Founded by the People
The Virginia Lottery was created by voter referendum in 1987, when Commonwealth residents approved a constitutional amendment authorizing a state-run lottery. The first ticket went on sale September 20, 1988, making Virginia one of the later East Coast states to launch a lottery. The decision to put lottery creation to a public vote — rather than a legislative act — gave the program strong democratic legitimacy from the start.
100% for Public Education
Virginia is one of only a handful of states where 100% of lottery profits are constitutionally mandated to go to K-12 public education. This is not a policy choice that can be changed by the legislature — it is written into the Virginia Constitution. In fiscal year 2025, the Virginia Lottery contributed approximately $901 million to public schools, representing roughly 10% of the state's total K-12 education funding. Since inception, the total contribution has exceeded $17.3 billion.
Unique Games and Innovations
Virginia has introduced several notable games and features over the years:
- Bank a Million: Launched as a Virginia-exclusive game, it remains the only lottery game in the country that advertises its top prize as an after-tax amount. The Virginia Lottery pays the winner's state and federal taxes on the $1 million prize.
- Fireball Add-on: Available on Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 5, the Fireball number gives players an extra digit that can substitute for any drawn number, creating additional winning combinations on a single ticket.
- EZ Match: Added to Cash 5 as an instant-win overlay — players can win prizes immediately without waiting for the drawing.
- Cash4Life to Millionaire for Life: Cash4Life ended in Virginia on February 21, 2026, and was replaced by Millionaire for Life beginning February 22, 2026. The new game offers the same top prize structure ($1 million per year for life) but with different odds and number pools.
Online Sales Pioneer
Virginia was among the first states in the nation to sell lottery tickets online, launching digital sales in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The move expanded access to players who could not visit retail locations during lockdowns and has remained a permanent channel. Virginia players can now purchase draw game tickets, instant-win games, and subscriptions through the Virginia Lottery website and mobile app.
Virginia Lottery Today
With eight draw games, a robust online platform, and nearly four decades of continuous operation, the Virginia Lottery is a major fixture in the Commonwealth. Its constitutionally protected education mandate ensures that every dollar of profit goes directly to Virginia's public schools — a commitment that has now totaled more than $17 billion. For a complete breakdown of every Virginia draw game, see our Virginia Lottery Games Overview.
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