Official Home of the Virginia Lottery

See the Did I Win? Page

No.Even though there is only one set of winning numbers,each state accounts for ticket sales and validations separately.Your Mega Millions,Powerball,Win for Life and Decades of Dollars tickets can be validated only in the state where you bought it.

No.For Mega Millions and Powerball,the tickets print the white ball numbers (the first five numbers) in numerical order,so you can match those first five white balls drawn in any order.The Powerball number on your ticket (the last number,below the letters “PB”) or the Mega Ball number (the last number below the letters “MB”) must be the same as the red Powerball number or yellow Meball number drawn to be considered a match.Matching numbers must be on the same play to win a prize;you cannot combine numbers from different plays or different tickets to try to make a match.

When you win the Lottery in Virginia,it’s not a secret! Your name,hometown,prize amount,date of win and where you bought the ticket are all public record. In addition,if you win a larger or unusual prize,we post a news release with your photo (yes,your photo will be taken when you collect that prize).

The news release and photo can be posted on our website,Facebook page,other social media like Twitter or other place for reasonable publicity,and it might be reported in news media. If you win a really large or unusual prize,we might hold a news conference with you.

Remember,the Virginia Lottery offers games to all Virginians,and they’re played by Virginians who love games…and people want to know where those big Lottery prizes are won!Putting it into law is the state’s way of keeping the Lottery honest. You don’t need to take our word for it;you can see it for yourself. After all,if you never heard about any big winners,would you play?

By the way,the Virginia Freedom of Information Act allows the Lottery not to release a player’s home address,phone number and social security number – and we don’t.

The odds of matching the Mega Ball are 1 in 46.However,sometimes when you match the Mega Ball,you match some of the white balls too and win a larger prize.The 1 in 75 odds shown on the website are the odds of winning $2,not the odds matching the Mega Ball.

If you take the probability of matching the Mega Ball and subtract the probability of winning the other prizes that involve matching the Mega Ball,you’ll get the probability of winning $2.The table below shows the prizes that involve matching the Mega Ball.

Probability of Matching the Mega Ball
*Match*	*Probability*	*Chances*
1	0.02173913	1 in 46

Probability of Winning Other Prizes Using Mega Ball
*Match*	*Match*	*Prize*	*Probability*	*Chances*
5	1	Jackpot	0.0000000057	1 in 175,711,536
4	1	$5,000	0.00000145	1 in 689,065
3	1	$150	0.00007256	1 in 13,781
2	1	$10	0.00118518	1 in 844
1	1	$3	0.00711109	1 in 141
Total Probability of Above Prizes			0.00837029	1 in 119

Probability of Winning $2
	*Probability*	*Chances*
Probability of Matching Mega Ball	0.021739130	1 in 46
Minus Probability of Winning Larger Prize	- 0.008370287	1 in 119
Probability of Winning $2	0.01336884	1 in 75

The Mega Millions annuity is paid out over 25 years (26 payments) with equal payments each year. If you want to calculate the amount,it’s about $38,462 for every million in the jackpot per year,before taxes. In other words,if you win a $50 million jackpot,the annual payments would be about $1,923,100 per year before taxes. (50 x $38,462 = $1,923,100)

The Powerball Annuity Jackpot invests more money for a longer period of time. The Powerball annuity is paid out in graduated amounts (rising by 4% per year to keep up with inflation) over 29 years (30 payments). The annual payments grow larger to keep pace with the winner’s expected cost of living.

How about a Boost to your day? Well,your Pick 3 play,that is!

For 50 cents or $1,Boost adds 5 sets of Easy Pick Exact Order numbers to your regular Pick 3 ticket,andgives you 5 more chances to win a Pick 3 prize!

When one of the Boost numbers matches the drawn Pick 3 winning number in exact order,players win $100 for a $1.00 wager and $50 for $.50 wager.

The Virginia Lottery's first Scratcher game was "Match 3."It went on sale September 20,1988 as the Lottery's first game.On the first day alone,5.5 million tickets were sold.An estimated 91 players won $5,000 that first day and 36.2 million tickets were sold in just the first week!

Yes.All prizes are subject to income taxes.We must withhold federal and state taxes from each prize over $5,000 - 25% for federal taxes and 4% for state taxes.For all prizes over $600,the Lottery will issue a federal form W2-G to the winner.

You can purchase Lottery games with cash,debit,and pre-paid gift cards (like Visa & MasterCard).By law,you cannot play with credit cards.You may want to check with your local retailer about debit.Some have store policies that do not allow debit for lottery games.

There are lots of options! You can view the draw live on our website. The draw is also available on our Facebook page – just click on the “View Draw Show LIVE!” tab beneath our cover photo.

Powerball and Mega Millions draws are shown at 10:59 p.m. on the following television stations:

WAVY-TV 10 – Hampton Roads
WDBJ-TV 7 – Roanoke
WHSV-TV 3 – Harrisonburg
WRIC-TV 8 – Richmond
WJLA-TV 7 – Northern Virginia
WFDC-TV – Northern Virginia (Hispanic)

And never fear! If you missed the live drawing,you can still watch replays on our website.

Absolutely! All winners don’t necessarily have to be present to claim winnings. However,we would need a photo I.D. and documented proof of Social Security number for any person who would be receiving money. If someone can’t make it to claim the prize,we would mail that person’s winnings since we can't give another player someone else's prize. If your group wins a jackpot prize,we would require all group members fill out a beneficiary form.

Basically,our advice would be this:have an agreement in place,signed by all of your members,that details how you will split any wins (i.e. equally,some more than others,annual payout vs. cash option,etc.). You could even have the agreement notarized if you choose. If your group should win a large sum,hopefully you will already have some of those tough decisions made!

One important thing to remember is that if your group wins a prize with both a cash option AND an annuity option,all group members must agree on one option. In other words,we can’t give some group members the annuity option and others the cash option. Consensus is a beautiful thing!

Tickets can be purchased until 10:45 p.m. for everything EXCEPT Powerball,which stops sales at 10:00 p.m. (if you’re up that late or….are waiting until the last minute. What are you waiting til the last minute for anyway?)

What? You don’t see it? Are you sure? Oh,wait,that’s right. You’re not supposed to see a seventh number on your ticket (see,you’re not crazy!). Here’s how it works:After the first six numbers are drawn,the Free Ball is a seventh ball randomly drawn from the remaining 36 balls. Players don’t select a Free Ball number so you won’t see an extra number on your Win for Life ticket.

However,if the Free Ball drawn matches one of the six numbers already on your ticket,you’re in luck. Basically,it’s an extra chance to win a prize because players who match three,four or five numbers from the first six numbers drawn will win a much larger prize if they also match the Free Ball. Even players who match only two numbers from the first six will win $2 if they also match the Free Ball.

The number on the Free Ball is not used to determine lifetime winners;it is strictly used to create more ways to win other prizes in Win for Life.

Click here for details about Win For Life.

If you win the top prize of $1,000 a week for life,this is for YOUR life.If you should live for another 100 years,we'll pay you for another 100 years.

However,when designing this game,the three participating states recognized that players who win top prizes often want to ensure there's something for their families or heirs.That's why the Virginia Lottery asks you to name a beneficiary.Should something happen to you before you've received 10 years- worth of payments,your beneficiary would get the payments until those 10 years have passed.

Mega Millions,Powerball,Win For Life and Decades of Dollars tickets CAN NOT be canceled. Want to be sure you got the right numbers? Filling out a playslip is the way to go! For Pick 3,Pick 4 and Cash 5,take a minute to check your tickets before you leave the store. If it’s not what you wanted,ask the clerk to cancel it.

When you buy a Mega Millions ticket and tell the clerk to add Megaplier,you’ll pay $1 more per play. If you win with Megaplier,your non-jackpot prize is increased for that draw. Megaplier increases your winnings up to $1,000,000.

Wanna win more money? For $1 more,Power Play or Megaplier will increase your non-jackpot prize.

Check it out for more information about Megaplier,or Power Play.

For some games,the advertised top prize is an annuity,which means it’s paid out over a set number of years. In most of those games,we give you a choice:you can either take the full prize amount in annual payments,or you can take a one-time payment,called the Cash Option.

Here’s how it works:When we get the word that prize has been won in Virginia,even before we know who the winner is,we invest in U. S. Treasury Bonds an amount that will guarantee the full prize amount over all the years of the annuity.

But let’s say you’re the winner and you don’t want to get a payment every year. So you tell us you prefer the Cash Option. We then sell those Treasury Bonds,and you get the proceeds of the sale. It won’t be as much as annuity amount,but it will be all at once. Which option is right for you? You definitely should talk to a financial professional before you make that decision.

Here are the Virginia Lottery games that offer annuity or Cash Option:
• Mega Millions
• Powerball
• Decades of Dollars
• Some Scratcher games
• Note:Win for Life does not offer a cash option. You have to accept $1,000 per week for the rest of your life!

In our Cash 5 game,we are able to offer a $25,000 prize (25-cent play),a $50,000 prize (50-cent play) or a $100,000 prize ($1 play) twice a day because the game is designed to produce a top-prize winner approximately every three or four days.

To have a rolling jackpot,we’d have to stop offering the option of four plays for a dollar. In order for everyone to have the same chance of winning,each ticket would need to be a single $1 play. Then we’d have to start with a jackpot at something like $20,000.

It would reach about $100,000 about every 3rd or 4th day (6 to 8 draws),and on average,players would still win about $100,000 each. Sometimes a player would win when it started small,and sometimes a player would win more when it had rolled longer.

Today,the Virginia Lottery is willing to offer $100,000 every draw of every day. The biggest benefit of this game is that even if we sell up to 20 winning tickets,we pay each winner the full amount. In a rolling Cash 5 game,if there is more than one winner,those winners SPLIT the jackpot.

By the way,the reason we wouldn’t just start at $100,000 and then roll is because that particular game here in Virginia simply doesn’t sell enough tickets to support a jackpot starting at that amount. Make sense?

Right now,you can buy a subscription online to either Mega Millions or Win for Life if you have a Virginia mailing address. If you’d prefer to purchase your subscription by mail,you can fill out the hard-copy forms available here:Mega Millions or Win for Life. We don’t currently offer subscriptions to our other draw games,but we know that’s something lots of folks would like to see! So we’re working on it and hope to have a new and improved subscriptions program by the end of 2013.

If you don’t have a Virginia mailing address and you'd still like to play our games,you can travel to Virginia and purchase tickets from any Virginia Lottery retailer,or if you happen to know someone who lives in Virginia,you can ask them to purchase tickets for you.

Every day people win the Virginia Lottery.Where a ticket is purchased does not determine whether or not it’s a winner. It’s true – some areas that have a larger population base tend to sell more tickets. Statistically speaking,it makes sense that these locations would have more winners,simply because they sell more tickets.

But,everyone has the same chance of winning,no matter where they purchase their ticket. Feel free to search for winners in your area here.

Losing a lottery ticket is almost like losing cash. Lottery tickets are bearer instruments. Unless you sign your winning ticket,anyone else can claim the prize.

Instant Games:

• Scratchers:An instant classic.Your best bet for quick fun.

• Fast Play Games:Play in an instant.Win on the spot.No scratching required.

Daily Games:Chances to win twice a day,seven days a week.

• Pick 3.Most popular game.$500 top prize.
• Pick 4.A number lover’s dream come true.$5,000 top prize.
• Cash 5.Classic lotto feel,modern features.$100,000 top prize.

Jackpot Games:

• Mega Millions & Powerball.Biggest jackpots around.Both games drawn twice a week.
• Win for Life & Decades of Dollars.Jackpots paid over time.Both games drawn twice a week.

Simple.If you win a cash prize of $600 or less,just take the signed ticket to any Virginia Lottery retailer.

If you want to go to a Lottery Customer Service Center or one of our two Prize Zone locations,you need to make sure you bring your Social Security card or an official document with your Social Security number for all prizes of $100 or more. You also need to bring a photo I.D.

Want to mail in your winning ticket?For prizes of $100 or more,just make sure to put your Social Security number along with your signature on the back of the ticket.

Keep in mind,if you want to cash a winning check greater than $1,000 at Bank of America (that’s our bank by the way) be preprared to show two forms of I.D.For a list of acceptable IDs,Click here.

For the best answer to this question,check with the appropriate taxing authority (Federal,State,or Local).You may find information at www.irs.gov or www.tax.virginia.gov.You should also consult a tax professional for assistance.

Yes.You can claim any prize by mailing your signedticket to:

Virginia Lottery Claims
P.O. Box 1254
Richmond,VA 23218-1254

Just to be safe,we suggest you use certified or registered mail,and provide your complete name and address information on the envelope.Don’t forget to write your Social Security number on the back of tickets worth $100 or more.

You gotta be 18 or older.

Sure,with the exception of "Win for Life" prizes.Winners can decide how to share a prize when they claim it.

Cash 5 is designed like most lottery games.Most of the prize money the Lottery puts into the game goes into the top prize.

Every time we talk to players about our games,the #1 feature they are concerned about is the maximum amount of money they can win.

We recognize that putting money into other prizes,too,is very worthwhile and makes the game more satisfying for players. Players win other prizes much more often than top prizes. So,while most players tell us all they care about is the top prize,we try to put an appropriate amount of money into other prizes,too.

1. Hold Scratcher ticket in your left hand.
2. Hold coin or other scratching device in your right hand. (for left-handed players:reverse)
3. Apply coin to ticket in a back-and-forth motion.
4. If scratching reveals a winning ticket,jump up and down and shout,“I won!”

Click here for information on what games are available. Click on a game name to learn how to play and how many prizes are available.

Yes.You can ask your Virginia Lottery retailer for a future play ticket for Mega Millions,Powerball,Win For Life,Decades of Dollars,Cash 5,Pick 4 and Pick 3.

There are nine different ways to win a prize.Click here for details.

Please text the following keywords to 82568:
Game:Keyword:
Pick 3DAILY
Pick 4DAILY
Cash 5DAILY
Mega Millions MEGA
PowerballPOWERBALL
Win for LifeWFL
Decades of DollarsDOD

When you purchase a subscription,you receive one set of numbers for the entire duration of the subscription. That same set of numbers is automatically played each drawing,and if you win,we notify you!

If you don’t like your numbers or want to change them,you won’t be able to do that once your subscription has started. We can’t change or cancel them once the wagers have already been placed in our system. Much like when you purchase a Mega Millions or Win for Life ticket from a clerk at one of our retail locations,those plays cannot be cancelled.

A Virginia Lottery app is definitely something that’s on our radar! Stay tuned. Feel free to tell us what you would like to see in an app. Click here to send us an email.

Please email us and provide the name of the store,the store’s address and any other important information you might want to include.

With a subscription,we make it easy for you! Here is how we notify our subscribers when they win:

If you win the jackpot with a subscription,a Virginia Lottery representative will contact you with instructions on how to claim your prize.

If you win prizes $150 to $250,000 for Mega Millions OR $30 to $52,000 for Win for Life,the Lottery will mail you a check within three weeks of the drawing.

If you win $2,$3,$7 or $10 prizes in Mega Millions OR $2 during your subscription for Win for Life,you will receive one check at the end of your subscription for the total of those prizes.

The person who previously had your phone number may have signed up for the service. If you wish to cancel alerts,please text STOP to 82568 (or reply to the last text you received).

Check out our new GameRoom!

Don’t feel like picking your own numbers? Use Easy Pick and let the computer choose for you!

Looking for raffle results? Click here to view winners from past Raffle drawings.

Remember that prizes can be redeemed for 180 days from the date of the drawing.

Write,call,email.We’re here for ya!

PHONE:804-692-7777

Virginia Lottery Communications Department
900 E. Main Street
13th Floor
Richmond,VA 23219

E-MAIL:info@valottery.com

Why would you want to wait?Seriously,you have 180 days from the date of the draw for draw games and 180 days from the official game end date for Scratchers.

Send us a written proposal 60 days before the event.We"ll consider it.

Make sure you include:
• Event name,location and date(s)
• Available sponsorship levels and the benefits of each
• Previous event attendance
• Any media exposure or marketing value provided to event sponsors

Please send the proposal to:Virginia Lottery,Attn:Community Relations & Sponsorship Manager,900 East Main Street,Richmond,VA 23219 or call (804) 692-7778 with any questions.

We post detailed information about all of our Scratcher games (including top prizes remaining) on this web site.It’s the most current source and it’s updated daily.You can also contact us by clicking here.

When both of the following events have occurred in any Scratcher game:

1. The last instant win top prize has been claimed;
2. All second-chance top prize drawings,if any,have been held;

the Virginia Lottery will:

a) notify all Lottery retailers and Customer Service Centers to stop selling the game immediately;
b) automatically block future orders via the Lottery’s computer systems;
c) automatically update the web site on the next calendar day that no top prizes remain.

If you don’t see a particular Scratcher game listed,it’s probably expired and you won’t be able to claim a prize from that game anymore.

The overall odds of winning are established when a game is printed and are calculated by dividing the total number of tickets printed by the total number of prizes available. If there were 500,000 prizes in 2,000,000 tickets,for example,the overall odds would be 1 in 4. This does not guarantee a winner every fourth ticket,or even every eighth or tenth ticket. When Scratcher tickets are printed,prizes are randomly distributed throughout the pack. Although a particular string of 5 or 10 tickets may not produce a winner,another string of tickets could produce several winning tickets.

Tickets went on sale Sunday,January 31,2010. The first Powerball draw that included Virginia Lottery tickets was held Wednesday,February 3,2010.

We’re working on it! Stay tuned…

The Virginia Lottery does not charge for the service,but certain data and messaging rates may apply based on your mobile phone plan. Please check with your phone company.

Please text the keyword JACKPOT to 82568. You will then be asked which jackpot alerts you would like either Mega Millions or Powerball and at what level would you like to receive an alert -- $75 million,$150 million or $200 million.

Don’t want alerts? Type in the following keyword to 82568:
AnythingSTOP
Pick 3,4,and Cash 5NODAILY
Mega MillionsNOMEGA
PowerballNOPOWERBALL
Win for LifeNOWFL
Decades of DollarsNO DOD

Please text the keyword HELP to 82568.

Your subscription usually starts about five draws out from the day you register. The reason for this is because there is some processing time,and we need to allow time for your subscription payment to clear your bank account. We promise it’s worth the wait!

Yes. By law,all Virgiia Lottery profits are required to be used by the Commonwealth for K-12 education. For more information,including year-by-year sales and profits figures,click here .

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