The New York Lottery is one of the biggest lottery organizations in the entire USA and began way back in 1967. Games are run by the New York State Gaming Commission who are based in Schenectady. The lottery's motto is "hey, you never know", meaning if you buy a ticket, you don't know, but you could be the winner!
Buying New York Lottery tickets not only gives players a chance to win big – it supports great causes and gives schoolchildren opportunities that were not previously possible.
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New York Lottery Drawing Schedule
One of the largest ranges of games in the country are available in NY. Use this timetable to work out the next drawing times and ticket sales cut-offs to make sure you never miss out on a chance to win.
| Game | Draw Days | Draw Times* | Ticket Sales Close At* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerball | Monday, Wednesday & Saturday | 10:59 PM | 10:00 PM |
| Mega Millions | Tuesday & Friday | 11:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| Cash4Life | Daily | 9:00 PM | 8:45 PM |
| Lotto | Wednesday & Saturday | 8:15 PM | 8:00 PM |
| Win 4 | Daily | 2:30 PM & 10:30 PM | 2:15 PM & 10:20 PM |
| Take 5 | Daily | 2:30 PM & 10:30 PM | 2:15 PM & 10:20 PM |
| Numbers | Daily | 2:30 PM & 10:30 PM | 2:15 PM & 10:20 PM |
| Pick 10 | Daily | 8:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
| *Times are shown in EST. | |||
Game Summary
The New York Lottery offers a number of different games in addition to the multi-state Powerball, Mega Millions and Cash4Life lotteries. Here's a brief summary. Please click the links to view detailed information on each game.
New York Lotto is one of the most popular lottery games in the state. Players pick six numbers from 1 to 59 and draws take place twice a week. Prizes are paid out on a pari-mutuel basis, meaning that the value of prizes is affected by the number of tickets sold as well as the number of winning tickets. In total, 40% of Lotto sales for each drawing are set aside for prize money.
Take 5 is a twice-daily draw game that offers players the chance to win great prizes seven days a week! The Midday drawing is held at 2:30 PM EST every day, followed by the Evening drawing at 10:30 PM EST every night. Tickets cost just $1 per play. All you need to do is select five numbers from 1 to 39 and fill out a playcard. Prizes are distributed on a pari-mutuel basis and prize amounts will vary based on the amount of tickets sold as well as the number of winning tickets.
Pick 10 is a daily drawing that gives players a shot at a top prize of $500,000! Simply select 10 numbers from 1 to 80 and pick the draw in which you want to participate. Draws take place every evening and you'll win a prize even if none of your numbers match the 20 numbers drawn.
The New York Lottery also offers several quick draw games taking place twice per day or even every four minutes if you so desire. Click the links to see details of games like Numbers and Win 4.
Instant win games are very popular and are available for as little as $1 per ticket, providing quick moments of fun and excitement for all players. Instant win games are sold at retail locations across the state and can be claimed immediately at any retailer if the prize is under $600.
You must be at least 18 years old if you want to play New York Lottery games and if you want to play Quick Draw games in a venue where alcohol is served then you must be 21 or older.
Quick Draw is a fast-moving game drawn every four minutes (except for a break from 3:25 AM to 4:00 AM) where you can win up to $100,000. Decide how many numbers you want to try to match and how much you'll wager - from $1 to $10. The more you bet, the more you can win!
Money Dots is a rapid-fire game drawn every four minutes, just after Quick Draw (except for a break from 3:30 AM to 4:00 AM). For just $1, you have the chance to win up to $50. Money Dots is Quick Pick only; you'll receive a ticket with eight numbers chosen by the lottery computer.
Claiming New York Lottery Prizes
Prizes expire a year after the drawing date or date of game closure.
New York winners are not able to officially stay anonymous, but they may claim via an LLC to shield their identity.
Prizes of any value may be claimed by mail. Any prize worth $600 or less can also be claimed at any authorized New York Lottery retailer.
Federal, state and local withholding taxes (for residents of Yonkers and New York City) will apply to all prizes over $5,000.
Claim a prize by mail
For prizes under $600, simply sign your ticket and mail to the address below.
If your prize is over $600, you'll need to also fill out and send a claim form.
Mail to:
New York Lottery
PO Box 7533
Schenectady, NY 12301-7533
Buying New York Lottery Tickets
If you're living in the U.S. but are not a resident of the state of New York, then you will have to travel there to buy lottery tickets in person. Tickets for Take 5, Pick 10, Numbers, Quickdraw and other great games are sold at authorized retailers across the state.
History of the New York Lottery
The New York Lottery began in 1966, when voters in the state approved a referendum that authorized the creation of a government-run lottery. In 1967, the Lottery Commission was created as a part of the Department of Taxation and Finance. Today, the NYS Gaming Commission regulates lotteries, casinos and betting in the state of New York.
The New York Lottery has generated over $51 billion for educational initiatives across the state and donates approximately 30% of sales revenue to educational programs and incentives. Out of the $9.23 billion raised from ticket sales in the 2014 fiscal year, $3.1 billion was allocated for education funding, which represents nearly 15 percent of total state funding for school districts. Overall, the New York Lottery has raised over $51 billion for education since the organization was launched 48 years ago.
For more information visit the official New York Lottery website
