The Virginia Lottery has become the first state-run lottery to launch virtual sports draw games, offering a fresh form of iLottery entertainment. This pioneering move, branded as VSports, was made possible through a multi-stakeholder partnership involving Aristocrat Interactive, NeoPollard Interactive (NPI), and Inspired Entertainment.
Simulated Sports, Real-Time Excitement
VSports is a suite of digital games that simulate popular sporting events — including football, basketball, and horse racing — with results determined by a certified random number generator (RNG) rather than real-world outcomes. Unlike traditional lottery draws, these games operate on an accelerated cycle, with events scheduled every 2–3 minutes, providing an engaging, high-frequency format that mirrors the pacing of real sports betting, but in a regulated, lottery-compliant structure.
This model not only appeals to existing lottery players but also aims to attract a new demographic more attuned to sports and fast-paced digital entertainment.
Strategic Tech Partnerships Drive Innovation
The development and rollout of VSports relied on the combined technological and operational capabilities of its partners:
Inspired Entertainment provided the game content and simulation engines.
Aristocrat Interactive integrated the titles via its Fusion aggregation system.
NeoPollard Interactive (NPI), a joint venture between Aristocrat and Pollard Banknote, served as the content delivery conduit through its long-standing relationship with the Virginia Lottery.
Chris Shaban, Managing Director of Aristocrat Interactive iLottery, emphasized the significance of the rollout:
“The introduction of these first-of-its-kind draw games for the Virginia Lottery exemplifies how customers can benefit from strategic integrations that drive new innovations.”
Supporting Education Through Innovation
Beyond entertainment, the initiative serves a broader purpose. Scott Kenyon, Deputy Executive Director of Marketing at the Virginia Lottery, highlighted that the new offerings align with the Lottery’s mission to raise revenue for K-12 public education in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
By diversifying its product portfolio, the Lottery aims to keep pace with changing consumer behavior and tap into emerging segments of the gaming market, especially digital-first players who may not engage with traditional draw games.
Industry Context and Future Outlook
The launch comes amid strong regional momentum. In H1 2025, Aristocrat Interactive reported notable performance in Virginia and North Carolina through its NPI operations. The iLottery and digital content arms contributed to a 9% revenue growth for Aristocrat Group, offsetting international gaming headwinds.
Inspired Entertainment has confirmed that the Virginia launch is only the beginning. The content provider plans to expand the portfolio with additional virtual sports titles in future phases, suggesting a roadmap that may be replicated by other US lotteries.
This development positions Virginia as a digital leader in the US public gaming sector, and may well serve as a blueprint for other jurisdictions seeking to modernize their lottery offerings while maintaining a strong regulatory framework.
