Virginia Online Lottery Wins Cross $2 Billion Threshold

Written By Russ Mitchell on October 6, 2022Last Updated on December 7, 2022
VA online lottery wins

Although Virginia online casino games are not currently legal, the spending habits of customers indicate that Virginians are evidently at ease with the potential risks and rewards of online gambling. Recently, the Virginia Lottery announced that the total winnings from the state’s online lottery have surpassed an impressive $2 billion.

Various online lottery games, such as the Blackjack scratch game and Keno, exhibit a remarkable similarity to online casino options available in different states.

The Virginia Lottery provides a range of price options for online scratchers, which stands as a favorable comparison to the online video slots available in iGaming states.

Michigan exemplifies a state that offers both online lottery and online casino games, which, according to officials, work harmoniously to enhance state revenue.

How Virginia reached $2 billion in online lottery wins

According to a September 29 update from the Virginia Lottery, it took slightly more than two years to distribute the $2 billion in winnings.

Virginia is one of the states that offers online purchasing of Mega Millions and Powerball tickets to customers. Additionally, residents and visitors of Virginia have the option to create an account, which grants them access to a variety of benefits. With their account, they can participate in over 60 instant-win games, including popular ones like Wheel of Fortune and Monopoly Progressive Jackpots.

Out of the total of $2 billion won in online lotteries:

  • Online, over 300,000 players have emerged victorious, each with their own distinct achievements.
  • Betty W. from McLean has achieved the largest individual victory in Virginia’s online lottery history with a staggering $2 million win. Her Powerball ticket purchase online granted her the game’s highest secondary prize.
  • According to Virginia Lottery officials, the majority of payouts are attributed to instant-win games. Recently, a resident from South Boston became the recipient of the largest prize in this game category, winning over $295,000 from the Jungle Tumple Jackpots game.
  • In total, a sum of 31 players achieved victories of $100,000 or higher through their participation in online instant-win games.

Retail sales vs. online game plays

More than 5,300 businesses collaborate with the Virginia Lottery to reach customers who prefer purchasing game tickets in person. Between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, these businesses were awarded $138.6 million, receiving a portion of the revenue in the form of commissions and bonuses.

Online sales, according to Kelly Gee, the Executive Director of the Virginia Lottery, provide an additional dimension to retail sales, ultimately contributing to the funding of K-12 public education in Virginia.

“The popularity of online gaming has greatly resonated with Virginia Lottery players, providing them with an extra avenue to participate. Our primary objective at Lottery revolves around guaranteeing an unparalleled customer experience.”

In order to participate in Virginia Lottery games, customers are required to be 18 years of age or older. Additionally, customers are also required to complete a registration process when transitioning to online lottery games. The lottery website provides the following features:

  • Checks for verifying identity and age
  • the steps to verify geolocation on your smartphone, laptop, or tablet.
  • built-in responsible gaming features.

Instructions on how to play each game can also be found on the lottery’s online site.

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Russ Mitchell

Since 1997, Russ Mitchell has been reporting on news and sports in Iowa. With 11 years of experience as managing editor for a highly acclaimed community newspaper in the state, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his role at PlayIA as a lead writer and managing editor. In 2021, he eagerly joined the team and is excited to delve into the expanding gaming industry in Virginia.

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