Iowa Losers Are Still Winners

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I often wonder, does the lottery ever "get it wrong?" Well. Yes. They do. Granted, it's rare and there are tons of checks and balances to avoid it. But humans are still at the helm and that means sometimes mistakes will be made. That's what happened in Iowa with their reporting of the Powerball numbers, which were the wrong numbers. For roughly 7 1/2 hours the wrong numbers were indicated and many "winners" with prizes up to $200 went and claimed their winnings at various locations. But they weren't winners. Nonetheless, Iowa decided to allow the "mistaken winners" to keep their winnings anyway. I do wonder, though, what would have happened if someone there had thought they won the jackpot or the 5 number million? I am sure they would not have been paid. And what a nightmare to realize at midnight you were a millionaire and at 8 am realize it was a mistake. Ouch.