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How to play: New York Lottery
Overview
The New York Lottery began in 1967 as the third modern U.S. lottery, after Puerto Rico's began in 1934, and New Hampshire's in 1964.
It provides revenue for public education, and is based in Schenectady.
History
Prior to the 20th century, lotteries were used in New York to raise revenue for non-educational needs. New York City Hall was built in part with
lottery proceeds. Other lotteries helped build and repair canals, roads, ferries, and bridges. Lotteries also were held for non-public needs.
They helped develop New York City's manufacturing industries. Churches were built, rebuilt, or improved, with lottery funds.
On November 8, 1966, New Yorkers voted to approve a constitutional amendment authorizing a government-run lottery. The referendum passed with over 60% in favor. The proceeds of the Lottery were to be "applied exclusively to, or in aid or support of, education." In 1967, the New York Legislature created a Division of the Lottery and a Lottery Commission within the Department of Taxation and Finance. The Lottery later became an autonomous unit within the Department of Taxation and Finance. Under the New York State Lottery for Education Law, the Director of the Division of the Lottery has full authority over the administration of the Lottery.
The Lottery began in 1967; its first slogan was "Your Chance of a Lifetime to Help Education". It has generated over $34 billion in aid to education revenue.
Sales were suspended for about nine months in the mid-1970s due to a scandal.
An agreement between Mega Millions and Powerball was reached in October 2009. All US lotteries with either game were allowed to sell tickets for both games beginning January 31, 2010. (Powerball is drawn in Florida.)
Players must be at least 18 years old (including video lottery); however, the minimum is 21 for Quick Draw (a keno-based game drawn four minutes apart) in establishments where alcohol is served.
New York Lottery winnings are subject to state and Federal income taxes. New York City and Yonkers residents also are subject to local income taxes.
Despite it being the US lottery with the highest sales, the New York Lottery has been increasingly criticized for offering low payout percentages (neighboring lotteries often give players a better return.) This is especially true for the jackpot game NY Lotto, which has the lowest prize return (40%) of any US lottery game. (In the most recent fiscal year, sales of Lotto were down almost 15% from the previous 12 months; its minimum rollovers are now only $500,000 annuity.)
Unlike many lotteries, NY winners of annuity prizes for "instant games" cannot choose lump sum in lieu of periodic payments, including those with a fixed annuity stream (usually 20 annual payments)[1], although it has been gradually phasing in scratch games with lump-sum prizes of at least $1,000,000.
On November 8, 1966, New Yorkers voted to approve a constitutional amendment authorizing a government-run lottery. The referendum passed with over 60% in favor. The proceeds of the Lottery were to be "applied exclusively to, or in aid or support of, education." In 1967, the New York Legislature created a Division of the Lottery and a Lottery Commission within the Department of Taxation and Finance. The Lottery later became an autonomous unit within the Department of Taxation and Finance. Under the New York State Lottery for Education Law, the Director of the Division of the Lottery has full authority over the administration of the Lottery.
The Lottery began in 1967; its first slogan was "Your Chance of a Lifetime to Help Education". It has generated over $34 billion in aid to education revenue.
Sales were suspended for about nine months in the mid-1970s due to a scandal.
An agreement between Mega Millions and Powerball was reached in October 2009. All US lotteries with either game were allowed to sell tickets for both games beginning January 31, 2010. (Powerball is drawn in Florida.)
Players must be at least 18 years old (including video lottery); however, the minimum is 21 for Quick Draw (a keno-based game drawn four minutes apart) in establishments where alcohol is served.
New York Lottery winnings are subject to state and Federal income taxes. New York City and Yonkers residents also are subject to local income taxes.
Despite it being the US lottery with the highest sales, the New York Lottery has been increasingly criticized for offering low payout percentages (neighboring lotteries often give players a better return.) This is especially true for the jackpot game NY Lotto, which has the lowest prize return (40%) of any US lottery game. (In the most recent fiscal year, sales of Lotto were down almost 15% from the previous 12 months; its minimum rollovers are now only $500,000 annuity.)
Unlike many lotteries, NY winners of annuity prizes for "instant games" cannot choose lump sum in lieu of periodic payments, including those with a fixed annuity stream (usually 20 annual payments)[1], although it has been gradually phasing in scratch games with lump-sum prizes of at least $1,000,000.
Lottery results and prize breakdown for: New York Lotto, Draw date: 2013-06-19
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Draw results |
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Jackpot: $8.8 Million
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Match + Bonus |
Estimated Jackpot |
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6
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$0.00 |
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Match + Bonus |
Prize amount |
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5 + Bonus
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$0.00
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|
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Match 5
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$0.00
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Match 4 |
$0.00
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Match 3 |
$0.00
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If the jackpot is not won in any drawing, the First Prize Pool Money is carried forward and is added to the next LOTTO Jackpot. If there are no second prize winners, the second prize pool money will be carried forward and added to the second prize pool for the next draw.
Current draw games
Multi-jurisdictional games
Powerball:
New York joined Powerball (now played in 44 jurisdictions) in 2010, after a cross-sell agreement allowed the game to be sold alongside Mega Millions. Powerball is the US drawing game with the highest prize potential. Each game is $2; with Power Play, $3. The minimum jackpot is $40,000,000. Players choose 5 numbers from a field of 59, and a Powerball from 1 to 35. Drawings are Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Mega Millions:
Drawn Tuesdays and Fridays, Mega Millions is played in a similar fashion as Powerball. Mega Millions players choose five numbers from 1 through 56, and the gold-colored Mega Ball, a number from 1 through 46. Mega Millions costs $1 per game; with Megaplier, $2. The Mega Millions minimum jackpot is $12,000,000.
New York joined what had been The Big Game in May 2002, when the name Mega Millions was adopted. The Megaplier (a multiplier of 2, 3, or 4) became available in New York in January 2011; simultaneously, the Lottery discontinued the requirement of choosing cash or annuity when playing Mega Millions. As with most Mega Millions members, New York now gives jackpot winners a 60-day window, upon claiming, to make the choice.
Daily games:
Numbers (pick-3):
Three sets of balls, numbered 0 through 9, are drawn twice daily (12:26 and 7:51 pm.) Options and prizes vary.
Win-4:
Played as Numbers, but with four machines. As with Numbers, the minimum wager is 50 cents, except for combination wagers.
Take 5:
Take 5 (begun as a Friday-only game in 1992, as Take Five) is drawn nightly. Games are $1 each. Five numbers from 1 through 39 are drawn. First prize rolls down if there is no 5-of-5 winner. Matching three or more numbers wins a parimutuel cash prize; matching 2 numbers wins a free play that must be claimed within 45 days. Overall odds of winning (including the free play) are 1 in 9, odds of winning cash, 1 in 100, odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 575,757.
The Lottery has, for promotional purposes, added a "bonus ball" to Take 5. In these drawings, there are eight prize levels; such drawings allow winning with just one number matched, plus the bonus ball.
Pick 10:
Pick 10 is drawn nightly; 20 numbers from 1 through 80 are drawn. Players choose 10 numbers; games cost $1 each. Matching 10 of the 20 numbers wins $500,000 cash.
Unlike Quick Draw (which also picks 10 of 80 numbers; see below), Pick 10 is available wherever Lottery draw games are sold, including Quick Draw retailers.
Quick Draw (limited availability)
Quick Draw is played at Lottery retailers with a television-style monitor. It is a keno-style game drawn every 4 minutes from 4:04 a.m. to 3:24 a.m. Players choose 1 to 10 numbers; a computer draws 20 numbers from 1 through 80. Minimum play is $1. Prizes and options vary; the 10-spot game has a top prize of $100,000.
Twice-weekly in-house games
Sweet Million
Sweet Million is drawn Monday and Thursday nights. Players choose six numbers for each $1 game. Six numbers are drawn from a pool of 40 numbers for Sweet Million. Matching three numbers wins $3, four numbers, $40, five numbers, $500. Matching all six numbers wins $1,000,000, payable in a lump sum; in the unlikely event there are more than five top-prize winners, they split $5,000,000 (to date, the highest number of tickets winning in a given drawing is two.) The payout percentage in Sweet Million is 49%.
Lotto
Lotto is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays. Six numbers out of 59 are drawn, followed by a bonus ball. Matching three numbers wins $1, other winning plays share parimutuel prizes.
As the payout percentage in Lotto is a statuatory 40%, sales of the game have been in a years-long decline; the 2011-12 fiscal year saw Lotto sales decrease by nearly 8 percent, despite overall Lottery sales increasing. While Lotto jackpots begin at $3,000,000 (paid in 26 graduated payments), rollovers are only $500,000. In the late 1990s, the Lotto jackpot was $10,000,000 after just one rollover.
Video lottery
Available at nine parimutuel facilities:
New York video lottery, by law, offers a 92% minimum payout percentage.
Powerball:
New York joined Powerball (now played in 44 jurisdictions) in 2010, after a cross-sell agreement allowed the game to be sold alongside Mega Millions. Powerball is the US drawing game with the highest prize potential. Each game is $2; with Power Play, $3. The minimum jackpot is $40,000,000. Players choose 5 numbers from a field of 59, and a Powerball from 1 to 35. Drawings are Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Mega Millions:
Drawn Tuesdays and Fridays, Mega Millions is played in a similar fashion as Powerball. Mega Millions players choose five numbers from 1 through 56, and the gold-colored Mega Ball, a number from 1 through 46. Mega Millions costs $1 per game; with Megaplier, $2. The Mega Millions minimum jackpot is $12,000,000.
New York joined what had been The Big Game in May 2002, when the name Mega Millions was adopted. The Megaplier (a multiplier of 2, 3, or 4) became available in New York in January 2011; simultaneously, the Lottery discontinued the requirement of choosing cash or annuity when playing Mega Millions. As with most Mega Millions members, New York now gives jackpot winners a 60-day window, upon claiming, to make the choice.
Daily games:
Numbers (pick-3):
Three sets of balls, numbered 0 through 9, are drawn twice daily (12:26 and 7:51 pm.) Options and prizes vary.
Win-4:
Played as Numbers, but with four machines. As with Numbers, the minimum wager is 50 cents, except for combination wagers.
Take 5:
Take 5 (begun as a Friday-only game in 1992, as Take Five) is drawn nightly. Games are $1 each. Five numbers from 1 through 39 are drawn. First prize rolls down if there is no 5-of-5 winner. Matching three or more numbers wins a parimutuel cash prize; matching 2 numbers wins a free play that must be claimed within 45 days. Overall odds of winning (including the free play) are 1 in 9, odds of winning cash, 1 in 100, odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 575,757.
The Lottery has, for promotional purposes, added a "bonus ball" to Take 5. In these drawings, there are eight prize levels; such drawings allow winning with just one number matched, plus the bonus ball.
Pick 10:
Pick 10 is drawn nightly; 20 numbers from 1 through 80 are drawn. Players choose 10 numbers; games cost $1 each. Matching 10 of the 20 numbers wins $500,000 cash.
Unlike Quick Draw (which also picks 10 of 80 numbers; see below), Pick 10 is available wherever Lottery draw games are sold, including Quick Draw retailers.
Quick Draw (limited availability)
Quick Draw is played at Lottery retailers with a television-style monitor. It is a keno-style game drawn every 4 minutes from 4:04 a.m. to 3:24 a.m. Players choose 1 to 10 numbers; a computer draws 20 numbers from 1 through 80. Minimum play is $1. Prizes and options vary; the 10-spot game has a top prize of $100,000.
Twice-weekly in-house games
Sweet Million
Sweet Million is drawn Monday and Thursday nights. Players choose six numbers for each $1 game. Six numbers are drawn from a pool of 40 numbers for Sweet Million. Matching three numbers wins $3, four numbers, $40, five numbers, $500. Matching all six numbers wins $1,000,000, payable in a lump sum; in the unlikely event there are more than five top-prize winners, they split $5,000,000 (to date, the highest number of tickets winning in a given drawing is two.) The payout percentage in Sweet Million is 49%.
Lotto
Lotto is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays. Six numbers out of 59 are drawn, followed by a bonus ball. Matching three numbers wins $1, other winning plays share parimutuel prizes.
As the payout percentage in Lotto is a statuatory 40%, sales of the game have been in a years-long decline; the 2011-12 fiscal year saw Lotto sales decrease by nearly 8 percent, despite overall Lottery sales increasing. While Lotto jackpots begin at $3,000,000 (paid in 26 graduated payments), rollovers are only $500,000. In the late 1990s, the Lotto jackpot was $10,000,000 after just one rollover.
Video lottery
Available at nine parimutuel facilities:
- Batavia Downs, Batavia
- Finger Lakes Gaming and Race Track, Farmington
- The Fairgrounds Gaming, Hamburg
- Monticello Raceway, Monticello
- Saratoga Casino and Raceway, Saratoga Springs (not to be confused with nearby Saratoga Race Course)
- Tioga Downs, Nichols
- Vernon Downs, Vernon
- Empire City at Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers
- Aqueduct Racetrack, Ozone Park, Queens
New York video lottery, by law, offers a 92% minimum payout percentage.
Instant games
Numerous scratchcard games are available; formats, prices, and payouts vary, although most of the higher-priced games are in fact the same game, repackaged under different names.
Unlike other US lotteries, winners of annuity prizes in New York Lottery scratch games cannot choose lump sum in lieu of periodic payments (whether the annuity is finite, e.g. 20 yearly payments, or a lifetime annuity) even though winners of annuitized Lottery draw games, including Mega Millions and Powerball, can choose cash after winning.
Unlike other US lotteries, winners of annuity prizes in New York Lottery scratch games cannot choose lump sum in lieu of periodic payments (whether the annuity is finite, e.g. 20 yearly payments, or a lifetime annuity) even though winners of annuitized Lottery draw games, including Mega Millions and Powerball, can choose cash after winning.
Drawings
New York Lottery drawings are syndicated to television stations. Pick 10 drawings air nightly on MSG Network and the Sabres Hockey Network at 11:00 p.m. All other draw games, except
for Sweet Million, air on these stations: WABC-TV New York (except Powerball, Take 5, and Lotto; the last two are aired on the station's website, 7online.com, while Powerball is not
aired), WSYR-TV Syracuse, WBNG Binghamton, WGRZ Buffalo, WETM-TV Elmira, WPTZ Plattsburgh, WHAM-TV Rochester (except Powerball), WWTI Watertown, and WUAM/YNN Capital Region.
(Both WBNG and WETM's newscasts are seen in the Binghamton area.) Mega Millions & Powerball drawings are shown at 11:00 p.m., while Take 5 and Lotto are drawn at 11:21 p.m. The
Numbers and Win 4 drawings are held at 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Powerball drawings can be seen in the New York and Rochester areas via the national cable/satellite feed of WGN
America. The Utica-Rome region (which does not receive WGN on cable) does not see live lottery drawings; the local affiliate, WUTR, dropped lottery drawings when it first shut
down its news division in 2003, and neither they nor rival WKTV have picked up the drawings since.
Sweet Million drawings are viewable online only. Its drawings are held Mondays and Thursdays at 9:30 p.m.
Sweet Million drawings are viewable online only. Its drawings are held Mondays and Thursdays at 9:30 p.m.
This is an affiliate site for the LotteryNetwork.net,
it is neither associated nor endorsed by Camelot, An Post National Lottery Company,
MUSL, New York Lottery, Canada Lottery, Services aux lotteries en Europe (SLE) who own the trademark EUROMILLIONS.
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