Your West Virginia Lottery FAQs answered

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When it comes to the West Virginia Lottery, many players, including yourself, may have questions about how the games work and how to play.

With this in mind, we wanted to answer a few of your questions so that the next time you head to the website to view the West Virginia Lottery results or play an instant game, you’ll have a better understanding of the Lottery, prizes, and so much more.

So, if you’re ready to put some answers to your FAQs, read on.

How do I claim a prize if I played online?

when playing the Lottery via the WV Lottery via iPlay, depending how much your winnings amount to, will depend on how you claim.

• Prizes up to $600: Your winnings will automatically be added to your WV iPlay Lottery account.
• Prizes of $600 – $24,999: You’ll need to claim online – see the ‘Prize Claim’ page on the WV Lottery website for more details on how to do this.
• Prizes of $25,000 or more: You’ll need to claim this in person at a WV Lottery Headquarters.
• Prizes of $1 million or more: You must claim this in person at the WV Lottery Headquarters only.

Remember iLottery games are chance-based and a win is never guaranteed.

How long do I have to claim my prize?

For draw games (like POWERBALL©, MEGA MILLIONS®, etc.), you typically have 180 days from the drawing date to claim your prize.

For Scratch-Offs, you have 180 days from the game’s official end date to claim any winnings. The end dates for Scratch-Off games are posted on the West Virginia Lottery website or available through customer service.

What happens if I lose a winning ticket?

Unfortunately, the West Virginia Lottery cannot replace lost or damaged tickets. If you lose your ticket, it’s treated like lost cash.

We recommend always signing the back of your ticket immediately after purchase to protect yourself. This ensures that only you can claim the prize if the ticket is lost or stolen.

Where do the Lottery proceeds go?

A portion of the revenue from the West Virginia Lottery supports important state programs. The funds are distributed to education, senior services, tourism and state parks, general infrastructure and local government programs.

The West Virginia Lottery is a significant funding source for public services, with hundreds of millions of dollars raised annually for these programs.

Can I stay anonymous if I win a large prize?

West Virginia law doesn’t allow Lottery winners to remain fully anonymous. Your name, city of residence, and prize amount may be disclosed if you win a significant prize. However, West Virginia does try to keep some details private, like your street address or Social Security Number, which are never shared publicly.

How are winnings taxed?

For any prize over $5,000, both federal (24%) and state (6.5%) taxes are withheld from the prize before you receive your money. While taxes aren’t automatically withheld for prizes between $600 and $5,000, you are still responsible for reporting the winnings on your tax return.