New York Lottery
Encyclopedia
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
.
was built in part with lottery proceeds. Other lotteries helped build and repair canal
s, roads, ferries, and bridge
s. 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.) Also, unlike many lotteries, NY winners of annuity prizes for "instant games
" cannot choose lump sum in lieu of the periodic payments.http://nylottery.org/ny/nyStore/cgi-bin/ProdSubEV_Cat_333603_NavRoot_306.htm?
Powerball began in 1992 as a seven-member game; initially, it was drawn Saturdays only. It gradually added jurisdictions; as part of the cross-selling expansion with Mega Millions in 2010, Powerball added New York. Powerball is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays; for each $1 wagered, players choose five numbers from 1 through 59, and a red "Powerball", from 1 through 39. Including the jackpot, there are nine prize levels. For an additional $1 per game, the Power Play option can be activated; it multiplies non-jackpot winnings.
Powerball's format has changed several times; its first, in 1997, introduced its cash option
. Powerball's next format change will be in January 2012; among the changes will be an increased price point: $2 for a regular game, or $3 with Power Play.
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, originally The Big Game, began in 1996. The six-member game added New Jersey
in 1999. The Big Game became The Big Game Mega Millions briefly in May 2002, when Ohio and New York joined simultaneously. There were 12 members of Mega Millions at the time of the 2010 cross-selling expansion.
The Megaplier, which is similar to Powerball's Power Play, was initially available only in Texas
. The Megaplier became available to New York players of Mega Millions 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.
game in the US (it has the most numbers of any such game; Lotto Texas has 54). Partly because Powerball is drawn the same nights, Lotto sales have continued their years-long decline; 2010 sales of the game were down 22% from the previous year. Players must choose either cash value or 26 annual payments when playing, instead of after winning. Players get two games for each $1 played.
; it does not carry over if there is no 6-of-6 winner. (If there are more than five winners of the top prize in a given drawing, they split $5 million.) Matching five numbers wins $500; four numbers, $40; three numbers, $3. The payout percentage is 48.65% of sales. Odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 3,838,380.
-style game drawn every 4 minutes from 4:04 a.m. to 3:24 a.m. Players choose from 1 to 10 numbers, and a computer draws 20 numbers from 1 through 80. Prices, prizes, and options vary.
New York video lottery, by law, offers a 92% minimum payout percentage.
games are available; formats, prices and payouts vary.
Unlike other US lotteries, winners of annuity prizes in New York Lottery scratch games cannot choose lump sum in lieu of the periodic payments, even where the annuity stream is a finite (e.g. 20) number of payments.
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.
Puerto Rico Lottery
Lotería de Puerto Rico , is the oldest "modern" lottery in the US; it began in 1934....
began in 1934, and New Hampshire's
New Hampshire Lottery
Begun in 1964, the New Hampshire Lottery is the oldest US mainland-based lottery. New Hampshire's games include Mega Millions, Powerball, Hot Lotto, and numerous scratch tickets.New Hampshire is part of the Multi-State Lottery Association , which it joined in 1995...
in 1964. It provides revenue for public education
Public education
State schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...
, and is based in Schenectady
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
.
History
Prior to the 20th century, lotteries were used in New York to raise revenue for non-educational needs. New York City HallNew York City Hall
New York City Hall is located at the center of City Hall Park in the Civic Center area of Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA, between Broadway, Park Row, and Chambers Street. The building is the oldest City Hall in the United States that still houses its original governmental functions, such as...
was built in part with lottery proceeds. Other lotteries helped build and repair canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
s, roads, ferries, and bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
s. 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
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
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
New York Legislature
The New York State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of New York. The New York Constitution does not designate an official term for the two houses together...
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
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando Resort is a theme park resort in Orlando, Florida. It is wholly owned by NBCUniversal and its affiliates. The resort consists of two theme parks , Universal CityWalk , and three Loews Hotels...
.)
Players must be at least 18 years old (including video lottery); however, the minimum is 21 for Quick Draw
Keno
Keno is a lottery or bingo gambling game often played at modern casinos, and is also offered as a game in some state lotteries. A traditional live casino keno game uses a circular glass enclosure called a "bubble" containing 80 balls which determine the ball draw result. Each ball is imprinted...
(a keno-based game drawn four minutes apart) in establishments where alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
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.) Also, unlike many lotteries, NY winners of annuity prizes for "instant games
Scratchcard
A scratchcard is a small card, often made of thin paper-based card for competitions and plastic to conceal PINs, where one or more areas contain concealed information which can...
" cannot choose lump sum in lieu of the periodic payments.http://nylottery.org/ny/nyStore/cgi-bin/ProdSubEV_Cat_333603_NavRoot_306.htm?
Powerball
Main article: PowerballPowerball
Powerball is an American lottery game sold in 44 jurisdictions as a shared jackpot game. It is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association , a non-profit organization formed by an agreement with lotteries. Powerball is a game whose advertised jackpot starts at $20 million and can roll into...
Powerball began in 1992 as a seven-member game; initially, it was drawn Saturdays only. It gradually added jurisdictions; as part of the cross-selling expansion with Mega Millions in 2010, Powerball added New York. Powerball is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays; for each $1 wagered, players choose five numbers from 1 through 59, and a red "Powerball", from 1 through 39. Including the jackpot, there are nine prize levels. For an additional $1 per game, the Power Play option can be activated; it multiplies non-jackpot winnings.
Powerball's format has changed several times; its first, in 1997, introduced its cash option
Present value
Present value, also known as present discounted value, is the value on a given date of a future payment or series of future payments, discounted to reflect the time value of money and other factors such as investment risk...
. Powerball's next format change will be in January 2012; among the changes will be an increased price point: $2 for a regular game, or $3 with Power Play.
Mega Millions
Main article: Mega MillionsMega Millions
Mega Millions is a US multi-jurisdictional $1 lottery game. Since it replaced The Big Game in May 2002 , Mega Millions' advertised jackpots have started at $12 million, paid in 26 yearly installments , increasing when there is no jackpot winner...
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, originally The Big Game, began in 1996. The six-member game added New Jersey
New Jersey Lottery
The New Jersey Lottery is run by the government of New Jersey. Its games consist of Powerball, Mega Millions, Pick-6, Jersey Cash 5, Pick-4, Pick-3, and scratch tickets. The Lottery is headquartered in the One Lawrence Park Complex in Lawrence Township, Mercer County.New Jersey Lottery players must...
in 1999. The Big Game became The Big Game Mega Millions briefly in May 2002, when Ohio and New York joined simultaneously. There were 12 members of Mega Millions at the time of the 2010 cross-selling expansion.
The Megaplier, which is similar to Powerball's Power Play, was initially available only in Texas
Texas Lottery
The Texas Lottery is the government-operated lottery available throughout Texas. It is operated by the Texas Lottery Commission, headquartered in downtown Austin.-History:...
. The Megaplier became available to New York players of Mega Millions 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.
Lotto
Lotto is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays. Six numbers from 1-59 are drawn; a bonus ball is drawn from the remaining 53. Jackpots begin at $3 million, increasing by $500,000 per rollover. Payout is 40% of sales (minus a 2% reserve fund); it is believed to have the lowest payout of any US lottery game, and has the worst odds of any pick-6Pick 6 (lottery)
A six-number lottery game, often having Pick-6 or Lotto as part of its name, is a form of lottery in which six numbers are drawn from a larger pool . Winning the top prize, usually a jackpot, requires a player to match all six regular numbers drawn; the order in which they are drawn is irrelevant...
game in the US (it has the most numbers of any such game; Lotto Texas has 54). Partly because Powerball is drawn the same nights, Lotto sales have continued their years-long decline; 2010 sales of the game were down 22% from the previous year. Players must choose either cash value or 26 annual payments when playing, instead of after winning. Players get two games for each $1 played.
Sweet Million
Sweet Million is drawn Mondays and Thursdays. It draws six numbers from 1 through 40. Games cost $1 each. The top prize is $1 million, paid in a lump sumLump sum
A lump sum is a single payment of money, as opposed to a series of payments made over time .The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development distinguishes between "price analysis" and "cost analysis" by whether the decision maker compares lump sum amounts, or subjects contract prices...
; it does not carry over if there is no 6-of-6 winner. (If there are more than five winners of the top prize in a given drawing, they split $5 million.) Matching five numbers wins $500; four numbers, $40; three numbers, $3. The payout percentage is 48.65% of sales. Odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 3,838,380.
Numbers
Three balls, each 0 through 9, are drawn twice daily, at 12:26pm and 7:51pm. Prices, prizes, and options vary.Win 4
Win 4 is drawn as in Numbers, but with 4 balls, twice daily, at 12:26pm and 7:51pm.Take 5
Take 5 is drawn nightly. Five numbers from 1 through 39 are drawn. First prize rolls down if there is no 5-of-5 winner. Matching 5, 4, or 3 numbers wins a parimutuel cash prize; matching 2 numbers wins a free play that must be claimed within 45 days of winning. The Lottery has, for promotional periods, drawn a Take 5 "bonus ball"; during these promotions, there are eight prize levels, instead of the usual four. Overall odds of winning are 1 in 9; odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 575,757.Pick 10
Pick 10, is drawn once daily. It draws 20 numbers from 1 through 80. Players choose 10 numbers; games cost $1 each. Matching 10 of the 20 numbers wins $500,000.Quick Draw
Quick Draw is played at Lottery retailers with a monitor. It is a kenoKeno
Keno is a lottery or bingo gambling game often played at modern casinos, and is also offered as a game in some state lotteries. A traditional live casino keno game uses a circular glass enclosure called a "bubble" containing 80 balls which determine the ball draw result. Each ball is imprinted...
-style game drawn every 4 minutes from 4:04 a.m. to 3:24 a.m. Players choose from 1 to 10 numbers, and a computer draws 20 numbers from 1 through 80. Prices, prizes, and options vary.
Video lottery
Available at nine parimutuel facilities:- Batavia DownsBatavia DownsBatavia Downs is a harness racing track in Batavia, New York. It is located in Genesee County between Buffalo and Rochester just off of the New York State Thruway, the I-90. It opened on September 20, 1940, and is the oldest lighted harness racetrack in the United States. The track is exactly...
, Batavia - Finger Lakes Gaming and Race TrackFinger Lakes Gaming and Race TrackFinger Lakes Gaming and Race Track is a thoroughbred horse-racing track and racino located in Farmington in western New York State, approximately 25 miles southeast of Rochester. The facility is about one mile south of New York State Thruway exit 44....
, Farmington - The Fairgrounds GamingErie County FairThe Erie County Fair is a fair held in Hamburg in Erie County, New York every August. It is the second largest fair in New York topped only by Great New York State Fair which is larger, and the third largest county fair in the United States, often drawing over one million in attendance.The first...
, Hamburg - Monticello RacewayMonticello RacewayMonticello Gaming and Raceway is a harness racing track, and home to a relatively new racino, in Monticello, Sullivan County, New York. It is off Exit 104 of Route 17 , on New York State Route 17B....
, Monticello - Saratoga Casino and Raceway, Saratoga Springs (not to be confused with nearby Saratoga Race CourseSaratoga Race CourseSaratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
) - Tioga DownsTioga DownsTioga Downs is a county-fair-themed standardbred racetrack and racino located on a site in Nichols, New York.-History:Tioga Downs originally was a quarterhorse track known as "Tioga Park" in 1976, closing down after its third season...
, Nichols - Vernon DownsVernon DownsVernon Downs is a horse racing track, racino and entertainment facility located in the town of Vernon in central New York.On February 11, 2008, the casino closed down after the New York State Assembly's Racing and Wagering Committee failed to pass a bill that would allow Vernon Downs and other...
, Vernon - Empire City at Yonkers RacewayYonkers RacewayYonkers Raceway, founded in 1899 as the Empire City Race Track, is a one-half-mile standardbred harness racing dirt track and New York state-approved slots racino located at the intersection of Central Park Avenue and Yonkers Avenue in Yonkers, New York near the New York City border...
, Yonkers - Aqueduct RacetrackAqueduct RacetrackAqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
, Ozone Park, Queens
New York video lottery, by law, offers a 92% minimum payout percentage.
Instant Games
Numerous scratchcardScratchcard
A scratchcard is a small card, often made of thin paper-based card for competitions and plastic to conceal PINs, where one or more areas contain concealed information which can...
games are available; formats, prices and payouts vary.
Unlike other US lotteries, winners of annuity prizes in New York Lottery scratch games cannot choose lump sum in lieu of the periodic payments, even where the annuity stream is a finite (e.g. 20) number of payments.
Drawings
New York Lottery drawings are syndicated to television stations. Pick 10 drawings air nightly on MSG NetworkMSG Network
The MSG Network, now shortened to simply MSG, is a regional cable television and radio network serving the Mid-Atlantic United States. It is focused on New York City sports teams...
and the Sabres Hockey Network
Sabres Hockey Network
The Sabres Hockey Network is the official radio and television broadcast network of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. The network is currently operated jointly by the Sabres and by Entercom Communications....
at 11:00 p.m. All other draw games, except for Sweet Million, air on these stations: WABC-TV
WABC-TV
WABC-TV, channel 7, is the flagship station of the Disney-owned American Broadcasting Company located in New York City. The station's studios and offices are located on the Upper West Side section of Manhattan, adjacent to ABC's corporate headquarters, and its transmitter is atop the Empire State...
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
WSYR-TV
WSYR-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for Central New York State that is licensed to Syracuse. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 17 from a transmitter on Sevier Road in Pompey. The station can also be seen on Time Warner channel 9 and in high definition on...
Syracuse, WBNG Binghamton, WGRZ Buffalo, WETM-TV
WETM-TV
WETM-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Upstate New York's Central Southern Tier licensed to Elmira. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 18 from a transmitter on Hawley Hill in West Elmira. The station can also be seen on Time Warner Cable channel 3 and in...
Elmira, WPTZ
WPTZ
WPTZ, virtual channel 5, is an NBC-affiliated television station located in Plattsburgh, New York, USA. WPTZ is owned by Hearst Television, and has its studios in Plattsburgh and transmitter located on Mount Mansfield in Vermont....
Plattsburgh, WHAM-TV
WHAM-TV
WHAM-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for Rochester, New York. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 13 from a transmitter on Pinnacle Hill on the border between Rochester and Brighton. The station can also be seen on Time Warner channel 13 and in high definition...
Rochester (except Powerball), WWTI
WWTI
WWTI is the ABC-affiliated television station for Upstate New York's North Country. Licensed to Watertown, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 21 from a transmitter on Hayes Road in Copenhagen. The station can also be seen on Time Warner Cable channel 5 and in high...
Watertown, and WUAM
WUAM
WUAM is a radio station broadcasting a full-time simulcast of local Albany cable news station YNN Capital Region. It is licensed to Watervliet, New York...
/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
Mohawk Valley
The Mohawk Valley region of the U.S. state of New York is the area surrounding the Mohawk River, sandwiched between the Adirondack Mountains and Catskill Mountains....
(which does not receive WGN on cable) does not see live lottery drawings; the local affiliate, WUTR
WUTR
WUTR is the ABC-affiliated television station for Central Upstate New York's Mohawk Valley. Licensed to Utica, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 30 from a transmitter at its studios on Smith Hill Road in Deerfield...
, dropped lottery drawings when it first shut down its news division in 2003, and neither they nor rival WKTV
WKTV
WKTV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Central Upstate New York's Mohawk Valley licensed to Utica. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 29 from a transmitter in the Eatonville section of Fairfield and Herkimer. The station can also be seen on Time Warner Cable...
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.