Virginia and Pennsylvania have expanded their lotteries into the online arena, letting players purchase tickets and play games from home. These two states are among the few in the U.S. with legal online lottery platforms, building on decades of lottery history.
The Pennsylvania Lottery began in the early 1970s and remains the only state lottery that directs all proceeds to programs for older residents. Virginia established its lottery in 1987, and its profits are now funded by public K-12 education. Both lotteries have since embraced online play: Pennsylvania launched PA iLottery in 2018, and Virginia followed with its iLottery platform in July 2020.
Game Variety
On the draw side, players in either state can enter multi-state jackpots like Powerball and Mega Millions, plus state-specific draws such as Virginia’s Cash 5 or Pennsylvania’s Match 6. Each lottery also hosts an extensive catalog of instant win games.
Virginia’s iLottery features around 70 instant games with themes ranging from digital scratch-offs to casino-style games. Having started earlier, Pennsylvania offers nearly 150 instant games – about twice as many – including titles resembling slot or bingo-style play.
The instant games also offer substantial prizes – Virginia’s top jackpots are around $500,000 (with a few progressive games), while some of Pennsylvania’s can climb into the millions.
Bonuses and Promotions
A major difference between Virginia and Pennsylvania is the generosity of online lottery promotions. Pennsylvania’s iLottery gives new customers a much larger welcome bonus – often including a free-play credit (around $20) and a first deposit match up to $1,000. It also runs frequent promotions, including all PA Lottery promo codes for active players.
Virginia’s online lottery promotions are more modest. The typical welcome offer is a smaller match bonus (for example, 50% up to $100) with some free games included. Ongoing promos in Virginia tend to be occasional—limited-time giveaways or holiday-themed second-chance drawings—rather than a steady stream of deals. While Virginia’s online players get periodic extra incentives, the frequency and value of bonuses in Pennsylvania’s program are significantly higher.
Ticket Prices
Online ticket prices mirror retail prices, with no extra fees or mark-ups. Multi-state draw games such as Powerball and Mega Millions cost $2 per play in Virginia and Pennsylvania, and daily local draws typically range from $0.50 to $1 per play (some daily games can be played for as little as 50 cents in Pennsylvania. Instant game wagers span a broad range.
In Virginia, online instant games cost as low as $0.05 and up to $50 per play. Pennsylvania’s instant games start at just a few cents and scale to higher stakes.
Generally, the bigger the wager, the larger the possible prize – some games require a max bet to unlock the highest jackpot odds. Both lotteries also let players purchase entries for multiple future draws in one go
Ease of Use
Both states provide user-friendly websites and mobile apps for their lotteries. Virginia’s interface is clean and straightforward. Players can sign up, deposit funds, and begin playing in minutes. The Virginia Lottery app is fast and uncluttered, focused on core functions like buying tickets and playing instant games.
Pennsylvania’s app and website offer more features—players can watch live drawings, check jackpots, and even view virtual sports or keno feeds alongside the games. While this can initially make the PA interface feel busy, it is organized logically and responsively.
Another factor in the online experience is payment convenience. Pennsylvania supports a broader array of deposit and withdrawal options, including cards, bank transfers, PayPal, and cash-based methods like PayNearMe. Virginia’s deposit options are more basic (essentially debit cards, ACH transfers, or PayPal). In both states, small winnings are automatically credited to the player’s account, while larger prizes still require an official claims process
Conclusion
Pennsylvania and Virginia have each developed a strong online lottery program, but with different strengths. Pennsylvania’s platform stands out for its larger game library and frequent promotions, whereas Virginia’s platform – though newer – delivers a straightforward, reliable way to play. Ultimately, whether players favor Pennsylvania’s wealth of games and bonuses or Virginia’s no-frills simplicity, both benefit from a modernized and convenient lottery experience tailored to their state
