The Lotto Matrix: Virginia Adds New iLottery Games, Player Having Bad Day Wins Big

Welcome to this week’s “Lotto Matrix,” a weekly Friday compilation of the lottery industry’s most significant, interesting, or absurd happenings.

Virginia expands iLottery library

Inspired Entertainment has announced an extended partnership with Aristocrat Interactive. This collaboration brings an innovative lineup of Virtual Sports games to the Virginia Lottery, which will now pioneer the introduction of online V-Lottery content in the U.S.

The initial offerings in this venture include Virtual Football, Virtual Basketball, and Virtual Horse Racing — games designed to provide dynamic gaming experiences that blend the excitement of sports with the accessibility of online lottery platforms.

Set for launch in mid-2025, this initiative underscores the Virginia Lottery’s commitment to staying ahead in the evolving iLottery landscape — plans are already in place to expand the portfolio to include a wider variety of Virtual Sports games.

If only all bad days were this good

What started as a rough day for one New Jersey resident ended in life-changing luck.

On Dec. 11, on what he described as a “bad day,” the anonymous man made an impromptu stop at a store in Lincoln Park. Opting for a $20 “100X Cash Blitz” scratch-off ticket, he hoped to win a small sum — perhaps enough to brighten his day.

The winner, who admitted to having trouble reading the numbers on the ticket without his glasses, initially thought he might have misread the prize amount. After multiple attempts to verify the digits, he sought help from a friend to confirm what he was seeing: a $1 million windfall.

He opted for the lump-sum payout, reducing the prize to $602,300, but for someone recovering from shoulder surgery and preparing for retirement, the timing couldn’t have been better. The winnings will also help the man care for his elderly mother, as he told the New Jersey Lottery.

The ticket marked the first $1 million prize claimed in the “100X Cash Blitz” game, leaving two top prizes and many other high-value wins still available.

South Dakota faces glitches, delays

For South Dakota lottery players, the process of claiming prizes over $100 can be a drag. Currently, winners must visit one of the state’s redemption centers in Sioux Falls, Pierre, or Rapid City to collect their winnings.

To address this, the South Dakota Lottery is rolling out a much-anticipated mobile-cashing feature designed to simplify the redemption process. However, initially slated for launch on Nov. 15, the product remains a work-in-progress and is facing new delays.

South Dakota Lottery Deputy Director Clark Hepper recently announced a revised rollout date of Jan. 30, 2025. While the delay may be disappointing for eager players, the lottery team appears focused on ensuring a smooth and reliable launch.

With this new system, players will be able to electronically transfer their winnings directly to their bank accounts, eliminating the need for in-person visits to a redemption center. This feature promises to make lottery participation more accessible and efficient, especially for players in rural or remote areas who might otherwise face long trips to claim their prizes.

The added convenience of mobile cashing aligns with broader trends in modernizing lottery systems across the country. But until everything is approved and ready in South Dakota, players will need to continue visiting redemption centers to claim prizes.

New Mega Million-aire in North Carolina

A North Carolina lottery player narrowly missed a Mega Millions jackpot on Tuesday, but still walked away with $4 million.

The ticket was purchased online, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery, which just received the highest level of certification from the World Lottery Association.

While the ticket holder missed the jackpot — an estimated $760 million — because they didn’t match the gold Mega Ball, they achieved the evening’s highest payout nationwide by pairing all five white balls and paying an extra dollar to play the Megaplier.

West Virginia Lottery leader to retire

John Myers, the longstanding director of the West Virginia Lottery, is preparing to retire after a career marked by significant contributions to the state’s gaming and lottery operations. Having served in his role since 2017, Myers has been instrumental in modernizing the lottery and expanding its impact on the state’s economy.

Under Myers’ leadership, the West Virginia Lottery experienced substantial growth. He helped implement sports betting and online gaming, both of which have become vital revenue streams for the state. The expansion into digital platforms not only modernized operations but also broadened the lottery’s reach to a younger and more tech-savvy audience.

Myers’ tenure also emphasized responsible gaming practices, with the agency launching campaigns and resources to ensure players could engage safely. He is credited with fostering transparency and efficiency, ensuring that funds generated from lottery operations were effectively directed to support education, senior services, and tourism initiatives in West Virginia.

A successor has not yet been named. 

Best of the rest

Missing out on a million-dollar Christmas: Massive Minnesota Lottery jackpot is days away from expiring

$40 scratcher becomes $3 million: Radcliff man wins $3 million scratch-off prize

Another Massachusetts Monopoly millionaire: Mass. State Lottery winner: $1 million prize claimed in ‘Monopoly’ game

Giving back to the community: Hannaford donates lottery winnings to Vermont community

Check the prize box, and see you next week!