NeoPollard Interactive Teams Up with West Virginia Lottery for Online Expansion

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The West Virginia Mountaineers celebrate after winning against the Morehead State Eagles. Jamie Squire/Getty Images/AFP

The lottery in West Virginia is going online, and they’re using some top-notch tools from NeoPollard Interactive to make it happen. 

Neopollard Interactive landed a deal to set up an online system for the West Virginia Lottery. This will include a full-blown mobile app and a program to reward loyal players. The deal is for ten years, but there’s an option to extend it for an additional year if they want.

In a statement announcing the deal, Vice President & General Manager of NeoPollard  Interactive, Colin Hadden, said “NPi is delighted to celebrate this exciting partnership with the West Virginia Lottery, We look forward to supporting the success of the West Virginia Lottery with an iLottery 360° Solution that powers several of the most successful iLottery programs in North America, including those in New Hampshire, Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina, and Alberta.”

Plenty of Options For Gamers

The lottery commission is bringing in NPI’s NeoGames system to manage player accounts and run draw games. They’ll also use the NeoEngage platform and Pollard Banknote’s system to ramp up their current loyalty program, helping to keep players interested and boosting store sales. 

Gamers in West Virginia will get to play a range of fun, online games from NeoGames. Plus, Pollard Banknote will roll out a mobile app. With this app, players can play games, earn and use loyalty points, check if they’ve won, enter contests, get details on current games, find nearby ticket sellers, and stay updated with jackpot news and promotions.

More Games Means More Money and More Help For The State

Since starting in 1985, the West Virginia Lottery has focused on bringing fun games to the people of West Virginia. Nowadays, it makes over $1 billion a year. And almost $500 million of that money goes back into helpful programs for the state, like school programs, services for senior citizens, and improvements to tourist spots and state parks.

Besides helping out with charity, the lottery has given players around $3 billion in prizes since it started.

Online Casinos Still Rare in the U.S.

The popularity of the lottery notwithstanding the online casino community is only beginning to grow, Rhode Island is set to be the next one, with plans to launch in early 2024.

Right now, just seven U.S. states allow legal online casinos: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and, of course, West Virginia.  

In 2019, West Virginia approved online casino gambling and poker, a year after giving the green light to online sports betting. Currently, the state boasts nine online casinos, teaming up with major players like Golden Nugget and BetRivers.

Overall, West Virginia’s move to embrace online casinos aligns with a broader national trend where states are reconsidering their stance on online gambling, both for the potential economic benefits and in response to changing societal views on the activity.

And now, with the lottery’s collaboration with NeoPollard, there is no shortage of gaming options for people in the Mountain State.