This is the homegrown, classic draw game of the Empire State. It’s a straightforward rolling jackpot that starts at a minimum of $2 Million and gets bigger every time nobody wins. The best part? It’s one of the best deals in the country: your $1 play gets you two separate entries into the draw. Two chances to win for the price of one! The drawings are held twice a week, on Wednesday and Saturday evenings.
How to Play New York Lotto
The 6/59 Setup. Playing is simple, but the prize structure has a neat twist:
- You pick 6 numbers from a pool of 1 to 59.
- If you match all six, you win the Grand Prize.
The Bonus Number (The Second-Prize Savior)
After the six main numbers are drawn, a Bonus Number (the seventh number) is pulled from the remaining balls. You don’t pick this one, but it is the key to winning the Second Prize. To win the Second Prize (which averages around $75,000), you must match 5 of the 6 main numbers plus the Bonus Number. It’s designed to give those close-but-no-cigar tickets a huge payout boost.
The Odds: Better Than the Giants
Let’s talk numbers. The odds of hitting the jackpot are about 1 in 45 million. Now, 45 million is still a big number, but compared to the odds of the massive national games, this is a much more achievable target. New York Lotto offers a multi-million-dollar rolling jackpot at a fraction of the odds of its bigger, more famous cousins.
The Hack for Playing from Home
If you can’t make it to a bodega in Brooklyn, you can still play. New York, like a growing number of states, uses authorized online concierge services that allow you to purchase official tickets via a website. You select your numbers, the agent buys the physical ticket in New York, and you’re good to go!
The Reality Check (It’s Still the USA)
The jackpot is paid out in one of two ways: the full annuity (paid over 25 years) or a smaller, immediate lump sum cash option. You will also be subject to US federal and state taxes. But hey, a few million dollars, even after taxes, still buys a mighty nice apartment overlooking Central Park.
For a dollar, getting two chances at a multi-million-dollar jackpot is a great weekend lark. But like all lottery games, keep your head on straight. This is a fun game of chance. If you ever feel like the game is becoming less fun, please check out Gambling6.com for resources to keep it responsible.
New York Lotto is a classic for a reason. It offers fantastic value (two plays for $1), better odds than the big games, and a solid secondary prize structure fueled by that helpful Bonus Number. It’s the perfect lottery for that Wednesday or Saturday night daydream.
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