Virginia is for lovers, but let's be real—it’s also for people who love a good daily draw. If you’ve ever stood at a 7-Eleven counter in Richmond or scrolled through the official app, you’ve seen them. The big three. Virginia Lottery Pick 3 Pick 4 Cash 5 are basically the bread and butter of the state’s gaming scene. They aren't the flashy, billion-dollar Powerball headlines, but they’re the ones people actually play every single day.
Why? Because you can actually win these.
The odds of hitting a Powerball jackpot are basically "see you in another lifetime," but matching three digits in a Pick 3? That’s 1 in 1,000. Still hard, sure, but it feels within reach. Honestly, the beauty of these games is the flexibility. You aren't just stuck with one way to play. You can bet fifty cents or a dollar. You can pick your numbers or let the computer do the "Easy Pick" heavy lifting.
How Pick 3 and Pick 4 Keep Things Interesting
Most people think you just pick numbers and hope for the best. That’s the "Exact Order" or "Straight" bet. If you pick 123 and the balls come up 123, you win. Easy. In Virginia, a $1 Exact Order bet on Pick 3 nets you $500. For Pick 4, that same dollar can turn into $5,000 because the odds jump to 1 in 10,000.
But here’s where it gets kinda deep: the Any Order (or Box) play.
If you’re the type of person who hates being "one off," Any Order is your best friend. You win if your numbers show up in any combination. If you play 123 Any Order, and the result is 321, you’re still getting paid. The prize is smaller—usually $80 for a 6-way Pick 3 box—but it keeps the "close but no cigar" frustration to a minimum.
The Fireball Factor
You've probably noticed the "Fireball" logo everywhere. This was a massive change the Virginia Lottery rolled out a while back. Basically, after the regular numbers are drawn, they draw one extra "Fireball" digit (0-9).
You can use that Fireball number to replace any of the lottery-drawn numbers to create a winning combo.
Imagine you played 1-2-3. The lottery draws 1-2-9. Usually, you’re out of luck. But if the Fireball is a 3, you can swap that 9 for a 3 and suddenly you’ve got a winner. It doubles the cost of your ticket, but it also mathematically boosts your chances of hitting something. It's a bit of a gamble on a gamble, but for regular players, it’s almost always worth the extra buck.
Cash 5: The "Mini" Jackpot Game
If Pick 3 and Pick 4 are about quick hits, Cash 5 with EZ Match is for the person who wants a real jackpot without the impossible odds of Mega Millions. It’s a Virginia-only game. This is important because you aren't competing with 40 other states. The jackpot starts at $200,000 and grows until someone hits it.
As of January 2026, we’ve seen these jackpots climb well past the half-million mark. You pick five numbers from 1 to 45. To win the big one, you need all five.
The "EZ Match" part is a neat little add-on. For an extra dollar, your ticket prints with five EZ Match numbers and prize amounts. If any of those match your Cash 5 numbers, you win that prize instantly. You don't even have to wait for the 11 p.m. drawing. You could walk out of the store with $500 before the ink is dry on the ticket.
The Odds Breakdown
Let’s talk numbers, but I’ll keep it brief.
- Pick 3 Exact Order: 1 in 1,000 odds ($500 prize on $1 bet).
- Pick 4 Exact Order: 1 in 10,000 odds ($5,000 prize on $1 bet).
- Cash 5 Jackpot: 1 in 1,221,759 odds (Starts at $200,000).
Compare that to the 1 in 292 million for Powerball. You see why people in Virginia stick to the local games? It’s not just about the money; it’s about the realistic probability of a win.
Drawing Times and Where to Watch
In Virginia, these games are a twice-a-day affair.
The Day Drawing happens at 1:59 p.m.
The Night Drawing happens at 11:00 p.m.
You can watch them live on the Virginia Lottery website or just check the app. One thing that trips people up is the cutoff time. You can't buy a ticket at 10:59 p.m. and expect to be in the 11:00 p.m. drawing. Usually, the cutoff is about 15 minutes before the balls drop—1:53 p.m. for the day and 10:45 p.m. for the night. If you miss it, your ticket just rolls over to the next available drawing.
What Most People Get Wrong
I see people all the time looking for "hot" numbers or patterns. They think because "777" hasn't hit in three months, it’s "due."
Honestly? That’s not how it works.
The balls don't have a memory. Each drawing is a completely independent event. The machine doesn't care that 1-2-3 hit yesterday; it has the exact same 1 in 1,000 chance of hitting again today. Some people find that discouraging, but I think it’s fair. It means every single person standing in line at the grocery store has the exact same shot.
Another misconception is that you have to be a Virginia resident to win. Nope. You just have to be in Virginia when you buy the ticket. If you're driving through on I-95 and stop for gas, you can play. Just keep in mind that if you win more than $600, you’ll likely need to claim it at one of the lottery's customer service centers in places like Hampton, Richmond, or Farmville.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Play
If you’re going to jump into the Virginia Lottery Pick 3 Pick 4 Cash 5 games, don't just throw money at the screen. Be a bit more tactical about it.
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First, download the official Virginia Lottery app. It lets you scan your tickets to see if they’re winners, which is way safer than squinting at a tiny screen or a newspaper. You can also play online now, provided you’re physically located within state lines.
Second, decide on your "miss" tolerance. If you hate losing by one digit, always play the Any Order or 50/50 options. You'll win less, but you'll win more often.
Third, if you’re playing Cash 5, definitely consider the EZ Match. The overall odds of winning something on Cash 5 with EZ Match are about 1 in 3.6. Those are some of the best odds in the entire lottery lineup.
Finally, remember the "Play Multi-Draw" option. If you have a set of "lucky" numbers, you can buy one ticket that covers up to 91 consecutive drawings. It saves you from having to run to the store every single day and ensures you don't miss that one night your numbers actually come up.
Stop treating it like a retirement plan and treat it like the $1 entertainment it's meant to be. The proceeds go to Virginia’s K-12 public schools anyway, so even if you don't hit the jackpot, you're basically just paying a very small, voluntary "education tax."
Keep your tickets in a safe spot, sign the back of them immediately, and check those numbers after 11 p.m.
Next Steps for Players:
- Verify your location: Ensure your phone's GPS is on if playing via the app to satisfy the "legal play" requirements.
- Check the "Scratched" report: Before buying a Cash 5 ticket, check the official site to see if the current jackpot has been recently claimed.
- Set a budget: Use the app's built-in tools to set a weekly deposit limit if you’re playing the digital versions of Pick 3 or Pick 4.