In a single 12-month period, the Virginia lottery became the first state to sell more lottery tickets online than in-person, making history.
The Virginia Lottery just revealed that, during its fiscal year that concluded on June 30, 2024, it sold a record $5.521 billion worth of tickets. Sales of tickets increased by over 20% from $4.612 billion in 2023.
Over $3 billion of the purchases were made online, lottery officials informed the Lottery Post, an online news outlet covering the U.S. lottery market. Approximately $2.45 billion came from lottery sales at physical stores.
On July 1, 2020, the Virginia Lottery launched online games and ticket sales. Annual internet sales have risen in each of the last four years, reaching a record high in the fiscal year 2024, according to Virginia Lottery spokesperson John Hagerty.
Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Dakota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia are the only nine states that allow online lottery games. Additionally, Washington, DC, permits iLottery. Late next year, Massachusetts is getting ready to open its online lottery market.
The iLottery jurisdiction with the highest annual online sales compared to in-person sales is Virginia. According to Hagerty, in-person sales have increased in tandem with online sales, although lottery merchants may find the online numbers worrying. There are about 5,300 companies that sell lottery tickets in person through the Virginia Lottery.
Benefit to the Public
Public education in grades K–12 is the main beneficiary of the Virginia Lottery. Public schools receive about $2.3 million every day from the lottery.
Over $13.6 billion of lottery winnings since the Virginia Lottery's inception in 1999 have been used to fund public education in elementary and secondary schools. Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) of Virginia praised the lottery's most recent financial results.
"Over the course of my administration, we have been able to achieve record funding for K-12 education, allowing for increased opportunities in the classroom,” Youngkin said. “I am so thrilled these record profits will help provide the necessary support and resources for Virginia’s students.”
Profits from the Virginia Lottery provide almost 10% of the state's K–12 education budget. With game sales of $5.5 billion in FY24, the lottery made a record-breaking $934 million in profit.
$1 million as a wedding present
After winning $1 million on Cash4Life in the August 3 drawing, a recent Virginia Lottery winner is using the funds to move his son out of his basement.
Since being married in April, Aaron Andrews and his spouse have been residing in Prince William County in his father's basement. After playing the lottery for a long time, his father's ticket finally matched the five white numbers that were drawn: 25, 35, 36, 41, and 59.
Due to Andrews' father's good fortune in beating the odds of over 7.28 million, he was given the choice of receiving $1,000 every week for the rest of his life or accepting a $1 million one-time payment. After selecting the $1 million pre-tax option, the senior Andrews gave his son the money.
"I have a great father who has done nothing but look out for me,” Aaron told the Virginia Lottery while redeeming the ticket last week. “This was the best way to get him out of the basement,” his dad said jokingly.
In addition to the 37% federal tax on the $1 million in cash, Virginia levies a 5.75% lottery winnings tax. The younger Andrews will pocket almost $572,500 after taxes.
