The lottery industry is looking for ways to expand online options.
With online lottery games growing in popularity, states are now pairing up to bolster their eInstant offerings.
Pennsylvania and Virginia got things started when they launched the first multistate progressive jackpot online instant game in July 2023.
The two shared the funding for the pot in order to provide players in their states a chance at bigger jackpots through the online avenue.
Pennsylvania Lottery Deputy Executive Director for Marketing and Products, Stephanie Weyant, told PlayiLottery these games were a logical step for the state to make:
“Lotteries are well known for offering jackpot games, including multistate jackpots, so we were pleased to bring big jackpots to the eInstant game category. In Pennsylvania, the eInstant games with progressive jackpots have been a hit with players, rating among the most popular eInstant games that we offer. The ability to offer higher jackpot prizes certainly resonates with our players and results in additional proceeds to benefit older Pennsylvanians here in the Commonwealth.”
Virginia, Pennsylvania lotteries responsible for first joint game
The first multistate progressive jackpot was “Jackpot Spectacular.” The game debuted in July 2023 in a combined partnership between Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Both state lotteries contributed some of their online instant sales to fund the progressive jackpot.
Instant Win Gaming (IWG) was the driving force behind the game and allowed states to collaborate on it. IWG used its InstantJackpots format to help bring these games to the lottery industry. It manages the games and handles the top prize payouts.
Scott Kenyon, Deputy Executive Director of the Virginia Lottery, told PlayiLottery that each state must confirm that its respective rules and regulations are met:
“Every state is responsible for ensuring that they are within their regulations on the offering, and the odds to win the jackpot and contribution of sales to support the jackpot for each new game that offers the multistate progressive jackpot is reviewed and approved by all participating to ensure they are consistent with the agreed upon prize structure.”
A total of 4 states now in the mix, North Carolina Lottery launching soon
Since the launch of the first game, both the New Hampshire Lottery and Kentucky Lottery have joined the multistate excitement.
On top of that, the North Carolina Lottery is targeting January 2025 to launch its first multistate progressive instant game.
The NC Lottery has seen great success with its Digital Instants, amassing over $1 billion in sales in less than eight months.
Last week, the state announced it reached a licensing deal with Scientific Games for a “MONOPOLY” game that will be an online progressive jackpot, as well as a scratch-off title.
The deal was for three years for the digital game, with a one-year option that could extend the product until Dec. 31, 2028.
NC didn’t specify which states it would be partnering with. However, the Virginia Lottery and Pennsylvania Lottery are already offering the game online.
Expect multistate progressives to keep expanding
The states that have gotten into the multistate progressive pool have not regretted it.
In fiscal year 2024, the Virginia Lottery reported that its top-selling online game was “Jackpot Spectacular,” the very first of its kind.
Kenyon notes that these games continue to produce higher jackpots than other instant games in the state. As of Wednesday, “Jackpot Spectacular” had its top prize totaling over $650,000.
“Similar to Mega Millions or Powerball, multistate progressive jackpots will likely continue to be a focus for iLottery jurisdictions, as it gives smaller or less mature iLottery programs an opportunity to offer a jackpot that they would not be able to fund individually.”
As more states see the continued success of progressive jackpots, it’s likely to influence other states with online lotteries.
Just as iLottery has expanded gradually in the US, Weyant believes the same will be the case with these products:
“We do envision more US lotteries offering these types of games and jackpots to increase the prize possibilities.”
Photo by the Virginia Lottery
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