New York Lottery review (2026): subscriptions, claims, couriers and odds

Who it’s for

The New York Lottery suits players who want a long-running state lottery with a one-year claim window and the option of online subscriptions. It also suits people who prefer a licensed courier app, since two of the main ones, Jackpocket and Lotto.com, hold New York licences.

It is a weaker fit if you want to buy single tickets online straight from the state. The lottery sells subscriptions online, but single tickets are bought in store. We could not find a stated minimum age on the pages we checked, so confirm that at a retailer.

How it works

The lottery is run under the New York State Gaming Commission and describes itself as North America’s largest and most profitable lottery. We take that as the lottery’s own claim. It has raised money for education since 1967.

Draw games include Powerball, Mega Millions and Millionaire for Life. Powerball costs $2, with Power Play and Double Play at $1 each, and draws on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Mega Millions costs $5. Millionaire for Life costs $5 and draws nightly.

Millionaire for Life launched in New York on 22 February 2026 and replaced Cash4Life and Lucky for Life, which held their final drawings on 21 February 2026. The lottery also has a mobile app.

Odds and value

New York’s headline games carry the same odds as in every state. Powerball’s jackpot odds are 1 in 292,201,338, with a 1 in 24.87 chance of any prize. Mega Millions is 1 in 290,472,336 and 1 in 23. Millionaire for Life, at $1,000,000 a year for life or $18 million cash, is 1 in 22,910,580 for the top prize and 1 in 8.46 for any prize.

The lottery’s own games and scratch-offs publish odds separately, and our fact sheet does not list any New York-only draw game. That means we cannot say New York beats its neighbours on value. The honest comparison is that the national games cost the same here as anywhere. A $5 Millionaire for Life ticket offers a far better chance at its top prize than a $2 Powerball ticket does at the jackpot, while a Powerball ticket offers a larger headline prize. See the methodology for how we score value.

Trust and regulation

New York’s regulator is the State Gaming Commission, and we found no regulatory actions against the lottery on the pages we checked. We have no negative reputation entries to report, but we also did not find a published payout percentage or an independent audit statement for the state-run games.

The helpline is 1-800-GAMBLER. For national games, Powerball says its drawings are recorded under the observation of an independent accounting firm.

Claiming prizes and taxes

Draw tickets expire one year from the draw, and scratch-offs one year after the game ends. Prizes under $600 can be claimed at a retailer. Prizes of $600 and over go to a customer service center, a claim center or by mail.

Federal tax of 24% is withheld on prizes over $5,000. We did not find a stated New York state tax rate or a winner-anonymity rule on the pages we checked, so we do not give either. Check the New York state page for updates.

Playing online

New York is a partial online state. The lottery sells subscriptions online and has an app, but single tickets are bought in store.

Courier apps fill the gap. Jackpocket and Lotto.com both hold licences in New York, and Jackpot.com also lists New York among its states. Lotto.com charges a 25% convenience fee on draw tickets, and its New York fees are applied when you fund your account. Jackpocket says its service fees vary by location and are shown before you order.

A courier buys a real ticket for you, so the odds are the same, but you pay the fee on top. For a $2 Powerball play, a 25% fee is a clear cost.

Our take

One structural point is worth knowing. In New York the lottery, the licensing regime for couriers and the Gaming Commission all sit under the same state umbrella, so licensed couriers fall under a state regime. Massachusetts, by contrast, has said it does not license or regulate couriers.

New York is a large, long-established lottery with a one-year claim window and meaningful funding for schools. It put $3.8 billion into Lottery Aid to Education in FY2023-24, and the lottery reports more than $3.6 billion in FY2025-26 and more than $93 billion since 1967. Gaps in the pages we checked, notably tax and anonymity, hold back our confidence. If you want convenience, a licensed courier is available. If you want the lowest cost, buy at a retailer.

Our guides explain how couriers differ from the lottery itself.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy lottery tickets online in New York?

Only by subscription through the lottery. Single tickets are sold in store. Licensed courier apps also operate in the state.

How long do I have to claim a prize?

Draw tickets expire one year from the draw, and scratch-offs one year after the game ends.

Where do I claim a big prize?

Prizes of $600 and over are claimed at a customer service center, a claim center or by mail. Smaller prizes can be claimed at a retailer.

Does New York let winners stay anonymous?

We did not find a stated rule on the pages we checked.

Where does the money go?

To education. The lottery reports $3.8 billion in Lottery Aid to Education in FY2023-24.