Iowa $16.5M Hot Lotto winner claims prize with two hours to spare

Comment #41

Iesha Kelly — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 09:47:01 GMT

Has there been an update on this? If the person who turned in the ticket turns out to be a thief, or the front for a thief and someone else who claimed to have had the ticket before but lost it or had it stolen is telling the truth, the person who turned in the ticket doesn't deserve prayers, they deserve a kick in the rear.

Comment #40

golfer1960 — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 04:38:22 GMT

Hi Ridge,

I'm glad you like the idea.

Louise Black could be your Secretary of State (like Hillary). Louise cracks me up the way you two go back and forth at each other.

Happy New Year

Comment #39

RJOh — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:08:03 GMT

I don't know what they are doing in Iowa but in Ohio, many towns and cities are collecting city taxes on large lottery winnings. In my town, city taxes are 1.5% which means it would be expecting to get $240K or an explanation of why they weren't getting it from someone.

Comment #38

PERDUE — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:08:30 GMT

OK... they pull the video and find out that the person cashing in the ticket is not the one who purchased the ticket.

Who's to say that the ticket wasn't given as a gift by a relative, co-worker, ex-boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse...... ect....

Now the person is facing the possibility of the purchaser saying the ticket was stolen.

How can you prove that a lottery ticket was given to you as a gift.

We give tickets as gifte all year long. And as avid lottery followers, we know how money ch... [ More ]

Comment #37

temptustoo — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 03:37:27 GMT

Now they are saying they will review the tapes where the ticket was purchased.. WHY didn't they do that a year ago.. ?? They would have known who the winner was... I guess they really didn't want the guy to turn in the ticket.. They could have put his picture on the news and everyone would have known who it was.... I think that it is strange that they need to know all these answers... They seem alittle nosey to me... They want way to much information.... just my take on the whole thing....... [ More ]

Comment #36

rdgrnr — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 03:36:22 GMT

They have the knowledge but would they use it for all the people like President Obama.

All the people, Louise

Comment #35

rdgrnr — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 03:24:14 GMT

Hmmm... The Ridge/Todd ticket...

It does have a ring to it!

Maybe I should start working on my acceptance speech...

Comment #34

Arrowhead — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 02:04:10 GMT

This is already one very strange story. When more details come out, almost certain to get even odder. If the winner intentionally waited two hours short of one full year to report to Iowa Lotto authorities it will be one of the biggest schmuck moves of all time. Nobody in their right mind would cut it that close on purpose. If the ticket was just recently found, and they needed a little extra time to set up the trust, it's a different story.

Comment #33

RJOh — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:11:17 GMT

Why would additional security be needed because of the late claim period?

Could be one of the people making an earlier claim had a plausible explanation for why they didn't have the ticket that couldn't be checked until the winning ticket showed up.

Comment #32

louise black — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:48:43 GMT

I believe that both these guys can be reasonable, until they go on their personal rant and it make me think ,can the personal politics be taken out of what good for the country and the people . They have the knowledge but would they use it for all the people like President Obama.Maybe if Rdgrnr get off the moon shine and Todd laid off the computer gadgets.Oh! I almost forgot the fast cars Todd

Comment #31

cbr$ — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:47:41 GMT

Congrat's to the Hot Lotto winner , who woke up . Enjoy it. Sound like a trust fund is the way to go. So you don't have to reveal yourself.

Comment #30

golfer1960 — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:29:17 GMT

Hi Ridge,

Once again you hit it right on the head. I enjoy reading your post.

I nominate Ridge for President!!!!!

Do it Ridge and Todd will be your Vice President!

All in favor say Aye

Comment #29

HiYoSilver — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:31:31 GMT

Did anyone else also notice that because they waited so long the, annuity amount actually went down from 16 to 14 million. Who is their investment adviser? Madoff?

Also agree that any unclaimed prize money should be rolled into the current drawing amount. Why should the states get all that money

Comment #28

Cletu$2 — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:16:36 GMT

I'm guessing that they were trying/hoping to remain anonymous and the lawyers spent the year trying to find a way for them to remain anonymous.They probably set up a trust in New York,with New York lawyers doing that work and the Iowa lawyers were sent to claim the jackpot.I can see lots of headaches taking place,what with all of the lawyers involved trying to find a way to keep the lid on the whole thing.They finally came down to the last hours and decided it was now or never and went ahead and... [ More ]

Comment #27

dpoly1 — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:54:44 GMT

It is stupid to wait to claim. Money could have been invested

Comment #26

LottoGuyBC — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 04:48:30 GMT

additional security is now required because more than half the prize-claim period for the jackpot expired.

yeah that doesn't make sense

maybe they don't want to pay

Comment #25

PERDUE — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 04:08:54 GMT

The money will not be paid to the winner until the lottery can complete the standard security process for a jackpot win. Rich said additional security is now required because more than half the prize-claim period for the jackpot expired.

Not understanding the last sentence.

Why would additional security be needed because of the late claim period?

What questions will be asked that would not have been asked had this person decided to cash the ticket in earlier

Comment #24

Captain Lotto — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:19:46 GMT

In the past, most states used unclaimed prizes for promotions and such. Many state legislatures have redirected those funds to the beneficiary proceeds fund.

Comment #23

HaveABall — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:56:07 GMT

I'm glad that this jackpot, sole-winning, ticket got validated and will soon be after taxes paid off to the ticket claimant(s).

Comment #22

s5thomps — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:30:57 GMT

Maybe they have a story similar to the one in the Hallmark movie Lucky Numbers . I'm sure that once the story got out that the ticket was about to expire there was a frantic search through old lottery tickets! Better late than never! but never late is better! I'd rather find an old ticket and claim in the 11th hour than to never claim at all. At least the money won't go back to the state.

Comment #21

Cletu$2 — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:57:57 GMT

True enough.

Comment #20

RJOh — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:46:27 GMT

This guy or group of people will get more publicity than they would have ever wanted.

True but a bunch of liars and thieves were exposed when they made false claims because of them. Now the lottery know who they are and can quickly dismiss any claims they might make in the future.

Comment #19

LottoGuyBC — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:08:34 GMT

Occupy Lotto HQ in New York

Comment #18

maringoman — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:48:29 GMT

Waiting until 2 hours to expiry of the ticket is not very smart. What if something happened on the way that delayed the arrival to the lottery place by 2 hours? cry me a river? Waiting 2 to 3 months is smart. Less publicity and action plan in place.

Waiting until the 11'th hour is crazy. This guy or group of people will get more publicity than they would have ever wanted.

Comment #17

ressuccess — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:46:45 GMT

Congratulations to the winning ticket step forward.

Comment #16

louise black — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:23:50 GMT

Isn't that what a PROTEST is better known today as occupy.

Comment #15

RJOh — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:55:03 GMT

Better yet, just stop buying tickets until they get the point.

Comment #14

louise black — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:45:31 GMT

Are you telling me this fellow will not get the winning after all

Comment #13

TheRightPrice — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:44:11 GMT

Yes, I also agree. The money should be returned to the players and not to the Lotto, I'm sure all the states are super happy for that extra income

Comment #12

louise black — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:41:08 GMT

Rdgrnr your right on the money with that one, maybe we should lobby the lottery. OR better yet occupy it

Comment #11

s5thomps — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:19:08 GMT

In other news....longhaul trucker Johnny Come-lately turns in 77 million dollar powerball ticket 1 week after the deadline expires! When asked why he waited so long Johnny said I thought the expiration was Dec 31, 2011

Comment #10

Cletu$2 — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:06:51 GMT

100

Comment #9

rdgrnr — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:04:23 GMT

I don't like this process that returns unclaimed jackpots to the states. It should be returned to the original jackpot it was taken from after the time period to claim it expires. Why do the states win it by default? They didn't buy all those tickets, the players did, and the money should remain in the jackpot so they still get an honest chance to win it. They put that money in there, not the states.

Comment #8

OldSchoolPa — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:02:58 GMT

I now hate NY...they are owning the Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots this year. Hoping for some change in 2012...that winds of lady luck will blow on Illinois and that Illinois have multiple Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners

Comment #7

sully16 — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:44:48 GMT

Congrats to the winners.

Comment #6

Cletu$2 — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:41:15 GMT

Rumor has it that the winner is from New York state.

Comment #5

TheRightPrice — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:41:29 GMT

It does not matter when the prize was claimed. It just matters that it was claimed.

Big bummer on that Georgia Lottery Powerball. What a waste of money. Lots of people out there (including me) with bills to pay.

Comment #4

joshuacloak — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:27:29 GMT

i like to hear how this person ended up waiting to 2 hours left to claim, wtf was happening is anyone guest.

good for players none the less, we have real winner and not states winning their own jackpot prize......

Comment #3

dallascowboyfan — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:24:45 GMT

Glad the winner/s came forward.................Congrats.............

Comment #2

Arrowhead — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:12:57 GMT

Well, that's a great New Year's present for somebody and glad the $$$ isn't going back to the state. Something tells me this story's gonna be a real whopper, though. I hope the ticket was actually found at the last minute and not just held onto and intentionally turned in with hours to spare. If that's the case, can't wait to hear the reasoning on that one...

Comment #1

mcginnin56 — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:58:59 GMT

Gee why didn't they put it off for another 1 hour 59 minutes????? Now that would have made for a real nail biter of a lottery story

Iowa $16.5M Hot Lotto winner claims prize with two hours to spare

Lottery Post — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:22:16 GMT

Includes video report

Updated Dec. 31, 2011, 8:04 am, to include press conference video

The winning ticket for a $16.5 million lottery jackpot was turned in Thursday less than two hours before it expired, the head of the Iowa Lottery said.

Lottery officials tried for months to urge the winner to come forward and claim the prize. Iowa Lottery Chief Executive Terry Rich said the reminders worked as we had hoped, and brought in the winner just in time.

The identity of the Hot Lotto win... [ More ]