Forty years after launching ticket sales at the Iowa State Fair, the Iowa Lottery marked the milestone with a splash, breaking a Guinness World Record for the most people scratching scratch tickets simultaneously. The event took place at Elwell Family Park and drew 1,380 participants, shattering the previous record held by Totalizator Sportowy Lotto in Poland and giving Iowa a lead of about 830 people.
A Guinness World Records adjudicator, Michael Empric, was on site to verify the record just minutes after the event’s master of ceremonies, Jeff Angelo, gave the signal. While a few participants were counted outside the official total due to overzealous scratchers, the net result was still a monumental achievement for the state’s Lottery.
More than 1,000 Iowans joined in the scratch-off effort on August 14, 2025, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The celebration was described by Matt Strawn, the Iowa Lottery’s CEO, as “a celebration 40 years in the making.” He noted that the first Iowa Lottery ticket was sold at the fair, calling the event a fitting tribute to how the lottery “has given back” to the community.
The day also carried personal milestones as a couple at the event who witnessed the first sale 40 years ago returned to participate in the world-record attempt. The crowd celebrated with a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday,” a nod to the Iowa Nice tradition that echoed through the stadium seating.
All participants received a free 2025 version of the Scratch, Match & Win! game, the first product launched by the Iowa Lottery at the fair four decades ago. The new game offers prizes up to $50,000. In addition, participants were entered into a post-event drawing with two $4,000 winners, Sharon Hulsebus of Cedar Rapids and Anthony Gleichman of Council Bluffs, and one $40,000 winner, Katherine Blank Pierce of Des Moines.
The event underscored the Iowa Lottery’s long-standing goal of celebrating community and giving back, while also linking the state’s past with its ongoing traditions at the fair. Strawn emphasized the lottery’s identity by repeatedly centering the Iowa name as a core element of its mission.
Summary: The Iowa Lottery used its 40th anniversary milestone at the Iowa State Fair to set a new Guinness World Record for the most people scratching scratch tickets at once, with 1,380 participants. The day featured a free 2025 Scratch, Match & Win! ticket for all, prizes up to $50,000, and a draw awarding two $4,000 prizes and one $40,000 prize. The event connected the lottery’s beginnings at the fair with its present-day community celebrations, highlighted by a sense of local pride and shared birthday cheer.
Positive angle: The record attempt and ongoing celebrations showcase community engagement, local pride, and the lottery’s commitment to giving back to Iowans.
Possible additional value: This milestone could serve as a springboard for future promotions at state fairs and community events, reinforcing the lottery’s role in supporting state initiatives while maintaining fan enthusiasm for longtime lottery products. If you’d like, I can craft a social-friendly recap or a concise homepage teaser to accompany the rewritten article.