West Virginia Lottery Unveils New Digital Platform to Provide Greater User Access

CHARLESTON, West Virginia. — The West Virginia Lottery is introducing a new digital platform that will give customers the ability to make purchases on their mobile devices.

The platform, which is also created by third-party vendor partner NeoPollard Interactive (NPi), is called iPlay and will allow lottery players to purchase draw tickets and play e-Instant with the click of a button.

In addition to iPlay, the West Virginia Lottery is introducing a new loyalty program called PlayOn. PlayOn and a more user-friendly website are currently being implemented to allow users to manage their accounts, keep up to date with news and check numbers. The website address remains wvlottery.com.

West Virginia Lottery Assistant Director Randy Burnside says the new features will bring many benefits to customers.

“It will be so cool to be able to make the purchases you want with the palm of your hand, and at the same time, when you go to the store, you will receive bonuses for it.” said Burnside. “You will have the opportunity to win more money and different prizes through PlayOn.”

Burnside says they listened to customer feedback that said more mobile accessibility was needed.

“One of the biggest things we’ve heard a lot from our players is, ‘Hey, I want to be able to buy Power Ball tickets and Mega Millions tickets from my phone,’” Burnside said. “Until now you couldn’t do this through the lottery, but now you will have this opportunity.”

Burnside also says these additions were much needed as the current social climate sees more and more procurement platforms going digital.

“We live in a cashless society, and I think if you look at the data, you’ll see that people’s spending habits are changing,” Burnside said. “People don’t carry as much cash in their wallets as they used to.”

While Burnside notes that the current era is a more “cashless” society, he alludes to the fact that traditional retailers selling lottery tickets and games will not be left in the dust.

With the introduction of the iPlay platform, retailers can still count on shoppers as traditional items purchased in store will have web codes that can often be redeemed for additional cash prizes and second chance drawings, while users who prefer to shop in person will can continue to do so, while also benefiting from new digital programs.

Burnside says lottery retailers still play a big role.

“Data shows that when you run a rewards program with iLottery, it also results in increased sales in your traditional brick-and-mortar stores,” Burnside said. “I think we would all support an omnichannel approach.”

There will be synchronization between iPlay and PlayOn, meaning that anyone who registers an iPlay account will be registered with PlayOn.

The iPlay and PlayOn programs officially launched on Thursday morning.