DES MOINES — A veteran Iowa law enforcement officer who has spent the past several years overseeing investigations and security for the Iowa Lottery has been chosen to lead the organization.
Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Tuesday, July 21, 2026, that she has appointed Stephen Waymire as Administrator of the Iowa Lottery.
Waymire has served as the Lottery’s Investigations Bureau Chief and as a member of its executive management team since 2022. Before joining the Lottery, he spent more than 30 years in law enforcement with the Des Moines Police Department.
The appointment puts a career law enforcement veteran in charge of an organization responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars in annual ticket sales, prize payments and revenue transferred to programs benefiting Iowans.
“I’m pleased to appoint Stephen Waymire to lead the Iowa Lottery as its new Administrator,” Reynolds said. “Steve brings outstanding leadership and extensive firsthand knowledge of the organization’s operations.”
Reynolds said Waymire’s experience and focus on accountability would help strengthen the Lottery’s operations and mission.
Waymire said he was honored by the appointment and pledged to continue emphasizing integrity, security and accountability.
“We will continue to uphold the strong traditions of the Lottery, providing entertainment to Iowans and responsibly maximizing revenues for vital state causes,” Waymire said.
Waymire’s law enforcement and investigative background is particularly relevant to an organization where security is a critical part of daily operations.
The Iowa Lottery’s security responsibilities include protecting the integrity of lottery games, investigating suspicious activity, working with retailers and law enforcement, verifying major prize claims and helping ensure that tickets, drawings and gaming systems operate properly.
Waymire has already been closely involved in those functions as Investigations Bureau Chief, giving him direct experience with the organization before moving into its top leadership position.
Iowa Lottery Commission Chair Dana Wingert said the commission has confidence in Waymire’s ability to lead the organization.
Wingert pointed to Waymire’s professional leadership and his experience overseeing Lottery security, saying he will work with the Iowa Department of Revenue and Revenue Director Mary Mosiman during the leadership transition.
The Iowa Lottery has operated since 1985 and has grown into a major source of revenue for state programs.
In fiscal year 2025, Iowa Lottery sales totaled approximately $434.9 million, with players receiving about $283.5 million in prizes. The Lottery generated approximately $86.1 million in proceeds for state causes during that fiscal year.
Nearly 2,500 Iowa retail locations sell Lottery products, creating another economic impact through commissions paid to participating businesses.
Since its creation, the Iowa Lottery has generated more than $2.6 billion for programs benefiting Iowans while paying more than $6.3 billion in prizes to players.
Lottery proceeds have supported a variety of state purposes over the years. Current beneficiaries include the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund, assistance for families of Iowa peace officers, firefighters and corrections employees killed in the line of duty, and projects funded through the state General Fund.
The organization underwent a significant structural change in recent years when the Iowa Lottery became part of the Iowa Department of Revenue rather than operating as a separate state authority.
The Department of Revenue now oversees tax administration, alcoholic beverage control and Lottery operations as part of Iowa’s consolidated revenue system.
As administrator, Waymire takes responsibility for maintaining public confidence in an operation where financial performance and game security go hand in hand — overseeing an organization that sells hundreds of millions of dollars worth of tickets each year while generating tens of millions of dollars annually for Iowa programs.