West Virginia Lottery Industry

West Virginia Launches Online Lottery

By Will Brown Contributor Updated: 15 November 2024

Will Brown Contributor

William Brown is a Content Writer with strong expertise in US and global gambling industry trends. Having covered the local sports betting market since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, William approaches his gambling guides with passion and diligence. He is a keen player of online slots, blackjack, and a regular sports bettor.

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The West Virginia Lottery has become the 14th state to permit online lottery ticket sales through its new iPlay platform. Launched in collaboration with NeoPollard Interactive, the website also offers instant-play online games such as scratch cards and slot-like titles. The debut comes amidst record profits from the state’s online gambling sector.

The iPlay platform sells tickets to popular statewide and national draw games such as Powerball, Mega Millions, and Lotto America. There are also Quick Pick features, auto-renewal subscriptions, and a PlayOn loyalty program that awards online and retail purchases. Members of the program can earn points to participate in second-chance draws or other promotions.

Inspired by the state’s thriving online casino industry, the platform provides 24/7 player support and responsible gambling features. NeoPollard’s involvement also ensures a suite of services to boost the sustainability of the project, including payout and risk services, customer retention, and marketing.

WV Lottery Breaking Revenue Records

The website is set to make the highly profitable local lottery industry even more convenient for players. In the wake of the launch, the director of the West Virginia Lottery John Meyers revealed that the state was the first to launch a new iLottery platform, loyalty program, and website concurrently.

He also revealed that the program would benefit land-based retailers through partnerships. “Not only will iLottery help generate revenue for the state with all proceeds going towards helping seniors and veterans, education, and tourism, but it will also help improve sales at our brick-and-mortar retailers as they partner with PlayOn,” said Meyers.

The West Virginia Lottery reported record gross revenues of more than $1.32 billion in 2023. Of these, $564 million was raised for state programs. In addition to operating the lottery, the organization also acts as the sole regulator for online gambling in the state after online casinos were legalized in 2020.

West Virginia Online Gambling Goes From Strength-to-Strength

There are now 10 online casinos in the state, with Caesars recently launching the Horseshoe Online Casino in West Virginia. This is the third state that has hosted the Horseshoe brand and joins Caesars and Caesars Palace in the company’s WV gaming suite. The new online lottery platform seeks to provide casino-like games that will bring even more profits to the state-run program.

Another advancement in the local casino industry saw the international software giant Play’n GO expand through the US market via partnerships with DraftKings West Virginia. The company is one of the most well-known online gambling brands in the European market, with hit titles such as Piggy Blitz and Fire Joker now available to WV’s players.

Recent figures for October have also seen West Virginia’s sports betting handle reach highs last seen in January. The monthly betting handle reached $50 million in the state, representing an 18% increase from the previous year. However, revenues were down 25.6% from 2023 due to the football season favoring bettors more than operators.