Iowa Lottery unveils first electronic scratch game

Oct 4, 2004, 3:35 pm (5 comments)

Iowa Lottery

Lottery players in Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Waterloo and Cedar Falls have the first chance at playing the first electronic scratch game beginning today.

The Iowa Lottery will begin distributing battery powered cards loaded with 80 plays. Each card will cost $20 -- that amounts to 25 cents per play, thus the name "Quarter Play," lottery officials said.

The cards, about the size of a driver's license, guarantee a payout of at least $5. Among the 20,000 cards to be sold in the initial marketing test, 35 have been programmed to pay out the $300 top prize, said Joe Hrdlicka, lottery spokesman.

About 130 retailers in eastern Iowa have been provided with the games.

The game was unveiled Friday in Cedar Rapids. Iowa Lottery officials said it's the first electronic scratch game in the nation.

The game will be tested for six to eight months until all 20,000 cards are purchased, Hrdlicka said.

Lottery Post Staff

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DoctorEw220's avatarDoctorEw220

i like how there's a guarenteed prize of at least $5. not too many $20 games offer a guraenteed prize anymore. it seems as if it will make a nice game to give as a gift.

qutgnt

I wonder what the payback percentage on this is. If its 60 or so percent like Iowa scratch offs no one will care in the long run. Id love for one state to dole out a lottery game that pays 80% or so, and call it a customer appreciation game or something. Make it with lower prizes so it doesnt compete with the interstate games and lotto that will still be popular as the big jackpots draw people.

CASH Only

Would teenagers be interested in the technology? (IA players must be 21.)

JimmySand9
Quote: Originally posted by CASH Only on October 07, 2004

Would teenagers be interested in the technology? (IA players must be 21.)








Yes they would. Another reason why such a high age is a form of torture (*imitates the late dudley moore* oh, god i'm funny. ha ha. oh yes. aw. ha. funny.)
CASH Only

It's also 21 in Arizona and Louisiana.

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