The very first virtual sports product has been launched in the US by the Virginia Lottery in collaboration with Aristocrat Gaming and Inspired Entertainment. Referred to as VSports, these virtual lottery games include sports such as basketball, football, horse racing, and more, available through the Virginia Lottery's online platform.

The Virginia Lottery has made history by becoming the first US regulated lottery to offer virtual sports draw games online, marking a groundbreaking step in the evolution of digital lottery entertainment. This new suite of games, called VSports, was launched through a strategic partnership involving Aristocrat Interactive, Inspired Entertainment, and NeoPollard Interactive.

A pioneering move in the US iLottery market

VSports represents the first-ever introduction of virtual sports to a regulated digital lottery platform in the United States. The games simulate popular sports such as basketball, football, and horse racing, and are now available to players through the Virginia Lottery's online platform. Unlike traditional sports betting, these games rely on a certified random number generator, delivering outcomes that are both fair and entertaining, but not tied to real-world events.

Offering new ways to play, the virtual games operate on a frequent, rapid schedule - running every two to three minutes - and replicate the excitement of live sports for digital lottery players. This innovation is designed to enhance engagement while aligning with regulatory standards in the gaming space.

Tech integration and key partnerships

The new product was developed by Inspired Entertainment, a global leader in virtual sports content, and was seamlessly integrated into the Virginia Lottery's digital ecosystem through Aristocrat Interactive's Fusion aggregation platform.

NeoPollard Interactive also played a key role in delivering the content by leveraging its longstanding operational partnership with the Virginia Lottery. The collaborative approach helped ensure that the integration was both technically robust and aligned with the lottery's strategic goals.

The Managing Director of Aristocrat Interactive iLottery, Chris Shaban, highlighted the significance of the launch, stating: "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."

A win for players and public education

From the Virginia Lottery's perspective, the introduction of VSports is more than just a novel gaming option - it's a way to expand player offerings while staying true to its mission of supporting public education.

"This relationship allows us to provide a wide range of new, distinctive games that we are confident will be exciting and appealing to our players," said the Deputy Executive Director of Marketing at the Virginia Lottery, Scott Kenyon. "At the same time, it supports the Lottery's overall mission of raising revenue for K-12 public education in the Commonwealth."

Part of a broader growth strategy

The launch of VSports comes amid strong digital performance from Aristocrat Interactive in 2025, particularly in the North Carolina and Virginia markets through its NPI venture. The iLottery and digital content segments were among the few bright spots for Aristocrat in the first half of the year, contributing to a 9% increase in overall group revenue despite headwinds in its international gaming division.

The success of the Virginia launch is expected to pave the way for further expansion of virtual sports offerings in other regulated lottery markets. Inspired Entertainment confirmed that more VSports titles are on the horizon, describing the current rollout as the first phase in a broader content roadmap aimed at transforming the digital lottery experience nationwide.

As digital gaming continues to gain momentum across the US, the Virginia Lottery"s VSports debut could serve as a blueprint for how traditional lottery organizations can innovate while maintaining regulatory compliance. With more titles expected to launch and additional states watching closely, this pioneering move may be just the beginning of a larger shift in how Americans engage with lottery games online.