.

Texas offers six instant games at that price. While the Florida Lottery has continued to sell an array of $1 scratch-off tickets, the state added a $2 scratch-off ticket in 1993 and introduced its first $5 game five years later.

The first $30 scratch-off game, called $600 Million High Roller, debuted in 2008. The state rolled out another $30 ticket, Fastest Road to $1,000,000, in 2020 but did not push the price threshold higher until the release of the $50 ticket on Feb.

Lakeland resident Michael Wilson was invited a few years ago to join Flamingo Forum, a private online group the Florida Lottery consults for research on its games. Wilson said the state began raising the possibility of launching a $50 scratch-off ticket last year.

But he hasn’t joined the rush to buy the $50 tickets. “I would never buy one,” Wilson said.

Those are for the high-rollers.”. The state lists the overall odds of collecting a payout of any amount on the $50 ticket at one in 4.5.

(The Florida Lottery also offers a second-chance drawing for non-winning tickets with prizes of up to $25,000.). The state promotes the Florida Lottery as a boon to education, reporting that revenues have produced more than $41 billion in funding for schools and students.

The amount of money transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund has not come close to matching the growth in lottery revenue, which has averaged more than 10% a year. A study from the 2017-2018 fiscal year found that the amount of money from lottery ticket sales had declined from its original 39% to 26%, the Florida Education Association reported.

Lawmakers have used lottery money for such budget areas as college scholarships, building programs and a school recognition program, as well as for day-to-day operations rather than instructional programs, as Treasure Coast Newspapers reported in a 2017 investigation.

Clerks at two Lakeland convenience stores said sales of the $50 ticket have been steady but not spectacular. Hardy Chokshi, owner of Super Stop Food Store on Lincoln Avenue, said he sometimes sells as many as 10 or 15 of the highest-priced tickets on Fridays, the day many workers receive paychecks.

“Some people try because they buy the small ones and they win $100 or something and they just want to try it at least one time to see how it is.”. Chokshi displays a certificate from the Florida Lottery attesting that his store sold a ticket last September that yielded a $1 million prize.

Tickets costing $20 or $30 remain much more popular than the 500X The Cash ticket, Chokshi said. “The $50 scratch-off, only certain people can afford.

“Some people still hesitate to spend $50 on just one. They prefer to scratch four or five different ones and have more chances to win than just one ticket.”.

Hossain, working the counter at C&O Food Mart on Central Avenue, estimated that he sells three to five of the $50 tickets a day. Hossain, who also works at another convenience store, said he has cashed in plenty of $100 winners on those tickets.

“It depends on the mentality of the customer,” he said. “Some, they play like they don’t care, and some, they play a little.”.

One member recently posted the question: “Are the $50 tickets worth it. ”.

“I have a hard time throwing away 5 bucks, much less 50. To each his own,” was one response.

One commenter reported having won four times in 60 tries on the 500X The Cash game. “I thought they were (worth it),” another man wrote.

I have won $500 twice, a hundred a handful of times and a $1,000. I thought I was way ahead until I checked my bank statement and realized that just since the 1st of the month I’ve spent OVER $3,000.”.

Indeed, the group’s feed includes plenty of posts from members sharing photos of winning 500X The Cash tickets. In most cases, the payoff is $100, but some reported winning as much as $1,000.

Wexler, a recovering gambling addict, said that lottery tickets add to the risk of abuse for people with a genetic inclination toward excessive gambling. While living in New York in the 1960s, Wexler said, he spent $50 to $100 a day on lottery tickets, in addition to money he spent in daily trips to a horse racing track.

“There were people that would go in and buy $100, $200 a day in tickets, even on $1 tickets,” Wexler said. “So $50 is not something that changes the gambling addiction.

Wexler said he’s more concerned about the emergence of state-sponsored gambling, first through lottery drawings and instant games and recently with the spread of legalized sports betting. He said that many who spend excessively on lottery tickets don’t consider that act to be a form of gambling.

“Now they make lottery legal, and people that have that gene are gambling on the lottery and becoming addicted gamblers.”. Wexler said that some compulsive gamblers only play the lottery, while others gamble in various ways.

Thanks to a scratched-off piece of cardboard, a Pensacola man has a somewhat more comfortable bank account. On Friday, Sept.

He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $820,000. Banks nabbed his winning ticket from Publix, 9251 University Parkway, Pensacola, which will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling it.

The 500x the Cash game, which started in February 2022, offers cash prizes up to $25 million with a possible $500 instant bonus for matching any winning numbers to a bonus number you choose. 500X the Cash was the first $50 scratch-off game in Florida.

Florida Lottery launched this game on Feb. 28, 2022.

If you get a 5x, 10x, 20x, 100x or 500x symbol you win that many times the amount of the prize shown. If you get a Moneybag symbol, you can win double the prize amount shown for all 35 prizes.

Both of the top $25 million prizes available have been claimed. In June 2022, lottery officials announced George Demetriades of Bonita Springs won $25 million from his 500X the Cash scratch-off ticket.

Demetriades bought his scratch-off from Circle K, 10460 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. The store received a $50,000 bonus commission.

That ticket was purchased from Publix, 13650 Fiddlesticks Blvd., Fort Myers. Like Demetriades, the mystery winner opted for a one-time lump sum of $20,560,000.

25, 2023, the identity of the Riverview winner has not been made public. Want to know more before you play.

There are four left. As of Sept.

There are also eight $50,000 prizes left, 44 $20,000 prizes, 36 for $10,000, and other lesser jackpots. No.

Tickets cannot be purchased by mail, fax or online. There are more than 13,000 authorized Florida Lottery retailers here, the site states.

To claim a single-payment cash option, a winner has within the first 60 days after the applicable draw date to claim it. Florida Lottery says its scratch-off tickets and Fast Play game prizes “must be claimed within 60 days of the official end-of-game date.

According to the Florida Lottery, state law requires 80% of unclaimed prize funds from expired tickets be transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund. The remaining 20% is returned to the prize pool for future drawings.

game won, date won, and amount won to any third party who requests the information.”. However, the site states, since May 25, 2022, the “names of lottery winners claiming prizes of $250,000 or greater will be temporarily exempt from public disclosure for 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, unless otherwise waived by the winner.”.

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A Fort Myers woman had a very good day. The Florida Lottery announced Thursday that Salma Fajardo, 22, claimed a $1 million prize from the 500X the Cash scratch-off game at lottery headquarters in Tallahassee.

Fajardo bought the ticket from Publix, 6700 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers. The Publix will get a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning ticket.

That’s both the largest one in Mega Millions history and the biggest single lottery ever won in Florida. Here’s what to know about the game.

But it also offers the largest amount ever in a Florida scratch-off game, and the best odds of becoming a millionaire. Mega Millions, Powerball, Lotto:Here are Florida’s top ten biggest lottery winners, so far.

Players have a chance to win 5x to 500x (5 times, 10 times, 20 times, 50 times, 100 times or 500 times) the prize. If that appears on the ticket, players get the prize shown for that symbol.

The winning numbers reveal the prize. If you get a moneybag symbol you can win double the prize amount shown.

What to do if you win:Ultimate guide to the Florida Lottery, Powerball and Mega Millions. The game’s overall odds of winning are 1-in-4.5.

Two people have won the top prize so far, according to the Florida Lottery. The odds of winning $1 million are 1-in-267,739.

Some states have this option via an app or website, but not the Florida Lottery. Tickets cannot be purchased by mail, fax or online.

Scratch-off tickets and Fast Play game prizes “must be claimed within 60 days of the official end-of-game date,” according to the Florida Lottery. “Once the applicable time period has elapsed, the related Florida Lottery ticket will expire.”.

The remaining 20% is returned to the prize pool for future drawings. Not for long, sorry.

By Florida law, the Florida Lottery must provide records of the winner’s name, city of residence, what they won, when they won it, and how much they won to anyone who asks. (Street addresses and phone numbers are kept confidential, for what that’s worth.).

So you have three months to get your affairs in order and hire someone to answer your phone. Jennifer Sangalang, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida, contributed to this story.

We know the odds of winning a $1 million prize from a Florida Lottery scratch-off ticket are 1 in 267,739. But what are the odds of winning a $1 million prize from the same type of Florida Lottery scratch-off ticket twice in six months.

And.. what are the odds of this happening to two different people in Florida at around the same time.

That’s a headscratcher. On Nov.

She had purchased the winning ticket at 7-Eleven, 13698 West Colonial Drive, Winter Garden, and opted for a one-time lump sum payment of $820,000. A day later on Dec.

He had purchased his winning ticket from Lucky Penny, 2900 W. Jackson St., Pensacola, and also opted for a lump sum payment like Morris.

Another 500x winner:Palm Beach County man claims $1 million after buying a ticket from Winn-Dixie. On Jan.

This time, the Orange County woman bought her ticket from Sunoco Foodmart, 940 S U.S. 27, Clermont, according to the Florida Lottery.

On May 12, Grant made the trip to Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee, telling lottery officials, “I’m back. ” a news release states.

He bought his winning ticket at Circle Food Mart, 2000 N. T St., Pensacola, and received it as a lump-sum payment of $820,000.

An Aug. 23 check online shows there are five remaining $1 million prizes from the 500x the Cash lottery.

As they say in the lottery business, “it could happen to you.”. Below are some things to know about the 500x the Cash scratch-off game and details about its top winners.

Florida Lottery launched this game on Feb. 28, 2022.

Two Fantasy 5 tickets from Chevron and Winn-Dixie, each worth over $42,000, will expire in September. Players see if their scratch-off ticket matched any of the winning numbers, winning the prize shown for that number.

Players have a chance to win 5x to 500x (5 times, 10 times, 20 times, 50 times, 100 times or 500 times) the prize. If that appears on the ticket, players get the prize shown for that symbol.

Tickets have “bonus” numbers, and players get an extra $500 if their winning numbers match the bonus number. Those billion-dollar jackpots:Who won and how long did it take to win Powerball and Mega Millions.

As of Aug. 23, the Florida Lottery shows the two top prizes of $25 million were both claimed.

Demetriades appeared in May 2022 at the lottery’s district office in Fort Myers and chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $20,560,000, according to the lottery. Demetriades bought his scratch-off from Circle K, 10460 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs.

The identity of the other $25 million winner has not been revealed by lottery officials − yet. In Florida, lottery winners cannot remain anonymous, per rules.

However, there is a grace period for lottery winners to be temporarily exempt from public disclosure. According to Florida Lottery records, one winner from Riverview came forward to claim the other $25 million prize on July 21, 2023.

Like Demetriades, the mystery winner opted for a one-time lump sum of $20,560,000. Powerball winner’s home inin Bel Air, California, neighborhood is fit for Marvel’s Tony Stark.

23, the Florida Lottery shows of the 160 total prizes of $1 million for the 500x the Cash game, there are five winning tickets remaining valued for $1 million, and 155 were claimed since the game was launched. No.

Tickets cannot be purchased by mail, fax or online. There are more than 13,000 authorized Florida Lottery retailers here, the site states.

To claim a single-payment cash option, a winner has within the first 60 days after the applicable draw date to claim it. Florida Lottery says its scratch-off tickets and Fast Play game prizes “must be claimed within 60 days of the official end-of-game date.

According to the Florida Lottery, state law requires 80% of unclaimed prize funds from expired tickets be transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund. The remaining 20% is returned to the prize pool for future drawings.

game won, date won, and amount won to any third party who requests the information.”. However, the site states, since May 25, 2022, the “names of lottery winners claiming prizes of $250,000 or greater will be temporarily exempt from public disclosure for 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, unless otherwise waived by the winner.”.

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang.

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A LOTTERY aficionado and content creator revealed three mistakes would-be winners should avoid when buying scratch-off cards.

Billy regularly posts tips on how to maximize your odds of finding winning lotto tickets and scratch-offs.

He said an explainer on common pitfalls was “highly asked for” by some of his followers.

There are limits on how many people can win the grand prize in one state from a single scratch-off.

Billy advised researching scratch-offs before buying to ensure you’re only picking up tickets with top prizes still available. You can find these details for games in your state by visiting your state lottery’s website.

New York’s lottery, for instance, has a webpage that displays the prizes that are still available for 87 different scratch-off games.

Next, Billy advised against buying scratch-offs that cost less than $5.

For example, a $2 777 Multiplier card in New York has a max prize of $25,000 with roughly one in a million odds to hit the jackpot. On the other hand, a $10 Holiday Magic card comes with a one in 2.5million shot at winning a $1million jackpot.

Billy said another common mistake that lottery players make is buying cards based on their appearance instead of their odds and potential payout.

Cards with certain numbers perform better than others, at least according to some experts. Each scratch-off game has a roll of tickets each with a number on the bottom.

Some TikTok lotto players have said to buy tickets with the number 16 or 24 in the white box immediately, as they tend to be winners. Another tip is to play newer scratch-off games.

With older games, because they’ve been around longer, the likelihood of someone claiming the big prize is higher. The Sun revealed a lottery expert’s four ways to still win money on your ticket even if you didn’t hit the big jackpot.

In an unexpected twist, a woman from Kentucky who had never before participated in any lottery game tried her luck with a scratch-off ticket and ended up winning a $75,000 prize. Striding into the Marathon Food Mart on East Main Street in Frankfort on October 2, Rebecca Napier purchased a $5 “Cash Eruption” instant game ticket for the first time.

As Napier visited the Frankfort store, she contemplated buying a lottery ticket for the first time to put inside the care package for her daughter. She bought a “Cash Eruption” scratch-off ticket due to its bright orange look.

“I told her we could split the winnings,” Napier told the Kentucky Lottery as she called her daughter on the phone while she was about to scratch off the ticket. As she scratched off the ticket, she said she stared in disbelief as every spot revealed a cash prize, totaling the game’s grand prize of $75,000.

She returned to the Marathon Food Mart and asked the owner to confirm that it was a winner. During this time, her daughter was on the phone and didn’t believe her mom was serious.

“I told her, ‘You’re going to pay your car off.'”. As the next week arrived, the Kentucky Lottery said Napier made her way into the headquarters in Louisville with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Marathon Food Mart owners won a $750 bonus commission for selling the winning lottery ticket. More winners:Woman plans trip to Disney after winning Michigan Lottery game Lucky For Life.

Players have a chance of winning 1,522 second-tier prizes worth $500 and 6,454 third-tier prizes worth $100. The chance of winning any prize in Cash Eruption is 1 in 3.63.

Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S.

and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services.

Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem.

1-800-327-5050 (MA). 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR).

Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms and conditions.