Want a chance to win big jackpot prizes up to the millions? The Virginia ABC lottery offers fun and exciting lottery games that provide the chance to score huge payouts. This comprehensive guide will provide everything you need to know about playing and winning the Virginia ABC lottery.
What is the Virginia ABC?
The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, known as ABC, is a government agency that oversees and regulates the sale of alcoholic beverages within the state of Virginia. Established in 1934 after the end of prohibition, the Virginia ABC operates more than 365 retail stores that sell distilled spirits.
In 1987, the Virginia ABC introduced a state-run lottery program. The Virginia ABC lottery was created to help generate additional revenue for educational programs, public safety initiatives, transportation, and more. Over the past 30+ years, the lottery has awarded over $9 billion in prize money to lucky winners!
Breakdown of Virginia ABC Lottery Games
The Virginia lottery offers a wide selection of lottery games to suit different playing styles and preferences. Let’s take a look at the different game options:
Daily Draw Games
Pick 3
- Pick 3 requires you to choose 3 numbers between 0 and 9.
- Drawings are held twice daily, midday and evening.
- Prizes start at $25 for matching 2 numbers.
- Hit all 3 numbers to win up to $500.
Pick 4
- Choose 4 numbers between 0 and 9.
- Also has 2 drawings per day.
- Match 2 numbers to win $50.
- Hit all 4 to win up to $5,000.
Cash 5
- For Cash 5, pick 5 numbers between 1 and 42.
- One drawing held every night.
- Match 2 numbers to win a free ticket.
- Hit all 5 numbers to win the jackpot starting at $100,000.
Jackpot Games
Mega Millions
- Select 5 main numbers (1-70) and a Mega Ball (1-25).
- Drawings held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 pm EST.
- Jackpots start at $20 million and can grow to over $1 billion.
- Overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.
Powerball
- Choose 5 numbers (1-69) and a Powerball (1-26).
- Drawings take place Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59 pm EST.
- Minimum jackpot is $40 million and has reached over $1.5 billion.
- Odds of winning any prize are 1 in 24.87.
Bank a Million
- Pick 6 numbers from 1 to 42 for this Virginia-only game.
- Drawings are every Wednesday and Saturday at 11 pm.
- Typically has jackpots from $500,000 to $1,500,000.
- Overall odds sit at around 1 in 1.7 million.
Scratcher Games
Virginia currently offers around 50+ different scratcher games ranging in price from $1 to $30 per ticket. Some current scratcher themes include:
- Instant jackpot games with top prizes up to $1 million.
- Licensed games like Ultimate Millions.
- Seasonal games for holidays.
- Specialty games like Crossword tickets.
New scratcher ticket games are introduced regularly so there‘s always something new to play. According to the Virginia Lottery, scratchers have overall odds between 1 in 4.5 to 1 in 5.7 of winning a prize.
When and Where to Buy Lottery Tickets
Purchasing lottery tickets in Virginia could not be easier. You have two options:
Online
Visit valottery.com to create an account and order draw game and scratcher tickets online. Registration only takes a few minutes. Benefits include:
- Convenience of playing from home.
- Ability to store favorite numbers and play on a schedule.
- 2nd chance opportunities with non-winning tickets.
You can also check winning numbers and prize status through your online account. Online ticket sales end at 10:15 pm on draw nights.
In-Person
You can buy lottery tickets at more than 5,200 retail locations across Virginia. Some options include:
- Virginia ABC stores
- Gas stations like Wawa, Sheetz and Exxon.
- Grocery stores like Kroger, Safeway and Giant.
- Convenience stores like 7-Eleven and Mini Mart.
Look for the official Virginia Lottery sign. You must provide ID proving you are at least 18 years old when purchasing tickets in person. Sales cut off 15 minutes before each drawing.
How Lottery Drawings Work
Drawings choose the winning numbers for lottery games on set nights and times. Here is the drawing schedule:
- Daily games: Midday drawings at 1:59 pm and evening at 11 pm.
- Mega Millions: Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 pm EST.
- Powerball: Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59 pm EST.
- Bank a Million: Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11 pm EST.
For Mega Millions and Powerball, nine numbered balls are drawn – the first five are the main numbers while the sixth is the Mega Ball or Powerball. Daily games use a 4-number draw machine. Drawings can be watched live online through the lottery website.
Jackpot amounts depend on ticket sales and the number of winners. Parimutuel prize structures mean amounts can grow to astronomical levels if no player matches all numbers. Even matching some numbers can result in nice prize winnings, however.
Claiming Your Lottery Winnings
Matched all six numbers? Congrats, you may just be Virginia‘s newest millionaire! Here are the requirements for claiming Virginia ABC lottery prizes:
- Under $600 – Claim at any authorized lottery retailer in the state.
- $601 to $100,000 – Claim at any of the five Virginia Lottery customer service centers.
- Over $100,000 – Prizes above $100k must be redeemed at the Lottery headquarters in Richmond.
Don‘t forget these steps when claiming:
- Sign ticket immediately – Be sure to sign the back to establish ownership. Lost unsigned tickets cannot be paid.
- 180 day claim period – Prizes expire after 180 days from the draw date or game end.
- Valid photo ID – You will need to show a valid driver’s license or other government-issued photo ID.
- Tax forms – Winners will need to complete a W-9 for any prize over $600 for tax purposes.
Follow these steps and you‘ll be enjoying your lottery winnings in no time!
Where Does Lottery Revenue Go?
In Fiscal Year 2021, the Virginia lottery generated $765 million in revenue. By law, all profits from the lottery must go towards specific state causes. Here is where lottery revenue is allocated:
- K-12 education – Over $650 million last year went to Virginia public schools. This equaled 7% of statewide education funding.
- Problem gambling treatment – Around $1 million went to programs that prevent and treat gambling addictions.
- State programs and services – Funds support projects like school construction, Virginia State Police, transportation, and more.
So by playing the lottery, you are both having fun and supporting great causes in Virginia. It‘s a win-win!
ABC Store Lottery Promotions
Many Virginia ABC stores run exclusive lottery promotions and contests for their customers. For example:
- Second chance contests – Enter your losing scratcher or draw game tickets for another shot at prizes. Drawings are held regularly.
- Points for draws – Some stores award points for buying certain products that can be used to enter prize drawings.
- Ticket discounts – Spend a certain amount and get coupons for free or discounted lottery tickets.
- Bonus tickets – Make a big purchase and get free scratch or draw game tickets.
Contact your local Virginia ABC store to see if they are running any special lottery promotions. It‘s a great way to get extra chances at winning.
Handy Tips for Winning the Lottery
While luck is the biggest factor, there are some strategies Virginia lottery players use to try improving their odds:
- Avoid repetitive numbers – Skip sequence choices like 1-2-3-4-5 or 8-9-10-11-12.
- Mix it up – Choose a mix of odd/even and low/high numbers. You want variety.
- Consider unpopular games – Fewer players means better odds in games like Pick 4.
- Join a pool – Splitting tickets with others gives more number coverage.
- Use key dates – Consider using birthdays, anniversaries, and memorable years as your picks.
- Don‘t miss drawings – Be sure to purchase tickets before the cutoff times for each drawing.
- Second chance entries – Always enter your non-winning tickets into second chance contests.
- Double check tickets – Many players miss winning numbers and lose out on prizes.
There‘s no foolproof method to win, but these tips might help improve your lottery luck. You just never know!
Notable Virginia Lottery Wins
Since 1999, the Virginia Lottery has created over 190 millionaires through massive jackpot wins and scratcher games. Here are some of the biggest Virginia lottery success stories:
- A 2022 Bank a Million ticket won a retired Glen Allen woman a $2.16 million jackpot prize.
- In 2021, a nursing home worker from Cumberland won a $1 million Mega Millions prize from a ticket he bought at a gas station.
- A 2020 trip to her local 7-Eleven resulted in a Virginia Beach woman scoring $1 million after buying a winning scratcher ticket.
- A 2019 Richmond man won $50,000 playing Powerball from a ticket he purchased while getting his morning coffee.
- One of the biggest wins came in 2004 when a Richmond airport passenger won a $180 million Mega Millions jackpot.
- The largest Virginia prize on record is $254 million won by a Suffolk resident who hit the Powerball jackpot back in 2012.
You really could be next to join the millionaire‘s club! Will this be your lucky day?
Key Lottery Rules and Reminders
Here are some final key regulations and tips to keep in mind:
- You must be at least 18 years old to play Virginia ABC lottery games.
- Only purchase tickets during legal hours – sales are prohibited from midnight to 6 am.
- Be sure to check website for the latest jackpot amounts before playing.
- Always verify the accuracy of your ticket before purchase to avoid mistakes.
- Sign the back of tickets immediately after purchase.
- Double-check numbers to confirm you have a winner.
- Claim prizes within 180 days of the draw date.
- Play responsibly and be sure to stay within your entertainment budget.
We wish you the best of luck winning big with the Virginia ABC lottery! Let us know if you have any other questions.
