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Under Virginia law, all unclaimed prizes go to the Virginia Literary Fund, which is also used for educational purposes.<ref>Virginia Code § 58.1–4020.</ref> As of 2009, $190.1 million in unclaimed prizes have been donated to the Literary Fund.<ref name=money>{{cite web|url=http://www.valottery.com/money/|title=Where Money Goes|publisher=Virginia State Lottery|accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref>
Under Virginia law, all unclaimed prizes go to the Virginia Literary Fund, which is also used for educational purposes.<ref>Virginia Code § 58.1–4020.</ref> As of 2009, $190.1 million in unclaimed prizes have been donated to the Literary Fund.<ref name=money>{{cite web|url=http://www.valottery.com/money/|title=Where Money Goes|publisher=Virginia State Lottery|accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref>


In 2005, four mobility-impaired residents sued the Lottery seeking accommodations for wheelchair-confined customers. Their suit was initially dismissed, but the case was appealed to the Virginia Supreme Court, which ruled in 2009 that the Lottery must make accommodations for such customers. In sum, the plaintiffs argued that the Lottery should require retail establishments to become wheelchair accessible as a condition of being authorized to sell lottery tickets.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/feb/13/lottgat13_20100213-125801-ar-9380/|title=Va. lottery plaintiff: Progress is slow|work=Associated Press|date=February 13, 2010|accessdate=2010-07-01}}</ref>
In 2005, four mobility-impaired residents sued the Lottery seeking accommodations for wheelchair-confined customers. Their suit was initially dismissed, but the case was appealed to the Virginia Supreme Court, which ruled in 2009 that the Lottery must make accommodations for such customers. In sum, the plaintiffs argued that the Lottery should require retail establishments to become wheelchair accessible as a condition of being authorized to sell lottery tickets.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/feb/13/lottgat13_20100213-125801-ar-9380/|title=Va. lottery plaintiff: Progress is slow|agency=Associated Press|date=February 13, 2010|accessdate=2010-07-01}}</ref>


==Governance==
==Governance==
Line 73: Line 73:


===Pick 4===
===Pick 4===
Pick 4 also is twice daily, drawing four sets of balls 0 through 9. Except for Boost and Pairs, Pick 4 offers the same kinds of bets as Pick 3. The payout percentage is approximately 50%. An exact Pick 4 match pays $2,500 for a 50-cent wager, or $5,000 for a $1 play. The Lottery limits sales of Pick 4 number combinations to 1,200 per drawing; [[quad]]s, such as 4444, commonly sell out. A sold-out Pick 4 number pays up to $6 million in total prizes.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=lottery.com|url=http://www.valottery.com/pick4/howtoplay.asp|title=Game Information: Pick 4|publisher=Virginia State Lottery|accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lottery.com/news/official_rules.cfm/GameID/VA4|title=Lottery Official Rules|accessdate=2010-07-02}}</ref>
Pick 4 also is twice daily, drawing four sets of balls 0 through 9. Except for Boost and Pairs, Pick 4 offers the same kinds of bets as Pick 3. The payout percentage is approximately 50%. An exact Pick 4 match pays $2,500 for a 50-cent wager, or $5,000 for a $1 play. The Lottery limits sales of Pick 4 number combinations to 1,200 per drawing; quads, such as 4444, commonly sell out. A sold-out Pick 4 number pays up to $6 million in total prizes.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=lottery.com|url=http://www.valottery.com/pick4/howtoplay.asp|title=Game Information: Pick 4|publisher=Virginia State Lottery|accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lottery.com/news/official_rules.cfm/GameID/VA4|title=Lottery Official Rules|accessdate=2010-07-02}}</ref>


===Cash 5===
===Cash 5===
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===Win For Life ===
===Win For Life ===
[[Win For Life]] (Georgia, Kentucky & Virginia) draws 6 of 42 numbers plus a Free Ball. Matching all 6 regular numbers wins $1000 a week for life. Matching 5 plus the free ball wins $52,000. It is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays. Games are $1. '''Unlike Mega Millions and Powerball, there is no [[present value|cash option]] for the top prize'''.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=lottery.com|url=http://www.valottery.com/winforlife/howtoplay.asp|title=Game Information: Win For Life|publisher=Virginia State Lottery|accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=lottery.com|url=http://www.lottery.com/news/official_rules.cfm/GameID/WFL642|title=Lottery Official Rules|accessdate=2010-07-02}}</ref>(Initially, Virginia winners could choose a $520,000 lump sum; however, the cash option was eliminated without warning.) WFL rules impose a limit of 5 top winners or 12 Second Prize winners per drawing; excess winners receive a parimutuel prize. Top prize is paid as $13,000 quarterly, for a 10-year minimum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.galottery.com/games/draw-games/win-for-life|title=Win For Life|accessdate=2010-08-20|publisher=Georgia Lottery}}</ref>
[[Win For Life]] (Georgia, Kentucky & Virginia) draws 6 of 42 numbers plus a Free Ball. Matching all 6 regular numbers wins $1000 a week for life. Matching 5 plus the free ball wins $52,000. It is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays. Games are $1. '''Unlike Mega Millions and Powerball, there is no [[present value|cash option]] for the top prize'''.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=lottery.com|url=http://www.valottery.com/winforlife/howtoplay.asp|title=Game Information: Win For Life|publisher=Virginia State Lottery|accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=lottery.com|url=http://www.lottery.com/news/official_rules.cfm/GameID/WFL642|title=Lottery Official Rules|accessdate=2010-07-02}}</ref> (Initially, Virginia winners could choose a $520,000 lump sum; however, the cash option was eliminated without warning.) WFL rules impose a limit of 5 top winners or 12 Second Prize winners per drawing; excess winners receive a parimutuel prize. Top prize is paid as $13,000 quarterly, for a 10-year minimum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.galottery.com/games/draw-games/win-for-life|title=Win For Life|accessdate=2010-08-20|publisher=Georgia Lottery}}</ref>


===Mega Millions (multi-lottery game)===
===Mega Millions (multi-lottery game)===

Revision as of 18:35, 22 November 2010

This article is about the lottery in Virginia. For the lottery in West Virginia, see West Virginia Lottery.
Virginia State Lottery
Agency overview
Formed1987
TypeIndependent
Headquarters900 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219
Annual budget$37.7 million[1]
Minister responsible
  • Paula I. Otto, Executive Director
Parent agencyCommonwealth of Virginia
Websitehttp://www.valottery.com

The Virginia State Lottery (Lottery) is run by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its residents voted for a government-run lottery in 1987. It is one of 42 lotteries which sells Mega Millions tickets. It is also one of 44 lotteries offering Powerball tickets. In 2007, the Lottery funded Virginia's K-12 public schools with $437 million,[2] bringing its total (from 1989 to June 2010) to over $7.55 billion.[3] The lottery spends $24 million per year in advertising to promote its gambling activities.[4]

Lottery tickets are sold through local retailers;[5] it is prohibited by law from selling tickets directly through its headquarters, and from selling over the internet.[6] Minors under age 18 cannot play Lottery games and cannot cash winning tickets.[7] Credit cards cannot be used to purchase lottery tickets.[8]

The lottery games include Pick 3, Pick 4, and Cash 5; each is drawn twice daily, as well as numerous scratchcards. Mega Millions is drawn Tuesdays and Fridays; Powerball is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays.

History

Prior to independence, all thirteen original colonies established lotteries, usually more than one, to raise revenue. The lottery proceeds helped establish some of the nation's earliest and most prestigious universities, including Virginia's College of William and Mary. Lottery funds were also used to build churches and libraries.[9] The 1849 Code of Virginia included a prohibition of gambling.

Virginia voters approved a government-run lottery in 1987[10] without designating a particular purpose for Lottery funds. Sales began September 20, 1988. In 1989, the General Assembly directed Lottery proceeds to capital construction projects. From 1990 to 1998, Lottery proceeds went to Virginia's General Fund. Starting in 1999, a provision in Virginia's budget sent Lottery proceeds to local public school divisions to be used solely for educational purposes. In November 2000, Virginia voters approved the creation of the State Lottery Proceeds Fund by an 83.5-point margin.[11] The measure, which is a permanent part of Virginia's Constitution, directs all Lottery profits be used solely for educational purposes. Through 2009, the Lottery has sold $21.1 billion in wagers, of which $7.1 billion in profits were turned over to the Commonwealth. Critics argue that Lottery revenues merely displace other general fund revenues that would otherwise be spent on education without increasing total education funding.[12]

Under Virginia law, all unclaimed prizes go to the Virginia Literary Fund, which is also used for educational purposes.[13] As of 2009, $190.1 million in unclaimed prizes have been donated to the Literary Fund.[1]

In 2005, four mobility-impaired residents sued the Lottery seeking accommodations for wheelchair-confined customers. Their suit was initially dismissed, but the case was appealed to the Virginia Supreme Court, which ruled in 2009 that the Lottery must make accommodations for such customers. In sum, the plaintiffs argued that the Lottery should require retail establishments to become wheelchair accessible as a condition of being authorized to sell lottery tickets.[14]

Governance

The Lottery is operated by the Virginia State Lottery Department, which is an independent agency, separate from the other branches of government.[15] The department is governed by a five-member board, with each member appointed by the Governor to serve a five-year term.[16] The board is authorized to adopt regulations governing the establishment and operation of the Lottery, including price points, the number of, and sizes, of prizes; prize payment, frequency of drawings, and licensing of, and compensation for, sales agents. The board also hears appeals on the denial, suspension, or revocation of retailers’ licenses.[17]

The Lottery's staff is headed by an Executive Director, who is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by both the House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate.[18] On February 1, 2008, then-Gov. Timothy Kaine appointed Paula Otto, a former spokesperson of the Lottery and an associate director of the School of Mass Communications at Virginia Commonwealth University, as the fourth executive director in the Lottery's 21-year history.[2]

In Fiscal Year 2009, Lottery sales exceeded $1.3 billion. Of this total, the Lottery generated $439.1 million, or 32.1%, for public education, 57.2% was paid to players in the form of prizes, 5.6% was paid to retailers as sales commissions, and 5.4% covered the Lottery Department's operational expenses.[1]

The Lottery conducts an annual Super Teachers contest. A Commonwealth-wide panel of educators select one Super Teacher from each of eight regions yearly. Each Super Teacher receives $2,000 credit from The Supply Room Companies to outfit their classroom, and $2,000 from the Lottery.[19]

Games

In general, the Lottery gives winners an option between two forms of payment (in Mega Millions and Powerball only.) The winner can receive an annuity of 26 equal yearly payments in Mega Millions, or 30 graduated annual payments in Powerball (or a cash payment of the net present value of the stream of annuity payments, if claimed within a 60-day period.) When a Virginia jackpot winner in Mega Millions or Powerball is claimed, the Lottery automatically purchases enough U.S. Government bonds to cover the payments. Under the cash option, the winner receives two payments; the first when the claim is made, and the second after the Lottery is able to sell the U.S. government bonds that the Lottery purchased to invest the jackpot proceeds.[20] The actual size of the cash payment depends on the market value of the bonds on the date they are sold, and usually is about 50 percent of the annuity amount.[21]

Pick 3

Pick 3 is played twice daily. It draws a single ball from each of three sets of ten balls, each numbered 0 to 9. Pick 3 includes a betting option called "Boost" where a player gets five additional three-digit numbers, and can win $50 on an extra 50-cent wager, or $100 for an additional $1 bet. Players can play for an exact match, an any-order match, a "50/50 split" which pays have the respective prize if the selected digits appear in either the exact or any order, a combination bet that multiplies the desired bet by arrangements of a number, and a "pairs" match of two digits. The minimum bet for most plays is 50 cents (a 50/50 bet must be for $1, and a combo bet multiplies the 50 cent/$1 wager by the number of arrangements of the three digits). An exact match pays $250 on a 50-cent bet, or $500 on a $1 bet. Other payoffs vary by bet; the overall payout percentage is designed to be 50% of anticipated income.

The Lottery limits sales of any specific number combination to 16,000 per drawing. Once that limit is reached, no more exact-order tickets are sold with that number. Triples such as 333 are commonly sold out as they are exact-order only. If a sold-out Pick 3 number is drawn, the Lottery pays a maximum of $8 million in prizes to holders of that number.[22][23]

Pick 4

Pick 4 also is twice daily, drawing four sets of balls 0 through 9. Except for Boost and Pairs, Pick 4 offers the same kinds of bets as Pick 3. The payout percentage is approximately 50%. An exact Pick 4 match pays $2,500 for a 50-cent wager, or $5,000 for a $1 play. The Lottery limits sales of Pick 4 number combinations to 1,200 per drawing; quads, such as 4444, commonly sell out. A sold-out Pick 4 number pays up to $6 million in total prizes.[24][25]

Cash 5

Cash 5 draws five numbers from 1 through 34. Players may wager 25 cents, 50 cents, or $1 on any set of five numbers, provided at least $1 is wagered at a time. A 5/5 match is paid on a 100,000:1 basis (the odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 278,256.) All Cash 5 prizes are paid in a lump sum. The 5/5 level has a maximum prize pool of $2 million; if the total claims of 5/5 winning tickets would exceed this limit, the prize pool is instead distributed in direct proportion to the amount of each winner's wager (winners with $1 wagers would win 4 times as much as winners with 25-cent wagers).[26]

Cash 5 drawings are held twice daily; sales end at 1:53 p.m. for day drawings and 10:45 p.m. for night drawings. Drawings are shown live on the Lottery website.[26][27]

Win For Life

Win For Life (Georgia, Kentucky & Virginia) draws 6 of 42 numbers plus a Free Ball. Matching all 6 regular numbers wins $1000 a week for life. Matching 5 plus the free ball wins $52,000. It is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays. Games are $1. Unlike Mega Millions and Powerball, there is no cash option for the top prize.[28][29] (Initially, Virginia winners could choose a $520,000 lump sum; however, the cash option was eliminated without warning.) WFL rules impose a limit of 5 top winners or 12 Second Prize winners per drawing; excess winners receive a parimutuel prize. Top prize is paid as $13,000 quarterly, for a 10-year minimum.[30]

Mega Millions (multi-lottery game)

On September 6, 1996, six lotteries, including Virginia's, began a game originally called The Big Game. It was renamed Mega Millions in 2002. Forty-two lotteries now offer Mega Millions, which had twelve members before January 31, 2010—see Powerball for more information. Mega Millions jackpot winners can choose cash in lieu of annuity payments. Its jackpot starts at $12 million. Drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays. On March 6, 2007, Mega Millions produced a jackpot of $390 million — setting the record for the largest annuitized jackpot in North American history; there were two winning tickets, one each in Georgia and New Jersey.[31] On January 31, 2010, Mega Millions and Powerball started to participate in a cross-selling expansion.[32] On August 29, 2010, Virginia added the Megaplier option—comparable to PowerBall's PowerPlay—to Mega Millions, ahead of a January 2011 deadline.

Powerball (multi-lottery game)

Powerball is a lottery game that is played in forty-four jurisdictions. It began in 1992. On October 13, 2009, the Mega Millions consortium and Multi-State Lottery Association (which coordinates Powerball) reached an agreement in principle to cross-sell Mega Millions and Powerball in US lottery jurisdictions. Virginia began participating in Powerball in addition to Mega Millions on January 31, 2010.[33] Powerball jackpot winners, as in Mega Millions, can choose cash in lieu of annuity payments.

Fast Play and Scratcher games

From its inception, the Lottery has sold instant (scratcher) games. Originally, all scratch tickets were $1 each; in the mid-1990s, the first Bingo scratcher was introduced; each such ticket cost $2. Over time, higher-priced scratchers with larger prizes were introduced. Currently, the most expensive scratchers are $20 each. These almost always offer a top prize of at least $1 million (annuitized.) The largest prize offered in a Virginia scratcher was $5 million annuity. Winners of scratcher annuity prizes of at least $1 million can choose cash, as in the Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot prizes. When the last top prize is claimed for a particular game, retail sales are to end immediately, with unsold tickets returned to the Lottery.[32][34] However, in June 2008, Scott Hoover, a Business professor at Washington and Lee University sued the lottery for $85 million alleging that it failed to stop retail sales immediately upon the awarding of the last top prize.[35]

In 2007, the Lottery began complementing the scratchers with Fast Play games, such as "Bingo" (later replaced by "Bonus Bingo"), and "Find the 9's"; each with its own sets of rules and play instructions. Each Fast Play game costs $2. As with traditional Lottery games, tickets are printed by the terminal, but, as in scratchers, winning status is determined when the ticket is printed. There is no drawing for a Fast Play game.

Millionaire Raffle

Also in 2007, the Lottery began its first Millionaire Raffle; 330,000 tickets were sold at $20 each, after which numbers were drawn at random to win up to $1 million.

The Lottery has held Millionaire Raffles irregularly: some during spring; however, most have been drawn on New Years Day. Rules vary with each raffle, but the top prize is always $1 million; usually, all raffle prizes are paid in lump sum.[36][37]

Security

The drawings are conducted under elaborate security protocols, which each drawing supervised by two Lottery employees and a representative of an independent accounting firm. The set of balls used for the drawing are selected at random from a number of sets, and detailed records are maintained to prevent any systematic bias.[38] In addition, forging lottery tickets or tampering with the lottery is a Class 5 felony.[39] All State Lottery Department employees[40] and applicants to become lottery sales agents[41] are fingerprinted and subject to criminal background checks.

In general, thefts of lottery tickets are investigated by both the Lottery as well as local law enforcement agencies. Theft of tickets have been reported, with the criminals attempting to cash-in on the stolen winning tickets.[42][43][44]

Compulsive gambling

Virginia law requires that each ticket have a contact number for a counseling service that addresses compulsive gambling.[45] The Lottery also includes information on compulsive gambling on its website.[46] During March 7–13, 2010, the Lottery supported National Problem Gambling Awareness Week by suspending its television and radio product advertising for that period.[47]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Where Money Goes". Virginia State Lottery. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  2. ^ a b Shapiro, Jeff (January 26, 2008). "Otto back at lottery agency". Richmond Times Dispatch. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
  3. ^ "Official Home of the Virginia Lottery". Virginia State Lottery. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  4. ^ Llovio, Louis (March 24, 2010). "Richmond advertising firm wins lottery account". Richmond Times Dispatch. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
  5. ^ Virginia Code § 58.1–4014.
  6. ^ Virginia Code § 58.1–4007.2.
  7. ^ Virginia Code § 58.1–4015.
  8. ^ Virginia Code § 58.1–4014.1.
  9. ^ "History of Gambling in the United States". Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  10. ^ Schapiro, Jeff (Nov 4, 1987). "VIRGINIA LOTTERY COASTS TO APPROVAL; URBAN AREAS SOLIDLY BACK GAMING PLAN". Richmond Times – Dispatch – Richmond, Va. p. A1. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  11. ^ "Virginia General Election – November 7, 2000". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  12. ^ "Investigating Virginia Lottery's role in the school budget". WTKR TV-13. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  13. ^ Virginia Code § 58.1–4020.
  14. ^ "Va. lottery plaintiff: Progress is slow". Associated Press. February 13, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
  15. ^ Virginia Code § 58.1–4003.
  16. ^ Virginia Code § 58.1–4004.
  17. ^ Virginia Code § 58.1–4007.
  18. ^ Virginia Code § 58.1–4005.
  19. ^ "Super Teacher". Virginia State Lottery. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  20. ^ "JACKPOT PRIZE PAYMENT ELECTION FORM" (PDF). Virginia State Lottery. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  21. ^ "What is "Cash Option"?". Virginia State Lottery. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  22. ^ "Game Information: Pick 3". Virginia State Lottery. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  23. ^ "Lottery Official Rules". lottery.com. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
  24. ^ "Game Information: Pick 4". Virginia State Lottery. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  25. ^ "Lottery Official Rules". Retrieved 2010-07-02.
  26. ^ a b "Game Information: Cash 5". Virginia State Lottery. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  27. ^ "Lottery Official Rules". lottery.com. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
  28. ^ "Game Information: Win For Life". Virginia State Lottery. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  29. ^ "Lottery Official Rules". lottery.com. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
  30. ^ "Win For Life". Georgia Lottery. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
  31. ^ "Mega Millions Official Home: History of the Game". Mega Millions. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  32. ^ a b "Powerball tickets go on sale in Va., Md". WTOP News. January 31, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
  33. ^ Neibauer, Michael (January 4, 2010). "Governments expand gambling to bring in revenue". Washington Examiner. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
  34. ^ "Game Information: Scratchers". Virginia State Lottery. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  35. ^ Bowman, Rex (July 1, 2008). "Professor sues Va. Lottery for $85 million". Richmond Times Dispatch. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
  36. ^ "Official Home of the Virginia Lottery". Virginia State Lottery. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  37. ^ "Virginia Millionaire Raffle". Retrieved 2010-07-02.
  38. ^ "Security". Virginia Lottery. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  39. ^ Virginia Code § 58.1–4018.1.
  40. ^ Virginia Code § 58.1–4008.
  41. ^ Virginia Code § 58.1–4009.
  42. ^ "Suspect steals 288 lotto tickets: Same suspect possibly cashed them in". WAVY News. August 5, 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
  43. ^ "Pocketed Lottery Tickets". snopes.com. Retrieved 2010-09-06. In 1997, a restaurant owner in Virginia pled guilty to having pilfered a $6.8 million winner from one of his customers.
  44. ^ "Hunt v. Virginia". June 21, 2005. Retrieved 2010-09-06. Agent stole Virginia lottery ticket worth $2,500.
  45. ^ Virginia Code § 58.1–4007.1.
  46. ^ "Compulsive Gambling". Retrieved 2010-07-02.
  47. ^ "Virginia Lottery Encourages Support of National Problem Gambling Awareness Week". Virginia State Lottery. March 8, 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
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