Virginia is one of a handful of states that offers online lottery games directly from the state-run lottery. Virginians can enjoy draw games online, including Powerball, Mega Millions, and more. Additionally, the state has a large array of online instant games available. You can play online via the Virginia Lottery website or mobile app.
Currently, no online courier services are available in Virginia, so the state-run lottery is your only choice.
On this page, we’ll explain everything you should know about the VA online lottery, including rules and regulations, games, and more.
Options for purchasing lottery tickets online in Virginia
Playing the lottery online in Virginia is simple. The Virginia Lottery has an in-house platform available via desktop and mobile devices, both of which have advantages. Playing on a desktop gives you a bigger screen, while the app lets you play wherever you want (within state borders).
Once you sign up for an account and verify your identity, you can play games online from the comfort of your home or while you’re on the go.
Rules and regulations
Virginia’s rules and regulations surrounding online lottery play are fairly standard. The minimum age to play is 18, and you’ll confirm your age/identity via verification processes when you first sign up.
One major restriction has to do with payment methods. Players in Virginia cannot purchase lottery games or entries with credit cards, even while playing online. Instead, you can fund your account using ACH, debit card, or PayPal.
The Virginia Lottery also sets deposit limits. The site says you cannot deposit more than $5,000 “during any 1-day, 7-day, or 30-day period.” Players can manually set lower limits for their accounts.
All of these policies support responsible gambling practices.
Fees
The Virginia Lottery does not charge any fees for deposits, games, or withdrawals. If you want to play a $3 game, the cost will be $3. There aren’t any hidden costs.
Subscriptions are available from the Virginia Lottery, and they come with no fees. You can purchase a subscription for the cost of the games within that subscription.
One important thing to note about funding your account is that you can only withdraw winnings. If you deposit $50, you’ll have to play with it before you can withdraw anything. For example, you can’t deposit $100, play with half of it, then withdraw the remaining $50. Keep this in mind when funding your account.
Promotions and bonuses
The main way Virginia Lottery players get bonuses is through the rewards program. When you play online, you automatically earn points. Points can be redeemed for drawing entries, which award big prizes. In the past, the Virginia Lottery has given away e-bikes and vacations to reward players.
When you sign up for the Virginia Lottery, you’ll get 100 points to kickstart your rewards earnings. We would love to see a small deposit bonus or some bonus tickets like other states have. For now, the Virginia Lottery is not offering these traditional welcome bonuses.
However, existing VA iLottery players are treated to rotating bonuses. For example, during this writing, 20 free instant games were offered for anyone who bought $10 or more worth of Mega Millions tickets. Watch for bonus codes on the VA Lottery site or app to make the most of your money.
Online lottery games available in Virginia
Here’s a look at the main types of games you can play via Virginia’s iLottery.
When the Virginia Lottery advertises massive jackpots, chances are those prizes are for the Mega Millions or Powerball.
You can play both games online using the VA Lottery app or desktop. There are distinct benefits to playing online. You can pick numbers manually and save them to your favorites for later use. Quick Pick is also an option if you don’t want to choose numbers on your own. You can add multiple lines to a single online ticket. You can also purchase subscriptions, playing the same number of tickets for a certain number of draws in a row.
And, of course, once the drawing has occurred, you can check for wins from the app.
In short, Powerball and Mega Millions are easier than ever with the VA Lottery app or website.
Powerball and Mega Millions might be the biggest and best-known draw games, but they’re far from the only ones available. The Virginia iLottery has many other draw games, including
Prizes and ticket costs vary by game.
Dozens of instant games are available in the Virginia iLottery library. In many ways, these are meant to satisfy those looking for an online experience similar to scratch-offs. Virginia’s eInstant games take many forms and have different buy-ins and prize potential. Some look like scratchers, some emulate slot games, and others take inspiration from arcade games or pop culture.
Some of our top games at the VA iLottery are
- Marvelous Money: Vegas Nights
- VA Cash Expander
- Monopoly Progressive Jackpots
- Outlaw’s Loot
- Skee-Ball
Every single instant game at the Virginia iLottery has a demo mode available. You can try the game for free before deciding to play for real.
Is it safe to play the lottery online in Virginia?
Yes, it’s safe to play the VA Lottery online. Virginia’s lottery is governed by strict laws and regulations. The Virginia Lottery Board helps oversee the Lottery’s operations. Members consist of Commonwealth residents and are appointed by the governor.
Additionally, the Lottery keeps you and your data safe in numerous ways. The first safeguard is SSL Encryption, which encrypts your data as it travels to and from the VA Lottery to protect it from identity theft or hackers. The verification process on sign-up also helps keep you safe by preventing anyone else from signing up with your details.
What do Virginia’s lottery proceeds support?
The Virginia Lottery has used its profits to support state education programs since 1999. In Fiscal Year 2024, more than $934 million went to the state’s educational programs. Yearly, the VA Lottery generates about 10% of the state education budget funding, among others, these programs:
- K-3 Class Size Reduction
- School Breakfast
- Special Education
- Race to GED
- Path to Industry Certification
Any unclaimed prizes go to the Virginia Literary Fund.
Responsible gambling resources available for Virginia online lottery players
Playing the lottery is a form of gambling. It should always be fun and entertaining, so you should keep responsible play in mind. Virginia has a wealth of resources available for responsible play and to assist problem gamblers.
The Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline is available if you need immediate assistance:
- 888-532-3500
- Chat or text
The Virginia Lottery Responsible Play page also has links to programs and resources. For more details, we recommend perusing the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health website.
A brief history of iLottery in Virginia
Virginia sold its first lottery ticket in 1988 after the state lottery was created a year earlier. With the advent of the Internet and other forms of online gaming, the lottery eventually legalized online play in 2020. The first year brought more than $800 million in online lottery sales, and the VA iLottery has thrived ever since.
Latest news about the online lottery in Virginia
Multistate Progressive Jackpots Making Big Splash For iLottery In US
September 25, 2024 |Multistate online progressive jackpots, started initially by the PA and VA lotteries, have expanded to several other states, with North Carolina next.
Virginia Enhances iLottery Offerings With Fennica Gaming Agreement
August 21, 2024 |The Virginia Lottery recently partnered with Finland-based Fennica Gaming, which will see the state's online platform debut several popular eInstant titles.
In Virginia, iLottery Sales Outperformed Retail For The First Time Ever
August 8, 2024 |The Virginia Lottery released its fiscal year 2024 performance on Wednesday, becoming the first market in the US to see yearly iLottery sales exceed retail.