West Virginia Lottery Games
Founded in November 1984, the first West Virginia Lottery draw took place in January 1986. Today, the West Virginia Lottery participates in several multi-jurisdictional lotteries while also operating a range of locally run games.
West Virginia Lottery proceeds are distributed to schools and educational initiatives, senior citizen programs and services, plus tourism and West Virginia state parks.
Powerball
Powerball is a world-famous lottery renowned for its long odds and often lucrative jackpots.
Powerball tickets cost $2.00, with players choosing five numbers between 1 and 69 plus a Powerball number between 1 and 26. Players can choose their numbers manually or go for a Quick Pick. A Power Play option is also available, costing $1.00 for the chance to multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times.
Players can add Double Play to their ticket for an additional $1.00 using the same set of chosen numbers, for an extra draw with a $10 million jackpot.
Mega Millions
Mega Millions is another world-renowned lottery that’s even harder to win than Powerball, but with a very similar format.
As with Powerball, tickets cost $2.00.
Players must choose five numbers between 1 and 70 and a Mega Ball number between 1 and 25, with a Quick Pick option also being available for random selections. Mega Millions has an additional Megaplier option for $1.00 for the chance to multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times.
Lotto America
Lotto America is a popular multi-jurisdictional game available in 13 states.
Entry costs $1.00, with players choosing five numbers from 1 to 52 and a Star Ball from 1 to 10. Quick Picks are also available for random selections.
For an additional $1.00, players can add the All-Star Bonus Multiplier to boost non-jackpot prizes by up to five times.
KENO GO
KENO GO has multiple entry and stake-based options, plus the opportunity to enhance the base prize by adding the KENO GO BONUS prize multiplier.
Players must decide how many numbers to match from 1 to 10, before choosing the relevant number of selections between 1 and 80, with participants needing to choose a stake of $1.00, $2.00, $3.00, $4.00, $5.00, $10 or $20. Quick Picks are available for random selections.
Players can also add the KENO GO BONUS prize multiplier to double their stake. This prize multiplier is chosen before each draw, for possible multiplication outcomes of 1 (no increase), 3, 4, 5 and 10.
Cash 25
Cash 25 is a straightforward lottery game that costs just $1.00 to enter.
Players must choose six numbers between 1 and 25 or can go for a Quick Pick to play with random selections.
Daily 4
Daily 4 is a Pick 4 game with multiple entry options, with stakes costing $0.50 or $1.00.
Players must choose four numbers from 0 to 9, and because each number is chosen independently, the same number can be chosen repeatedly if desired. Participants then choose whether to bet on matching their numbers in the order drawn, in any order, or to split a $1.00 stake equally between both options.
Daily 3
Daily 3 is a Pick 3 game with multiple entry options, with stakes costing $0.50 or $1.00.
Players must choose three numbers from 0 to 9, and because each number is chosen independently, the same number can be chosen repeatedly if desired. Participants then choose whether to bet on matching their numbers in the order drawn, in any order, or to split a $1.00 stake equally between both options.
West Virginia Lottery Game Schedule
The table below provides an overview of the schedule for each West Virginia lottery game.
| Lottery Game | MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT | SUN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Millions | 23:00 | 23:00 | |||||
| Powerball | 23:00 | 23:00 | 23:00 | ||||
| Lotto America | 22:30 | 22:30 | |||||
| KENO GO | Every three minutes, from 05:01 to 03:46 | ||||||
| Cash 25 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 | |||
| Daily 4 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 | |
| Daily 3 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 | |
West Virginia Lottery Odds and Jackpots
Although Daily 3 has the best odds, the most lucrative jackpots can be obtained through Mega Millions and Powerball.
| Lottery Game | Winning Odds | Minimum Jackpot |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Millions | 1 in 302,575,350 | $40 million |
| Powerball | 1 in 292,201,338 | $40 million |
| Lotto America | 1 in 25,989,600 | $2 million |
| KENO GO | 1 in 8,911,711 | $100,000 |
| Cash 25 | 1 in 177,100 | $25,000 |
| Daily 4 | 1 in 10,000 | $2,500 |
| Daily 3 | 1 in 1,000 | $250 |
West Virginia Lottery Advance Play Options
All West Virginia Lottery games have Advance Play options, with the number of draws that can be entered at once being highlighted in the table below.
| Lottery Game | No. of Advance Draws Players Can Enter |
|---|---|
| Daily 3 | Up to 24 |
| Daily 4 | Up to 24 |
| Cash 25 | Up to 24 |
| Lotto America | Up to 24 |
| Mega Millions | Up to 24 |
| Powerball | Up to 36 |
| KENO GO | Up to 100 |
West Virginia Lottery Scratch-Offs
Scratch-offs can pay out multiple prizes, with jackpots typically being proportional to the cost of the scratch-off itself.
West Virginia Lottery scratch-offs range inprice from $1.00 to $20, with jackpots ranging from $100 to $250,000!
Lower-priced games have winning odds of around 1 in 5, with more lucrative games having winning odds of around 1 in 3.
Detailed information about scratch-offs, prize tiers, payouts and odds is available on the official West Virginia Lottery website .
West Virginia Lottery Tax Information
The tables below highlight taxes payable on West Virginia Lottery prizes.
West Virginia Lottery Taxes for U.S. citizens and residents amount to 30.5% on prizes over $5,000, as detailed below.
| Prize Value | Tax | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Over $5,000 | State Taxes | 6.5% |
| Federal Taxes | 24% |
West Virginia Lottery Taxes for non-U.S. citizens or non-residents amount to 36.5% on all prizes over $5,000, as detailed below.
| Prize Value | Tax | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Over $5,000 | State Taxes | 6.5% |
| Federal Taxes | 30% |
How to Claim West Virginia Lottery Payouts
There are multiple ways that winnings can be collected in West Virginia.
Prizes of $600 or less can be claimed:
- At West Virginia Lottery Retailers
- By mail
Prizes exceeding $600 can be claimed:
- At any West Virginia Lottery Claim Center
- By mail
All mailed-in claims for prizes exceeding $600 must include the signed winning lottery ticket, a copy of the claimant’s driver’s license or state ID, and a Social Security card.
How to Contact the West Virginia Lottery
| Operator | Games | Official Website | Main Address | Local Tel. No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia Lottery | Powerball Mega Millions Lotto America KENO GO Cash 25 Daily 4 Daily 3 | https://wvlottery.com/ | 900 Pennsylvania Avenue, Charleston, WV 25302, USA | 1-800-982-2274 |
West Virginia Lottery FAQs
Which West Virginia Lottery scratch-off has the biggest jackpot?
Although the value of the most lucrative West Virginia Lottery scratch-offs change on a periodic basis, the biggest jackpot is typically around $250,000.
Can I buy West Virginia Lottery tickets online?
No, tickets are only sold at authorized West Virginia Lottery retailers.
How much tax is paid on West Virginia Lottery winnings?
Taxation on West Virginia Lottery winnings depends on player residency and citizenship.
For U.S. citizens and residents, 30.5% tax is levied on all West Virginia Lottery prizes over $5,000, of which 6.5% is state tax and 24% is federal tax.
Non-U.S. citizens or non-residents pay 36.5% tax on all prizes over $5,000, of which 6.5% is state tax and 30% is federal tax.
How do West Virginia Lottery winners get paid?
Some West Virginia lottery games pay in regular installments or lump sums, while others pay out lump sums only.
How long does it take to receive West Virginia Lottery winnings?
All prizes claimed in person at West Virginia Lottery Retailers or West Virginia Lottery Claim Centers are typically paid out the same day.
All prizes claimed by mail will be processed in the order received. Although the West Virginia Lottery does not establish a specific timeline for payouts, players can expect to wait up to a month for winnings.
