An Iowa lottery ticket matched all six numbers drawn on Monday, October 5, 2026, to win the Lotto America jackpot worth $6.14 million. The winning numbers for the drawing were 12-13-21-40-49 with a Star Ball of 2. The All Star Bonus multiplier was 3. Following this jackpot win, the grand prize resets to its starting value of $2 million for the next drawing.
Prize breakdown and payout options
The jackpot winner has two choices for receiving the $6.14 million prize. The first option is a single cash lump-sum payment of $2.53 million. The second option is an annuity paid out over 30 years, consisting of 30 annual payments that increase in value by 5% each year. Federal and state taxes apply to both payout options.
While one ticket secured the jackpot, no players won the Match-5 runner-up prize, which awards a fixed $20,000 to tickets that match five main numbers but miss the Star Ball. Overall, players won more than 43,000 smaller prizes in the drawing. The All Star Bonus multiplier of 3 multiplied non-jackpot prizes for players who purchased the optional add-on, though this multiplier does not apply to the jackpot itself.
Relocation of Iowa Lottery headquarters
Players who need to claim large prizes in person must note an upcoming change in the Iowa Lottery’s operations. The Iowa Lottery announced that its headquarters will relocate from Clive to Des Moines between November 6 and November 11, 2026. Anyone holding winning tickets who plans to claim prizes at the headquarters during this window must verify the active office location before traveling to ensure they visit the correct facility.
Lotto America compared to Powerball and Mega Millions
Lotto America remains an alternative to larger multi-state lotteries due to its pricing and odds structure. A standard Lotto America ticket costs $1, whereas Powerball tickets cost $2 and Mega Millions tickets cost $5. The odds of winning the Lotto America jackpot stand at 1 in 26 million, which is roughly 11 times better than the jackpot odds for Powerball (1 in 290.5 million) or Mega Millions (1 in 292.2 million).
The overall odds of winning any prize on a Lotto America ticket are 1 in 9.6, compared to 1 in 24.9 for Powerball and 1 in 23.1 for Mega Millions.
| Lottery Game | Ticket Cost | Jackpot Odds | Overall Odds of Winning Any Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lotto America | $1 | 1 in 26 million | 1 in 9.6 |
| Powerball | $2 | 1 in 290.5 million | 1 in 24.9 |
| Mega Millions | $5 | 1 in 292.2 million | 1 in 23.1 |
Despite the lower ticket cost and better jackpot odds, Powerball offers larger secondary prizes. A player who matches five numbers without the Powerball wins a fixed prize of $1 million. In Lotto America, matching five numbers without the Star Ball pays $20,000. For this reason, the odds of becoming a millionaire per dollar spent can favor Powerball if a player relies on the Match-5 tier. However, if federal and state income taxes are factored in, a $1 million prize falls below the million-dollar threshold in net take-home pay, which shifts the mathematical advantage back to Lotto America’s jackpot odds for players aiming for a net return of over $1 million.
History of the Lotto America game
The original Lotto America game launched in 1988 and operated until 1992, when the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) replaced it with Powerball. In 2002, MUSL introduced Hot Lotto, which was discontinued in 2017. The current version of Lotto America launched later that year. Since the 2017 relaunch, players have won the jackpot 17 times, including this latest drawing.
The largest jackpot in the game’s history was also won in Iowa, when Earl Lape of Dubuque won a $40 million jackpot. Regional lottery events frequently attract interest across states, similar to how the Powerball Chase to $1 Million promotion draws players seeking alternative formats, or when a Missouri woman won a $228,000 Show Me Cash jackpot.
How to play Lotto America online
Players in participating jurisdictions can order Lotto America tickets online through licensed lottery courier services. These platforms purchase official paper tickets from authorized retailers on behalf of the user, scan the ticket to the secure account, and notify winners directly. This service allows players to participate in drawings without visiting a physical retail store.
Frequently asked questions
What were the winning numbers for the October 5, 2026 Lotto America draw?
The winning numbers were 12-13-21-40-49 with a Star Ball of 2. The All Star Bonus multiplier was 3.
How much is the Lotto America jackpot cash option?
The cash option for the $6.14 million jackpot won on October 5, 2026, is valued at $2.53 million before taxes.
Where is the Iowa Lottery headquarters located?
The headquarters is located in Clive, Iowa, but will relocate to Des Moines between November 6 and November 11, 2026.
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