The West Virginia Lottery sold its first instant tickets
back on January 9, 1986, and more than 1.5 million tickets were sold on that
first day. The West Virginia Lottery first instant game was called the West
Virginia Jackpot, and the West Virginia Jackpot’s top prize was $5,000 if you
hit the winning numbers from the lottery results.
Presently, the West
Virginia Lottery has more than $1.1
billion in sales every year and produced more than $520 million a year which
benefit the people of WV. WV Lottery
players have also won more than $3 Billion in prizes. Lottery officials reported $1.27 billion in
sales in fiscal year 2022. The near $1.3 billion is the highest total sales
that the state of West Virginia has seen in the last five years, according to Myers.
Since the WV Lottery started, it has generated more than $9 billion in proceeds that have helped support public education, senior services, and the West Virginia tourism industry.
Lottery proceeds has helped improve the quality of life of all West Virginians. The West Virginia Legislature uses lottery proceeds to help improve public education from K through 12 to higher education through support of the School Building Authority, the West Virginia Department of Education, the Higher Education Policy Commission, education improvement bonds and the PROMISE Scholarship Program.
Lottery proceeds also help the elderly through the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services, which provide nutrition programs, in-home care services and other programs and services senior citizens. Additionally, Lottery proceeds also go to support the WV’s tourism industry and maintaining and improving West Virginia’s State Parks.
The lottery sells scratch-offs, West Virginia Lottery games including Keno Go, Daily 3, Daily 4, and Cash 25, and Multi-State Lottery games i.e., Powerball with the optional Powerplay, Mega Millions with the optional Megaplier and Lotto America. The WV Lottery also regulate sports wagering, i-gaming, video lottery and table games at the state’s four racetrack casinos and the Greenbrier Resort.
No, West Virginia Lottery tickets can only be purchased at
WV lottery retailers throughout the state.
The state of West Virginia allows winners to remain anonymous regarding his or her name, personal contact information, and likeness; providing that the prize won is one million dollars or more. All other lottery winners are made public and listed in the winner database on wvlottery.com.
You must be 18 years or older to purchase and redeem
lottery tickets in West Virginia. You may be younger than 18 to receive tickets
as gifts and receive prizes. All tickets must be purchased from authorized
lottery retailers in accordance with West Virginia Lottery legislative rules.
If lottery prizes
are unclaimed, the prize money is returned to the prize fund for second chance
drawings, prizes other promotional
efforts. Beginning July 1, 1996, the Unclaimed Prize Fund also paid 1¼% out of
the 7% retailer commission.
Yes, you can claim lottery winnings my mail in Wet Virginia. You can mail your signed ticket to West Virginia Lottery Claims, P.O. Box 2913, Charleston, WV 25330. You
must include a copy of your driver's license or state ID and a copy of your
social security card (if the prize is $601 and above). We recommend that you keep a copy of the
winning ticket.
The W.VA Lottery withholds federal and state taxes from each
prize over $5,000. The rates are 24% for federal taxes and 6.5% for West
Virginia state taxes. Non-US residents’ prizes are subject to federal back-up
withholding.
You have 180 days from the drawing date to collect draw
game cash prizes and 180 days from the game ending date for instant games.
If you lose your winning lottery ticket, you are out of
luck. The West Virginia Lottery is not responsible for lost or stolen tickets.
Once you get a ticket, always sign the back of it so no one else can claim the
winning lottery numbers.
If a lottery winner unfortunately passes away, the West
Virginia Lottery will continue to pay the annual payments, as scheduled, if the
deceased lottery winner has set up and estate, or a trust or a persons named
in his or her will. If the estate or
trust would like to have the cash in a lump sum payment, it is possible through legal
proceedings, but we recommend that you consult with a financial advisor and
lawyer to discuss the process.
The state of West Virginia offers a Video Lottery, which is the legal use of player interactive gaming machines similar to those commonly known as “slot” machines in the casino industry. Back in 1994, the video lottery was approved, with restraints set forth by law, at West Virginia’s four thoroughbred and greyhound racetracks.
The state of West Virginia had some research done by RMS
Strategies. Based on the data from RM strategies, lottery players in West Virginia mainly
consist of married white female (60%), 25 to 44 years old, with a high school
diploma and some college, and an average household income of $20,000 to
$40,000. They job make up consist of
professional / technical and retired personnel.
If you play the lottery with a group of people, as it is
possible for some Lottery prizes from Powerball, Mega Millions, Hot Lotto, and CASH 25 to be shared. Once the group claims the winning ticket,
they must decide at the time of claim.
Some restrictions do apply. The
individuals and their respective shares are reported for tax purposes. Powerball annuity checks are sent to
everyone.
There are a couple of ways to claim a prize depending upon
how much you have won.
Prizes up to $600 or less can be claimed in-person by
visiting any authorized West Virginia Lottery Retailer or you can also claim
your winnings by mailing the lottery.
Prizes $600 and above
can be claimed in-person by visiting the Lottery Headquarters in
Charleston or at the Lottery’s regional office in Weirton. Prizes of more than
$600 can also be claimed through the
mail and sent to the lottery attached
with a filled claim form and a copy of a valid form of government-issued
ID. Always make sure you make a copy of
the winning ticket (front and back) and the claim form before mailing it.
WEST VIRGINIA LOTTERY MAILING ADDRESS
West Virginia Lottery/Claim Center,
PO BOX 2913,
Charleston, WV 25330
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