New York

The New York Lotto is considered the Granddaddy of the lottery landscape in the USA. That's partly down to a long and storied history, but also the sheer number of games offered to the great people in the state of the city that never sleeps.

Comparethelotto.com looks into how the New York Lotto came to be, breaks down the types of games you can play, and other key bits of information relating to one of the oldest lotto draws in the world.

The Beginnings

The New York Lotto came to be in 1967 in a truly democratic fashion. A referendum in 1966 preceded the formation of a legislature. The Division Of The Lottery and the Lottery Commission was born - both falling under the purview of the Department of Taxation and Finance. It is regulated by the New York State Gaming Commission, which endeavors to keep players as safe as possible from the trappings of problem gambling.

In 1981, the first big prize landed in the lotto - Lou Eisenberg, of Florida, now resides in his condo in Florida after decades of splashing the cash on a few things important to him, namely the Greyhounds and his friends and family. He's not as plush these days, but he'll forever be remembered as one of the first big-time winners in New York lotto history.

Since then, the New York lotto has created hundreds of millionaires, thanks to an array of different games, which you can read more about below.

New York Lotto Gives Back

The New York Lotto has given billions away to education causes within the state - funding local school districts according to the level of income in the area. The lower the income area of the school, the larger proportion of funding it will receive.

Game Overview

There is a healthy selection of different games available to play at the New York Lotto - they include:

Cash 4 Life

Available to play at $2 a ticket, Cash 4 Life offers its players the opportunity to win a top prize of $1,000 a week for life! Simply predict the numbers, ranging from 1 to 60 for a chance at winning comfortable riches for the rest of your life.

Mega Millions

Pick five balls to roll out correctly and win generational prize money. Some of the biggest ever windfalls in history have spawned from the game they call the big one.

New York Lotto

Match six numbers, ranging from 1 to 59, to win the jackpot, which has the potential to roll over for weeks on end. Draws take place raws on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8:15 PM.

Numbers

For the low-ballers, there are some cheap games on offer - including Numbers. For as little as $0.50, you need to pick three numbers between 0 and 9 and have them match in the order they are drawn to win prizes worth up to $1,000. You can also bet combinations for smaller prizes.

Powerball

Another chance for players to win whopping amounts - match numbers, much like all other lotto games to be in with a chance of life-changing sums.

How Can You Buy Tickets Online?

Yes - you can play through a dedicated Jackpocket app that has all the games you need at the swipe of a finger. To play, simply click this link and you will be able to play from wherever you are in the world.

Other benefits to downloading the app include:

• A fast results tracking option.
• Auto-scan tickets to check for winning combinations.
• Double-check previous draws to see how your numbers would have fared.
• Play other games for fun - no spend required.
• Locate the nearest lotto retailers to you.

FAQs

How Old Must You Be To Play The New York Lotto?
The state of New York requires all its players to be 18 years or older.

Can You Be Anonymous When You Claim A PNew York Lottery Jackpot?
No - despite recent opposition, New York governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed all lotto winners who land sums of $5,000 or more are required to make their identity public.

Is The New York Lotto A Scam?
No - find out why by visiting the official New York Lotto website at https://nylottery.ny.gov/.