Sep 8, 2025 - News

Viral doc about largest-ever U.S. lottery scam makes theater debut

A documentary about the largest known lottery scam in U.S. history — which started in an Urbandale office — is making its theater debut Wednesday.

Why it matters: "Jackpot: America's Biggest Lotto Scam" raises awareness about system vulnerabilities, oversight and transparency.

Eddie Tipton, a former head of IT security for the Multi-State Lottery Association, might never have been caught if Iowa hadn't had a law requiring identification of lottery winners.

Catch up quick: In 2005, Tipton wrote computer software that helped him and his accomplices manipulate random-number drawings in multiple states.

Trouble arose in 2010 when Iowa Lottery officials refused to award a $16.5 million prize to a third party holding a ticket Tipton purchased at a DSM convenience store.
He ultimately pleaded guilty to ongoing criminal conduct in 2017 and was released five years later.

Stunning stat: The film has racked up over 725,000 views on YouTube since June.

Go: The Varsity Theater in DSM, starting at 7pm Wednesday

A Q&A with the documentary makers and former Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich will follow.
Tickets are $12.

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