The New York Lottery

New York is one of the 37 states in the United States which operates a lottery. The State’s financial condition in the mid-1960s led to the Legislature’s approval of the Constitutional Amendment in June 1965 and its second passage in 1966. New Yorkers approved a state-run lottery on November 8, 1966. In 1967, the State Legislature created the Division of the Lottery and a State Lottery Commission within the Department of Taxation and Finance. Eventually, the lottery was reconstituted as an independent unit within the Department of Taxation and Finance. The Director of the Division has full authority over the administration of the lottery under the New York State Lottery for Educational Law.

The lottery is an important source of revenue for New York. It provides about the same level of resources as the state’s corporate tax on utilities and telephone companies or roughly about $2 Billion in the mid 1990s. Its absence would mean significant budget cuts or tax increases. Initially, proceeds from the lottery were intended for non-educational needs. The New York City Hall was built in part from lottery money and so were roads, canals, bridges, and churches among others. Lottery money was also used to help the State’s manufacturing industries.

With the approval of the Constitutional Amendment in 1966, New Yorkers approved the state-run lottery where proceeds were to be used solely in aid of education. In its launch in 1967, the lottery sported the slogan “Your Chance of a Lifetime to Help Education” to advertise their intentions. Since then, the lottery has generated billions of dollars funding educational projects and endeavors. It is also tapped as a source in closing budget gaps.

Prior to the Play

A lottery player should be of legal age, which is 18 years of age to be eligible to play; for the game Quick Draw, at least 21.  The Lottery winnings are still subjected to State level and Federal level taxes. Despite ranking the highest in US lottery in terms of sales, the Lottery of New York has received much criticism for its low pay out percentages, failing to give players a better return. This may be one of the reasons for the 22% drop in the State’s Lotto sales in the previous year. Another reason may be the fact that winners of annuity prizes for instant games are not given the choice for lump sum payment instead of regular, periodic payments.

Let the Games Begin

The following are the games available at the New York Lottery:

 Games Played Daily

• Numbers – this game is drawn twice a day at 12:26 PM and 7:51 PM with three balls, each 0 through 9.
• Win 4 – similar to Numbers but this game uses 4 balls. Drawn twice daily at the same time as Numbers.
• Take 5 – this game is drawn nightly, 5 numbers from 1 through 39 matching 5 of 5 numbers. During promotional periods, a bonus ball is drawn.
• Pick 10 – players choose 10 numbers from 1 through 80 out of 20 numbers drawn. 10 numbers matching the 20 wins $500,000. Drawn daily at $1 per game.
• Quick Draw – is a keno-style game similar to Pick 10, drawn every 4 minutes from 4:04AM to 3:24 AM. A computer draws 20 numbers from 1 through 80. Matching 10 numbers with the 20 wins.

Games Played Twice a Week

• Powerball – a seven-member game which stated in 1992 and expanded into New York Power Ball. Drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays, players are to choose five numbers from 1 through 59 and a red “Powerball” from 1 through 39 for $1 a bet.
• Mega Millions – played similarly as the Powerball, this game is played Tuesdays and Fridays. The player chooses five number from 1 to 56 and the “Mega Ball”, a number from 1 to 46.
•  Lotto – played by choosing six numbers from 1 through 59 and a bonus ball will be drawn from the remaining 53 balls. Initial jackpot is $3 million, increasing by increments of P500, 000 per roll over.
• Sweet Million – this game draws six numbers from 1 through 40 at a cost of $1 per game with million dollars top prize.

Also available for playing is the video lottery and various scratch card games.

Winning the Lottery

Some people play the lottery without any idea how to claim the prize if they win. Here is a list of some helpful information to lottery winners:

How does one claim a lottery prize? The first thing to do once you find out you have the winning ticket is to sign the ticket so you can claim your prize. Lottery prizes up to $600 can be claimed at any authorized New York lottery retailer. Retailers can pay prizes of winning tickets up to 45 days after draw date. For prizes $601 and up, claims should be made at any of the State’s 15 Regional Customer Service Centers. Prizes of winning tickets expire one year after drawing.

What if my winning ticket is lost? If you failed to sign your winning ticket and lost it, anybody can use the ticket and claim the prize. Get in touch with a Regional Customer Service Center immediately if you lose your ticket.

How much money will be withheld from my prize? For prizes over $5,000, Federal, State and local taxes are withheld. For winners of $600 who fail to provide a social security number or a tax account number when claiming the prize, same taxes apply. The State may also offset past due child support, if applicable.

Playing the lottery exciting and fun, winning it would be fabulous no matter which State you are in, no matter what offsets are waiting!

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