How to Play in Virginia

Powerball and Mega Millions are really easy to play in Virginia because you can take part online. Play over the internet and you can even set up a subscription to make sure you never miss out. Here’s more about what you need to do.

Powerball

Powerball drawings take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday night. Ticket sales cut off at 10:00 p.m. ET on the night of a drawing. Follow these steps to play Powerball in Virginia:

• Start by setting up an online account. It’s an easy alternative to visiting a Virginia Lottery retailer.
• Pick your numbers – five from 1 to 69 in the first field, plus one Powerball from a separate set of 1 to 26. Alternatively, you can select the Easy Pick option if you want a random set.
• Decide whether to add the Power Play option. This adds to the cost of a ticket, but means that any non-jackpot prize you win will be increased by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 10x its value.
• Choose your drawings. The Multi-Draw option allows you to play your numbers in 39 consecutive drawings if you are in a store, or 156 drawings (a year’s worth) online.

Once you have bought your ticket, wait for the next drawing to find out if you are a winner. You need to match all six winning numbers to get the jackpot, but you are guaranteed a prize if you match the Powerball or at least three of the five main white balls.

Mega Millions

Mega Millions draws are held on Tuesday and Friday nights. You have longer to get your tickets in, as sales do not stop until 10:45 p.m. ET. You can fill out a playslip at an authorized retailer or play online. This is how to play Mega Millions in Virginia:

• Choose five numbers from 1 to 70, and a Mega Ball from 1 to 25. You can get an Easy Pick for an entirely random set, or select some of your own numbers and let the computer add the rest.
• Consider adding the Megaplier for a small additional cost. A separate draw takes place to determine whether non-jackpot winnings will be multiplied by 2, 3, 4 or 5 for anyone who adds this option.
• Specify how many consecutive drawings you want to play, up to a maximum of 26.
• Select the Just the Jackpot option to give you two plays at a discounted cost. The twist is that you can only win the grand prize. You are not eligible to win in any of the lower tiers so you have to match all the numbers. This is only available at retail stores.

You win prizes by matching the numbers you have picked to those that are drawn. You only need to get the same Mega Ball to win a payout, and prize values increase as you match more numbers. Just like with Powerball, the jackpot starts at $20 million and rises every time it is not won.

Additional Play Options in Virginia

The Virginia Lottery’s Auto-Renewal feature allows you to set a subscription running for either Powerball or Mega Millions and just leave it. Select your favorite numbers once and wait to find out if they win.

If you’re at a retail store, you also have the option to play a Future Draw on a special date in the future, or you can repeat a previous play so that you don’t have to fill out all your selections again.

You have to be at least 18 years old to play the lottery in the Old Dominion. If you win a prize, the deadline for claiming it is 180 days after the draw date. Winners of $10 million or more have been able to remain anonymous since 2019.

The Virginia Lottery

Among the state’s biggest winner are J.R. and Peggy Triplett of Winchester, who landed a state high $239 million on Mega Millions in February 2004. Virginia’s first Powerball winner was Dave Honeywell of Fredericksburg, who pocketed $217 million in February 2013 with a ticket he purchased at Richmond International Airport as he was preparing to fly out on a business trip.

Money raised from ticket sales goes towards prizes, operating expenses and retailer commission, with the rest going to support public education at all ages.