The sale of lottery tickets in West Virginia has generated around $12 billion for good causes and public projects in the state since 1986, including over $3.7 billion for schools and education. The Mountain State has also seen some big winners in its history, including one of the biggest Powerball jackpots ever claimed by a lottery pool. View the latest WV Powerball numbers below.
Over the past five draws, West Virginia has had an average of 5,197 winners per draw, meaning the total winners for Wednesday's Powerball draw is around 9.68% lower than average.
| Match | WV Winners | Prize Per Winner | WV Prize Fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 + PB | 0 | $155,300,000 | No Winners |
| 5 | 0 | $1,000,000 | No Winners |
| 4 + PB | 0 | $50,000 | No Winners |
| 4 | 2 | $100 | $200 |
| 3 + PB | 9 | $100 | $900 |
| 3 | 156 | $7 | $1,092 |
| 2 + PB | 112 | $7 | $784 |
| 1 + PB | 953 | $4 | $3,812 |
| 0 + PB | 2,424 | $4 | $9,696 |
| 5 (Power Play) | 0 | $2,000,000 | No Winners |
| 4 + PB (Power Play) | 0 | $150,000 | No Winners |
| 4 (Power Play) | 1 | $300 | $300 |
| 3 + PB (Power Play) | 0 | $300 | No Winners |
| 3 (Power Play) | 36 | $21 | $756 |
| 2 + PB (Power Play) | 27 | $21 | $567 |
| 1 + PB (Power Play) | 282 | $12 | $3,384 |
| 0 + PB (Power Play) | 692 | $12 | $8,304 |
| Totals | 4,694 | - | $29,795 |
You can find more West Virginia Powerball results below. Select the '+ View Payouts' button to view a full breakdown of the prizes won in each draw.
| Match | WV Winners | Prize Per Winner | WV Prize Fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 + PB | 0 | $143,900,000 | No Winners |
| 5 | 0 | $1,000,000 | No Winners |
| 4 + PB | 0 | $50,000 | No Winners |
| 4 | 0 | $100 | No Winners |
| 3 + PB | 8 | $100 | $800 |
| 3 | 151 | $7 | $1,057 |
| 2 + PB | 126 | $7 | $882 |
| 1 + PB | 926 | $4 | $3,704 |
| 0 + PB | 2,320 | $4 | $9,280 |
| 5 (Power Play) | 0 | $2,000,000 | No Winners |
| 4 + PB (Power Play) | 0 | $150,000 | No Winners |
| 4 (Power Play) | 0 | $300 | No Winners |
| 3 + PB (Power Play) | 5 | $300 | $1,500 |
| 3 (Power Play) | 57 | $21 | $1,197 |
| 2 + PB (Power Play) | 39 | $21 | $819 |
| 1 + PB (Power Play) | 289 | $12 | $3,468 |
| 0 + PB (Power Play) | 717 | $12 | $8,604 |
| Totals | 4,638 | - | $31,311 |
| Match | WV Winners | Prize Per Winner | WV Prize Fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 + PB | 0 | $133,800,000 | No Winners |
| 5 | 0 | $1,000,000 | No Winners |
| 4 + PB | 0 | $50,000 | No Winners |
| 4 | 5 | $100 | $500 |
| 3 + PB | 11 | $100 | $1,100 |
| 3 | 239 | $7 | $1,673 |
| 2 + PB | 199 | $7 | $1,393 |
| 1 + PB | 1,404 | $4 | $5,616 |
| 0 + PB | 3,397 | $4 | $13,588 |
| 5 (Power Play) | 0 | $2,000,000 | No Winners |
| 4 + PB (Power Play) | 0 | $250,000 | No Winners |
| 4 (Power Play) | 0 | $500 | No Winners |
| 3 + PB (Power Play) | 0 | $500 | No Winners |
| 3 (Power Play) | 63 | $35 | $2,205 |
| 2 + PB (Power Play) | 49 | $35 | $1,715 |
| 1 + PB (Power Play) | 421 | $20 | $8,420 |
| 0 + PB (Power Play) | 912 | $20 | $18,240 |
| Totals | 6,700 | - | $54,450 |
| Match | WV Winners | Prize Per Winner | WV Prize Fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 + PB | 0 | $114,900,000 | No Winners |
| 5 | 0 | $1,000,000 | No Winners |
| 4 + PB | 0 | $50,000 | No Winners |
| 4 | 2 | $100 | $200 |
| 3 + PB | 4 | $100 | $400 |
| 3 | 155 | $7 | $1,085 |
| 2 + PB | 124 | $7 | $868 |
| 1 + PB | 1,110 | $4 | $4,440 |
| 0 + PB | 2,553 | $4 | $10,212 |
| 5 (Power Play) | 0 | $2,000,000 | No Winners |
| 4 + PB (Power Play) | 0 | $100,000 | No Winners |
| 4 (Power Play) | 1 | $200 | $200 |
| 3 + PB (Power Play) | 1 | $200 | $200 |
| 3 (Power Play) | 41 | $14 | $574 |
| 2 + PB (Power Play) | 48 | $14 | $672 |
| 1 + PB (Power Play) | 302 | $8 | $2,416 |
| 0 + PB (Power Play) | 728 | $8 | $5,824 |
| Totals | 5,069 | - | $27,091 |
| Match | WV Winners | Prize Per Winner | WV Prize Fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 + PB | 0 | $102,700,000 | No Winners |
| 5 | 0 | $1,000,000 | No Winners |
| 4 + PB | 0 | $50,000 | No Winners |
| 4 | 0 | $100 | No Winners |
| 3 + PB | 6 | $100 | $600 |
| 3 | 164 | $7 | $1,148 |
| 2 + PB | 135 | $7 | $945 |
| 1 + PB | 1,025 | $4 | $4,100 |
| 0 + PB | 2,445 | $4 | $9,780 |
| 5 (Power Play) | 0 | $2,000,000 | No Winners |
| 4 + PB (Power Play) | 0 | $150,000 | No Winners |
| 4 (Power Play) | 2 | $300 | $600 |
| 3 + PB (Power Play) | 3 | $300 | $900 |
| 3 (Power Play) | 62 | $21 | $1,302 |
| 2 + PB (Power Play) | 35 | $21 | $735 |
| 1 + PB (Power Play) | 304 | $12 | $3,648 |
| 0 + PB (Power Play) | 704 | $12 | $8,448 |
| Totals | 4,885 | - | $32,206 |
The main rules for playing Powerball in West Virginia are the same as they are in any other state: pick five numbers between 1 and 69 and one Powerball between 1 and 26, and try to match them with the winning numbers drawn. The following state-specific rules also apply:
See the How to Play page for more information
Prizes of $600 or less can be claimed from any lottery retailer in the state. Prizes over this value must be claimed from the West Virginia Lottery’s headquarters in Charleston, or the regional office in Weirton. You must fill in a prize claim form and provide a valid photo ID and proof of your social security number. The address of each office can be found in the table below. Both offices are open 8:00am-5:00pm ET Monday through Friday.
| Location | Address | Telephone Number: |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 900 Pennsylvania Avenue Charleston, WV 25302 |
800-982-2274 304-558-0500 |
| Weirton | 100 Municipal Plaza, Suite 500 Weirton, WV 26062 |
304-748-1560 |
Alternatively, you can claim prizes of $600 or more by mail. You must provide the signed winning ticket, along with a copy of your driver’s license or government-issued photo ID, a copy of your social security card, a mailing address, and a daytime telephone number. You must also include a completed claim form. Mail all of these documents to:
West Virginia Lottery/Claims
PO BOX 2913,
Charleston, WV 25330
If you are part of a lottery pool that wins a large Powerball prize, every member of the group needs to fill out a claim form and provide valid photo ID and their social security number. Each individual member will then receive a check for their share of the money, and each person will be taxed accordingly.
You have 180 days from the date of the winning draw to claim any prizes. Any money left unclaimed after this period is returned to the prize fund for use in second chance drawings and other promotions. Unclaimed prizes also go towards paying retailer commissions.
Lottery tickets are bearer instruments, so anyone who possesses a winning ticket can claim a prize with it. To protect yourself, you should sign the back of your ticket straight after purchase. That way, it will be easier to prove that you are the ticket’s rightful owner if it is lost or stolen. If a ticket is too damaged to be validated by the West Virginia Lottery, prizes may not be paid out.
You can remain anonymous if you win a large Powerball prize in West Virginia, providing it is worth $1 million or more. If you request anonymity, your name and personal contact information will be kept private.
You can ask for anonymity by contacting the West Virginia’s State Lottery Director in writing. You need to send your letter to West Virginia State Lottery Director, P.O. Box 2067, Charleston, West Virginia 25327. You can also request anonymity by visiting the state’s lottery headquarters in person. Their address is 900 Pennsylvania Ave, Charleston, WV 25302, and they are open between 8:00am CT and 5:00pm CT from Monday to Friday.
You will automatically go public if you have won under $1 million, and cannot ask for anonymity. Your name and photograph may be used by the lottery for any promotional purposes it chooses. The place where you bought your ticket and how much you won may also be disclosed to the public, but other personal information, such as your address, will remain private.
Around half of the revenue from the sale of lottery tickets goes back to West Virginians in the form of prizes. After commissions and other game costs have been covered, the remaining money is transferred to the State Lottery Fund. The table below shows how the money from ticket sales is split:
| Area of Spending | Percentage of Revenue |
|---|---|
| Prizes | 50.1% |
| State Lottery Fund | 38.7% |
| Commissions | 7.0% |
| Other Costs | 4.2% |
Money allocated to the State Lottery Fund is used to for public education programs, to improve the quality of life for senior citizens, and to help the state’s Division of Tourism, the Division of Natural Resources, and the State Park Improvement Fund. Around $12 billion in revenue has been allocated to these areas, including over $3.7 billion to schools and education. The money has helped build new schools and renovate existing ones, and has provided scholarships for promising students heading to college or university.
Since 1986, over $1.5 billion has been used to improve the quality of life of senior citizens in West Virginia through the Bureau of Senior Services. The money is used to provide meals and long-term care for the state’s senior citizens, and has funded senior centers, transportation, and a property tax credit for people of a certain age.
Finally, another $1.3 billion has been used to boost tourism in the state and attract new visitors by showcasing West Virginia’s areas of natural beauty.
West Virginia’s biggest ever Powerball jackpot was won on Christmas Day all the way back in 2002. The $314 million won by Jack Whittaker was also the biggest prize ever seen in a U.S. lottery at the time. Whittaker owned a successful construction company before his win and had a net worth of around $17 million. He said he only played the lottery when the jackpot reached $100 million, and after spending $100 on tickets at a supermarket in Hurricane, WV, he hit the big money. He took a pre-tax cash payout of $170 million.
Whittaker’s life since the win has been an eventful one. In August 2003, less than a year after the windfall, thieves broke into his car and stole $545,000 in cash that Whittaker had been carrying around in a suitcase. The following year, another $200,000 was stolen from his car, but this money was later recovered. In September 2004, Jesse Tribble, a boyfriend of Whittaker’s granddaughter Brandi Bragg, was found dead at Whittaker’s home, and just two months later Bragg was herself found dead. A coroner’s report said that Tribble’s death was due to a drugs overdose, and Bragg’s was ruled “unexplained”.
More recently, in December 2016, Whittaker’s house in Bland County, WV, suffered extensive damage after a fire started in the kitchen and spread to the rest of the building. His wife was home at the time but was not injured. Despite the best efforts of volunteer firefighters from five separate departments, the house, which was not insured, was eventually declared a total loss.
Despite his difficulties, Whittaker has also been known for his generosity since his win. He used $14 million to establish the Jack Whittaker Foundation to help low-income families in West Virginia. He also bought a new house and car for a manager at the store where he bought the winning ticket, in addition to giving her a check for $44,000.
West Virginia was also home to a group of office workers that landed one of the biggest Powerball jackpots ever won by a lottery pool. Linda Fominko and seven of her co-workers from the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department won $276 million in March 2008 and took home a cash lump sum of $139 million, or $12 million each after tax. It is the second-biggest jackpot ever to be won in West Virginia, and speaking about the moment she found out about the win, Fominko said her heart “kind of stopped”. The group was known as ‘The Lucky Eight.’
