News : Vinton resident Robert Dahl wins $50k lottery prize

Robert Dahl holds the ceremonial $50k check from the Iowa Lottery.

A Vinton man won a top prize of $50,000 playing the lottery’s “Super Crossword” instant-scratch game.

Robert Dahl claimed his prize Friday at the Iowa Lottery’s regional office in Cedar Rapids. He purchased his winning ticket at Williams Blvd. Amoco, 2601 Williams Blvd. in Cedar Rapids.

Super Crossword is a $5 scratch game. Players win a prize by scratching the "your letters" then scratching the corresponding letters found in Puzzles 1 and 2 and the "bonus word." If players have scratched at least three complete words in Puzzle 1 or 2, they win the corresponding prize shown in the prize legend for that puzzle. If players uncover all six letters in the "bonus word" by scratching the letters that match the "your letters" they win the prize shown in the prize box. The overall odds of winning a prize in the game are 1 in 3.65.

Twenty-two top prizes of $50,000 are still up for grabs in Super Crossword, as well as 18 prizes of $5,000, more than 295 prizes of $500 and more than 2,200 prizes of $100.

Players can enter eligible nonwinning scratch tickets online to earn “Points For Prizes™” points. The point value will be revealed to the player on the website upon successful submission of each eligible valid ticket. There is a limit of 30 ticket entries per day. To participate in Points For Prizes™, a player must register for a free account at ialottery.com. Registration is a one-time process. Merchandise that can be ordered by using points will be listed on the website in the Points For Prizes™ online store. Players can choose from items in categories such as apparel, automotive, jewelry, sporting, tools and more.

Since the lottery’s start in 1985, its players have won more than $2.8 billion in prizes while the lottery has raised more than $1.3 billion for the state programs that benefit all Iowans.

Today, lottery proceeds in Iowa have three main purposes: They provide support for veterans, help for a variety of significant projects through the state General Fund, and backing for the Vision Iowa program, which was implemented to create tourism destinations and community attractions in the state and build and repair schools.