Yes, Mega Millions tickets are sold in the state of Virginia. The Mega Millions game is a multi-state lottery game played across most of the United States, including Virginia. It is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association and drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday night. Mega Millions tickets can be purchased in Virginia at any licensed lottery retailer, with over 5,000 retail locations throughout the state. Virginia has participated in the Mega Millions game since it began in 2002 under the name The Big Game. Since then, there have been some big Mega Millions winners from Virginia over the years.
Mega Millions Basics
Mega Millions is a multi-state lottery game played in 45 states plus Washington D.C. and the U.S Virgin Islands. The game is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association and drawings are held at 11 p.m. Eastern Time every Tuesday and Friday night.
To play Mega Millions, players select five main numbers between 1 and 70 and one Mega Ball number between 1 and 25. The cost of a Mega Millions ticket is $2 per play. Players can multiply non-jackpot prizes with the Megaplier option for an additional $1 per play. Mega Millions has nine prize tiers, ranging from $2 for matching just the Mega Ball up to the jackpot prize for matching all six numbers.
The Mega Millions jackpot starts at $40 million and continues to grow each drawing until it is won. Jackpots are won by matching all five main numbers and the Mega Ball. If there is no jackpot winner, the top prize rolls over to increase the jackpot for the next drawing. Mega Millions advertises jackpots estimate based on sales and rollovers. The jackpot prize is paid out as an annuity over 30 years or as a one-time cash payment. Most winners opt for the cash prize, which is lower than the advertised amount.
How to Play Mega Millions in Virginia
Playing Mega Millions in Virginia is easy. Simply visit any licensed Virginia Lottery retailer to purchase your ticket. Mega Millions tickets cannot be purchased online in Virginia. Players can submit playslips or ask for computer-generated quick pick tickets. Retailers can also scan tickets directly into their system to purchase.
The cost for one Mega Millions ticket in Virginia is $2. Players can purchase multiple tickets for up to 10 consecutive draws in advance. Multi-draw tickets are valid for all drawings within the specified date range printed on the ticket. Tickets can be purchased until 10:45 p.m. ET on draw nights.
When purchasing Mega Millions tickets in Virginia, players should:
- Select 5 main numbers between 1-70
- Select 1 Mega Ball number between 1-25
- Choose Quick Pick for randomly selected numbers
- Add Megaplier for an extra $1 per play
- Indicate number of consecutive draws to play (up to 10)
- Carefully review ticket for accuracy before leaving the store
Mega Millions tickets purchased in Virginia are valid anywhere the game is played. Players do not have to be Virginia residents to buy or claim lottery tickets in the state. Winners can claim prizes up to $600 at any licensed retailer in Virginia. Prizes over $600 must be claimed at Lottery headquarters in Richmond or by mail. Prizes expire 180 days from the draw date.
Where to Buy Mega Millions Tickets in Virginia
Mega Millions tickets are sold at over 5,000 licensed retailer locations throughout Virginia, including:
- Grocery stores
- Gas stations
- Convenience stores
- Liquor stores
- Pharmacies
- Tobacco outlets
- Big box stores
- Virginia Lottery office
Major retail chains that sell Mega Millions tickets in Virginia include 7-Eleven, Circle K, Kroger, Safeway, Giant, and ABC stores. Players can find the nearest Virginia Lottery retailer by using the lottery locator tool on the official website valottery.com. Simply enter an address or ZIP code to find Mega Millions retailers nearby.
Retailers display a distinctive blue and red Virginia Lottery logo on doors or windows. Self-service vending machines are available at select retailers for quick ticket purchases. Virginia Mega Millions tickets can also be purchased online at thelotter.com, an authorized reseller, for a small service fee. However, lottery officials strongly recommend buying tickets in person from licensed retailers.
Mega Millions Drawings in Virginia
Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday around 11 p.m. Eastern Time. While the drawings do not take place in Virginia, they are televised locally on Richmond CBS affiliate WTVR Channel 6.
Here are the details for watching Mega Millions drawings in Virginia:
- Drawings are held at the WSB-TV studios in Atlanta, Georgia at 11 p.m. ET
- The draws are livestreamed online at megamillions.com/watch-drawing
- In Virginia, tune into WTVR Channel 6 at 11 p.m. on draw nights
- WTVR also livestreams the drawings on wtvr.com and the CBS 6 News app
- Replays of the drawing are shown on WTVR after the 11 p.m. newscast
The Mega Millions drawing show starts at 10:59 p.m. ET and lasts about 5-10 minutes. A host introduces the drawing procedure and interviews players about how they would spend the jackpot prize. Five main numbers are drawn from one set of balls numbered 1-70, followed by the Mega Ball from a second set of balls numbered 1-25.
Virginia Lottery officials also post the Mega Millions winning numbers at valottery.com after each drawing. Local news outlets in Virginia report the numbers during their late night newscasts.
Odds of Winning Mega Millions in Virginia
The odds of winning any Mega Millions prize in Virginia are about 1 in 24. However, hitting the huge jackpot remains a long shot. Here are the odds for each Mega Millions prize tier in Virginia:
| Prize Tier | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|
| Match 5 numbers + Mega Ball | 1 in 302,575,350 |
| Match 5 numbers | 1 in 12,607,306 |
| Match 4 numbers + Mega Ball | 1 in 931,001 |
| Match 4 numbers | 1 in 38,792 |
| Match 3 numbers + Mega Ball | 1 in 14,547 |
| Match 3 numbers | 1 in 606 |
| Match 2 numbers + Mega Ball | 1 in 693 |
| Match 1 number + Mega Ball | 1 in 89 |
| Match Mega Ball | 1 in 37 |
As shown, the hardest prize to win is the jackpot, with odds of 1 in over 302 million. Players have the best odds of winning a small prize, such as matching the Mega Ball or two main numbers. But those prizes are just $2 or $10.
The overall odds of winning any Mega Millions prize in Virginia are 1 in 24. Those odds remain the same regardless of the jackpot size or number of tickets sold. Luck and perseverance are required to beat the incredible Mega Millions odds and hit the big jackpot.
Unclaimed Mega Millions Prizes in Virginia
With so many Mega Millions tickets being purchased in Virginia, some prizes inevitably go unclaimed. As of October 2022, the Virginia Lottery reports over $2 million in unclaimed Mega Millions prizes:
| Draw Date | Unclaimed Prize | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| 1/26/2018 | $1 million | 7/25/2023 |
| 12/17/2019 | $50,000 | 6/14/2024 |
| 12/17/2019 | $10,000 | 6/14/2024 |
| 7/12/2022 | $10,000 | 1/8/2025 |
The $1 million prize from 2018 remains the largest outstanding jackpot. Prizes expire 180 days after the draw unless claimed. Unclaimed winnings revert to Virginia Lottery profits, which are used to fund K-12 public education in the state.
The Virginia Lottery urges players to carefully check their Mega Millions tickets after each drawing. Jackpots and lower tier prizes often go unclaimed when people lose or forget to check their tickets. Playing with a lottery app or purchasing multi-draw tickets for consecutive games can help prevent missing a big win.
Biggest Virginia Mega Millions Jackpot Winners
Although the Mega Millions jackpot has never been won in Virginia, some residents have scored huge jackpots from tickets purchased in the state:
- In 2022, a ticket sold in Warren County won $31 million after matching all five numbers (but not the Mega Ball) in the July 22 drawing.
- In 2021, Virginia lottery player Shermaine West won a $516 million Mega Millions prize, splitting a jackpot with another winner in Pennsylvania.
- Also in 2021, Frances Feist of Virginia Beach claimed a $1 million Mega Millions prize from the February 16 drawing.
- In 2019, Mega Millions tickets sold in Virginia won $1 million or more prizes on four separate occasions.
- The largest Mega Millions jackpot won in Virginia was a $207 million annuity prize claimed by retired corrections officer Michael Gillins in 2004.
Although no one from Virginia has hit the record $1.537 billion Mega Millions jackpot, local residents have still enjoyed some exciting million dollar wins. And more big Virginia winners are likely in the future.
Mega Millions Contributions to Virginia Education
Since 1999, the Virginia Lottery has raised over $21 billion to support K-12 public education in the Commonwealth. Mega Millions has been an important part of that success.
Here are some key facts about Mega Millions contributions to Virginia education:
- More than $892 million in Mega Millions tickets were sold in Virginia in Fiscal Year 2022.
- Mega Millions made up nearly 14% of total Virginia Lottery profits in FY 2022.
- Mega Millions profits have helped fund school construction, technology upgrades, and teacher training across Virginia.
- Every $1 spent on Mega Millions in Virginia yields about 30 cents profit for educational programs.
- Lottery funds make up approximately 10% of Virginia’s total K-12 education budget.
While it only launched in Virginia in 2002, Mega Millions has quickly become a dependable source of education funding for the state. Continued strong ticket sales and rollover jackpots will allow the game to keep supporting vital school programs for many years to come.
Are Mega Millions Jackpots Getting Bigger?
The record Mega Millions jackpot has grown tremendously over the years. Here are the top 5 biggest jackpots in the game’s history:
| Rank | Jackpot | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.537 billion | October 2018 |
| 2 | $1.337 billion | July 2022 |
| 3 | $1.050 billion | January 2021 |
| 4 | $656 million | March 2012 |
| 5 | $648 million | December 2013 |
As the data shows, the top two biggest jackpots have both occurred within the last five years. The main reasons Mega Millions jackpots have increased are:
- Ticket prices doubled from $1 to $2 in 2017 to drive bigger prizes.
- Mega Millions added larger starting jackpots and minimum increases between drawings.
- Huge jackpots spark lottery fever across the country, increasing sales.
- Lack of winner rolls the jackpot over more drawings in a row.
- Changes to game matrix created longer odds but bigger prizes.
While winning is hard, today’s Mega Millions can produce jaw-dropping jackpots over $1 billion. That incentivizes more ticket sales, resulting in gigantic jackpot rolls. Expect more massive Mega Millions prizes in the years ahead.
Conclusion
Mega Millions continues its incredible popularity across Virginia and most of the United States. With jackpots starting at $40 million and often rolling over to $500 million or more, it’s no surprise Virginia players line up for a chance at amazing riches. Education across the Commonwealth also benefits greatly from Mega Millions ticket sales and profits. Overall, Mega Millions has proved to be an excellent addition to the Virginia Lottery game portfolio since 2002.
