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Making a difference for Iowa

Iowa Lottery Gives Back

Each year, 100 percent of Iowa Lottery proceeds go to support state programs. 100% proceeds

And each year, the lottery raises millions more to help make Iowa even better. It's how we play our part. It's how you can too.

Here is how each $1 spent on lottery tickets makes a difference in Iowa (fiscal year 2024 totals).

dollar breakdown

Today, the money raised by the Iowa Lottery helps our state in multiple ways.

Iowa Veterans Trust Fund

Since 2008, a portion of lottery proceeds has been dedicated to the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund. The IVTF was created to help Iowa veterans and their families with expenses such as job training or college tuition; some dental, vision and hearing assistance; and individual or family counseling. As of the latest transfer in October 2024, the lottery has raised a total of more than $42 million for this cause.

Public Safety Survivor Benefits Fund and Dept of Corrections Survivor Benefits Fund

Since 2019, a portion of lottery proceeds has been dedicated to the Public Safety Survivor Benefits Fund to help with insurance costs for the families of Iowa peace officers and fire fighters killed in the line of duty. And since 2021, a portion of lottery proceeds has been dedicated to the Department of Corrections Survivor Benefits Fund to help with those same insurance costs for the families of Iowa Corrections employees who die in the line of duty.

General Fund

Since 1992, a majority of lottery proceeds has gone into the state General Fund to benefit programs including education, natural resources, agriculture, health and family services and public safety. The Governor and Iowa Legislature allocate money from the General Fund to the areas they believe need it most. In FY 2024, the Iowa Lottery provided $103.9 million to the General Fund. To date, the lottery has delivered a total of nearly $2.1 billion to that fund.

past proceed uses

Through the years, Iowa Lottery proceeds also have been dedicated to other important causes:

Iowa Plan
$170,318,439

From fiscal year 1986 through FY 1990, lottery proceeds were dedicated to the Iowa Plan, a long-term economic development program. It was divided into four basic areas: a Jobs Now program designed to put people to work; government construction programs; community and economic betterment; and educational and agricultural research.

CLEAN Fund
$35,894,355

During FY 1991, lottery proceeds were dedicated to the CLEAN Fund, which stood for Committing the Lottery to Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Iowa Gambling Treatment Fund
$15,732,208

Lottery proceeds were dedicated to the Gambling Treatment Fund until 2009, when that fund was eliminated and the Iowa Gambling Treatment Program instead began to receive an annual appropriation from the state General Fund. The lottery remains committed to responsible play and highlights the issue in numerous ways, including by printing messages about the 1-800-BETS OFF helpline on its tickets, brochures and point-of-sale materials. During special initiatives each year, the lottery also highlights the help available for problem gambling in Iowa.

Special Appropriations
$13,773,572

A portion of lottery profits have been earmarked for specific purposes within the state budget.



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