West Virginia State Lottery Director John Myers recently announced the state plans to launch an iLottery platform by spring 2023.
“The complaint was, ‘Hey, I can make a sports wager or I can play casino games on my telephone, but I have to go down to stand in line at the local retailer to buy my lottery tickets,’” said Myers. “The customers have become accustomed to being able to use their phones for about everything. And that will allow the purchase of a Powerball or Mega Millions ticket from the kitchen table going forward.”
Meyers said players will have to set up an account to purchase all the lottery games the state offers, with a daily limit of $200. That same limit will apply when a customer buys tickets at a retail location.
The West Virginia State Lottery is seeking requests for proposals from companies who will submit bids to provide the service. Myers said the Lottery will build the system and the platform.
In addition, a new state law that takes effect July 1 will relax restrictions on the 1,250 Limited Video Lottery locations statewide, including allowing a 6-square-foot sign indicating that retailer offers LVL games. West Virginia Amusement and Video Lottery Association Executive Director Michael Haid said previously, LVL locations never have been able to mention the words “Limited Video Lottery” on anything. He said other lottery options have had much more latitude in terms of advertising. “It’s been a distinction without a difference,” Haid said.
He noted the signs will be informative and tasteful, with no flashing lights. “They will keep people out who don’t want to come in and it helps people who are looking for it find them,” Haid said.
Also, LVL businesses now can advertise on social media, although they cannot promote their machines. Haid said, “What we don’t want to do in LVL is to create a public nuisance by having these messages everywhere from all these different locations, but some basic signage and some social media, frankly, would help our businesses substantially because there’s still a lot of unknowns about what we do.”
The lottery reported the state’s nearly 9,000 machines generated $39.9 million in February, nearly $10 million more than the forecasts. In the first eight months of the fiscal year, LVLs have produced $320 million.
