| We're game to provide you with the all the facts! We've developed a list of "Frequently Asked Questions" to help you find the information you need. If this section doesn't answer your question, feel free to give us a shout! |
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| 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. | |
| 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. | |
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 |
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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.
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| 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! | |
| 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. | |
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We're available to help you Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, U.S. Eastern Time - closed holidays.
Lottery Headquarters - View Map
900 E. Main Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804)692-7000
(804)692-7102 (fax)
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Prize Zone West - View Map
1620 E. Parham Rd.
Richmond, VA 23228
(804)692-7950
(804)266-1748 (fax)
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Shenandoah Valley - View Map
1790-26 E. Market Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
(540)433-7979
(540)433-9299 (fax)
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Hampton Roads - View Map
3305 W. Mercury Blvd.
Hampton, VA 23666
(757)825-7800
(757)825-7813 (fax)
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Central Virginia - View Map
Longwood Village Shopping Cntr.
1506 S. Main Street
Farmville, VA 23901
(434)392-7294
(434)392-7292 (fax)
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Roanoke Valley - View Map
1287 Towne Square Blvd.
Roanoke, VA 24012
(540)561-7011
(540)561-7402 (fax)
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Southwest Virginia - View Map
408 E. Main Street
Abingdon, VA 24210
(276)676-5540
(276)676-5548 (fax)
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Northern Virginia - View Map
14550 Potomac Mills Rd.
Woodbridge, VA 22192
(703)494-1501
(703)494-0640 (fax)
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