It was created in 1987 when Virginians voted in a statewide referendum in favor of a state lottery.
In Fiscal Year 2024, the Lottery's profits totaled more than $934 million, accounting for approximately 10 percent of school funding in Virginia.
The Lottery maintains elaborate security procedures to protect the integrity of its games.
Customer service centers are located in Abingdon, Farmville, Hampton, Harrisonburg, Henrico, Roanoke, and Woodbridge.
Although it was a vital part of the colony's survival, tickets for the lottery were sold in England, since Virginia was wilderness at the time.
[2] Over the years, proceeds from lotteries helped establish early universities (including Virginia's College of William and Mary and University of Virginia), churches, libraries and public works projects.
In 1989, the General Assembly directed Lottery proceeds to capital construction projects.
Starting in 1999, a provision in Virginia's budget called for all proceeds to be assigned exclusively to education.
In November 2000, Virginia voters approved the creation of the State Lottery Proceeds Fund by an 83.5-point margin.
[6] The measure, which is a permanent part of Virginia's Constitution, directs the General Assembly to use all Lottery profits for educational purposes.
Glenn Youngkin in April 2024.The department is governed by a seven-member board, with each member appointed by the Governor to serve a five-year term.
[12] The Virginia Lottery gives top-prize winners of certain games a choice of cash or annuity.
When a Virginia top-prize winner of Mega Millions, Powerball or Cash4Life is claimed, the Lottery purchases sufficient U.S. Government bonds to cover the prize.
(A cash option winner of Mega Millions or Powerball receives the "lump sum" in two installments as both games are offered by multiple lotteries.
Virginia Lottery sales are conducted by licensed retail businesses which receive a commission.
For double the normal ticket cost, an extra ball can provide additional winning combinations by substituting for any one of the other numbers.
For example, a Pick 3 draw of 9-4-3 with a fireball of 0 allows for a wager to win a reduced prize with numbers of 0-4-3, 9-0-3, and 9-4-0 (or any arrangement thereof if Any Order is used).
Bank A Million is a drawing game offering a top prize of $1,000,000 after the tax withholding.
The ticket they play applies to the next drawing(s), which occur at 4-minute intervals minus shutdown time for maintenance.
Tickets played apply to the next drawing(s), which occur five times a day (at 9AM, noon, 5PM, 9PM, and just before midnight).
The top prize (for matching all numbers) is the choice of $365,000 a year for life or a $7,000,000 lump sum, subject to a liability limit (the original prize claim was for $1,000 a day but was changed in 2020 since, as a leap year, 2020 had 366 days).
Players also have the option to use the Megaplier, which increases the ticket price by $1 each but raises the value of any non-jackpot prizes won.
Top-prize Powerball winners can choose cash in lieu of annuity payments.
Originally called Fast Play with a continually-changing lineup of games at $2, $3, and $5 prices, each with its own rules and prizes, when it became Print 'n Play the lineup was simplified to the three most popular games—Bingo, Blackjack, and Crossword—and a new $10 tier was added for Bingo and Crossword.
[31] A $20 tier has recently been added along with a new game: Print 'n Play × (Times) the Money, based on a popular series of scratchers.
In order to play online, a person must be at least 18 years old and physically located in Virginia.
Virginia law requires that each ticket include a telephone number for a counseling service that addresses compulsive gambling.
[38] That number links to the Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline, which is maintained the VCPG.
[39] and has produced Problem Gambling and Play Responsibly public service announcements for TV and radio.