Eddie Tipton orchestrated one of the most audacious lottery frauds in U.S. history, manipulating lottery systems across multiple states using self-deleting malicious software. His scheme, which spanned from 2005 to 2011, allowed him to predict winning numbers and claim jackpots, defrauding state lotteries of nearly $24 million.

Tipton, the former head of IT security at the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), inserted code into the lottery’s random number generator that enabled him to predict winning numbers on specific dates. This manipulation reduced the odds of winning from one in five million to one in two hundred. He and his associates used this advantage to claim jackpots in states including Iowa, Colorado, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

The scheme unraveled when a $14.3 million Hot Lotto jackpot in Iowa went unclaimed for nearly a year. An investigation revealed that the winning ticket had been purchased using surveillance footage from a convenience store, leading authorities to Tipton. In 2015, he was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison but was released on parole in 2022 after serving five years.

A new documentary, Jackpot: America’s Biggest Lotto Scam, delves into Tipton’s fraudulent activities. The film, which premiered in June 2025, has garnered significant attention, amassing over 725,000 views on YouTube. It features insights from key figures involved in the case, including former Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich, and highlights the vulnerabilities in state-operated lottery systems.

Despite his release, Tipton has declined to participate in the documentary or comment on the film, maintaining his silence on the details of his fraudulent activities.