Virginia Lottery Expands Online Offerings with eInstant Games

The Virginia Lottery has announced a significant expansion of its online gaming portfolio by adding a suite of eInstant games developed by Finland-based Fennica Gaming, a subsidiary of the Finnish National Lottery. This partnership marks the first time Fennica's games have been introduced to the U.S. market, bringing a fresh, Scandinavian flavor to Virginia’s digital lottery offerings.

The addition of these new games is part of the Virginia Lottery’s strategy to diversify its iLottery platform, which has been in operation for four years. Scott Kenyon, the Virginia Lottery’s Deputy Executive Director of Marketing, emphasized the importance of innovation in maintaining and growing the lottery’s player base.

“As we wrap up four years of having iLottery, it is important for the Virginia Lottery to offer new types of eInstant games to our players to continue growing our player base,” Kenyon said in a statement. “The unique games provided by Fennica Gaming offer us the opportunity to attract new players that are looking for casual gameplay and additional value in their experience.”

Fennica Gaming’s expertise in developing engaging eInstant games has been honed over two decades. Through a partnership with EQL Games, Fennica’s content will now be accessible to Virginia’s online lottery customers. Brad Cummings, CEO of EQL Games, expressed optimism about the impact these games could have not only in Virginia but across the U.S. iLottery market.

“When I first saw these games, I knew their casual gaming approach to eInstant products would find an important home in the U.S. iLottery market,” Cummings said. “This marks just the beginning of what Fennica Gaming can offer the Virginia Lottery and the lottery industry as a whole.”

 

New Games Added to Virginia’s iLottery Platform

Three of Fennica Gaming’s eInstant games will now be available to Virginia Lottery players:

• Miner Jack’s Combo Caverns: A mining-themed game reminiscent of popular mobile games like Candy Crush, where players swap symbols on a 6×7 grid to win prizes. The game offers a top prize of $300,000, with ticket prices ranging from $1 to $30 and odds of winning any prize set at 1 in 2.91.
• Wobblyblobs: Similar in mechanics to Miner Jack’s Combo Caverns, this game features blobs on an 8×8 grid. It also offers a maximum prize of $300,000, with ticket prices from $1 to $30 and better odds of 1 in 2.3.
• Boulder Blast: A matching game where players use a cannon to fire boulders at descending rows to create color matches. The top prize is $300,000, with odds of winning at 1 in 2.57 and tickets priced between $1 and $30.

 

“The unique games provided by Fennica Gaming offer us the opportunity to attract new players that are looking for casual gameplay and additional value in their experience.”

 

The Growing Market

The introduction of Fennica Gaming’s eInstant games helps the Virginia Lottery remain competitive in a crowded online lottery market. Virginia is one of only 13 states offering state-run online lottery games, a status that places it in a unique position within the U.S. However, competition is fierce, particularly from neighboring states like Washington D.C. and North Carolina, which also offer online draw and instant games.

By continuously updating its game offerings, the Virginia Lottery aims to not only retain existing players but also attract new ones in search of more diverse and engaging online gaming experiences. This partnership with Fennica Gaming is a strategic move that underscores the Lottery’s commitment to innovation and growth in the evolving digital lottery landscape.