VA Lotto Online Winnings Have Topped $1 Billion, And Look, I Get It

Written By Dann Stupp on October 26, 2021Last Updated on August 4, 2022
VA online lottery wins

Since the initiation of digital sales on July 1, 2020, the online winnings from VA Lotto have surpassed $1 billion in less than 16 months.

The VA Lotto, Virginia’s official lottery, has recently reached an impressive milestone of ten figures, as announced by the organization.

During that period, a total of 213,000 online players of VA Lotto have accumulated over 196 million distinct wins. Despite numerous smaller prizes, one fortunate player managed to secure the largest online prize of $2 million through Powerball.

What factors contribute to the significant achievement of online sales?

Both the head of the VA Lotto and I can confirm that a small amount of convenience can have a significant impact.

Actually, within that $1 billion in winnings, I managed to achieve quite an impressive win myself.

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VA Lotto online big winners

Upon learning about the $1 billion winnings milestone, PlayVirginia immediately contacted the VA Lotto in order to obtain more information.

Are sales continuing to grow? Are they impacting retail sales? Which games are being played by VA Lotto online customers? And, of utmost significance, which games are players achieving victories in?

Fortunately, the answers were provided by officials of VA Lotto.

At present, online sales of VA Lotto account for about 30% of total lottery sales. Moreover, digital sales have been consistently increasing on a monthly basis, with September and October marking the highest recorded sales so far. However, these online sales have not affected the sales of the VA Lotto’s 5,000+ retail outlets, which have also been steadily increasing their own sales figures.

It can be seen as a win-win situation, as both VA Lotto online sales and retail sales are profiting from a growing lotto market. However, it goes beyond that – VA Lotto online players are major winners in this scenario. Some of them include:

According to officials, Virginia Cash Expander, Big Money Jackpots linked progressive games, and linked Crown Jewel Jackpot games are particularly popular among online players of the VA Lotto.

Online players dig convenience (and privacy)

Understanding the success of VA Lotto online sales requires minimal effort.

Kevin Hall, the Executive Director of the Virginia Lottery, expressed

The people of Virginia have enthusiastically embraced the convenience of playing the Lottery through their smartphones, tablets, or computers. The Lottery is always in search of creative and user-friendly methods to meet customer demands, and to offer our players ample opportunities to dream about the endless possibilities of a victorious moment.

While it may sound formal, this statement is indeed quite accurate. Undoubtedly, there will always be players who find joy in the tradition of visiting their nearby convenience store to fill out a lotto slip or purchase scratchers in person. However, there are also those who prefer a hassle-free and streamlined method of buying tickets and playing.

You are eligible to participate if you meet the following criteria: being at least 18 years old, residing within the borders of Virginia, and having the means to fund your VALottery.com account using PayPal, a debit card, ACH bank transfer, or an online cash voucher. Once these conditions are met, you are ready to proceed.

Nevertheless, convenience and effectiveness are not the only factors to consider. As a player, I value privacy greatly and believe it holds significant importance.

Confessions of a VA Lotto online player

Whether it is for good or bad, I seldom conceal my inclination towards gambling.

My friends and family are well aware of my gambling habits, particularly when it comes to sports betting, specifically MMA and baseball. They know I have participated in and won some significant poker tournaments. They also know that I often participate in March Madness and Super Bowl pools, and have placed bets on horse racing. Additionally, after my initial trip to Las Vegas, I became skilled enough at card counting to make blackjack a break-even game, until the introduction of 6:5 blackjack.

I openly embrace these pursuits because I firmly believe they are not mere games of chance. In theory, they can all be conquered through skill and strategic thinking. That’s why I would clarify to my loved ones that this is not the same as taking a random gamble.

I’m not engaged in gambling, you see. I’m simply investigating alternative volatile investment approaches.

However, when it comes to online games of the VA Lotto, there is minimal strategy involved.

Are you interested in participating in Mega Millions or Powerball? Or perhaps you prefer Cash4Life or Pick 4 and Pick 3? There are also numerous instant-win games available through the VA Lotto. However, it’s important to acknowledge that all of these options are forms of gambling, plain and straightforward.

Isn’t it true that only fools take risks in gambling?

My contribution to $1B in online winnings

Although I may not confess this to my dear ones, my gambling is not solely based on skill. Most of the time, the only motivation for placing a bet is the belief that I have an advantage.

Typically, being the main keyword.

Multiple times each week, I surreptitiously invest a small sum, fully aware that it is an unprofitable endeavor in the grand scheme of things. However, the allure of participating in Mega Millions and Power Ball, with their enormous jackpots exceeding $100 million, for just $2 per ticket is simply irresistible to me.

I am aware that winning the lottery is highly unlikely, but I find solace in the mere existence of the possibility. However, in order to experience that slight comfort, I must purchase a ticket. But the thought of going to a public place like a store, truck stop, or marina, waiting in line, and spending $2 on a lottery ticket is daunting. The fear of being seen by others, who may ridicule and mock me for believing I could actually win, adds to my hesitation.

Luckily, I have the option to discreetly purchase my lottery tickets online, shielding my embarrassment from prying eyes. Moreover, in this digital realm, I occasionally receive an automated email that both celebrates my triumph and verifies my winnings.

On August 20, 2020, right after the commencement of VA Lotto online sales, I received an email that caught my attention. How could anyone resist opening a message with such an alluring subject line?

The processing of your Virginia Lottery Prize is complete!

It ended up being far from life-changing money, as it turns out. Not even close. However, if it weren’t for my $4 win from matching the Powerball and no other numbers in that specific draw, the other players of VA Lotto online would have only won $999,999,996.

Another perk of buying VA Lotto tickets online

My wife possesses exceptional qualities and practicality. She exhibits great financial responsibility, refraining from unnecessary spending. Even if she desires something passionately, she consistently exercises patience, waiting for a sale or discount opportunity.

Regrettably, my wife shares my passion for fantasizing about hitting the jackpot. However, even when it involves a staggering $1.6 billion prize, she remains hesitant to pay the full price.

We appreciate VA Lotto online sales because they offer us the convenience of purchasing tickets privately. Additionally, we choose to deposit funds into our VALottery.com account only when we find a favorable offer.

The VA Lotto typically provides online players with promotions on a weekly basis. Occasionally, they may grant free plays of instant-win games as a reward for making a deposit. However, I prefer to wait for the straightforward match deposit offers.

Over the past few months, I have received various deposit matching offers ranging from 25% to 50%. Essentially, if I were to deposit $50 into my account, I would receive a bonus of $12.50 to $25, completely free of charge.

Certainly, it would require an immense amount of time and luck to surpass the astronomical probabilities of winning Powerball (1 in 292.2 million) or Mega Millions (1 in 302.6 million). The sporadic bonuses and increased purchasing capability will hardly make a significant impact on those highly improbable chances.

However, if you desire something without having to pay, and if you seek the comfort of purchasing your tickets from the convenience of your own home, VA Lotto online sales might be the perfect option for you.

Photo by Via VA Lotto email
Dann Stupp Avatar
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Dann Stupp

Dann Stupp, a seasoned sports journalist, has contributed his writing and editing skills to various outlets such as The Athletic, USA Today, ESPN, and MLB.com. Currently, he resides in Lexington, Virginia.

View all posts by Dann Stupp