The Iowa Lottery Board has given the approval for the Iowa Lottery to move ahead with a plan to sell tickets for the Iowa State Fair. Lottery C.E.O. Terry Rich says it’s an idea that would help both organizations.
Rich says they are looking at a joint effort that would allow them to pre-sell tickets for the fair at the lottery terminals across the state at a reduced price. The Iowa State Fair currently has their own tickets printed, but this arrangement would print the tickets at the lottery terminals.
Rich says there would be a $1 handling fee, but the fair tickets would still be discounted compared to buying them at the fair gate.
Rich says the tickets would look a lot like a Powerball ticket with the same paper and coding, but would be for the fair. Rich says the plan would save the State Fair money, and would expand their reach with over 2,000 terminals where people can buy tickets.
He says they are trying to find ways to help other agencies in these tough economic times. Rich says if the State Fair plan works, they could look at selling things like fishing licenses at lottery terminals too, and save other agencies some money. He says it would also be more convenient for state residents as the lottery terminals are in all 99 counties.
Rich says it would also help the lottery by giving them more exposure to those who buy State Fair tickets at the lottery terminals. Rich expects to make an announcement of the plan to move ahead with the idea in July.