How to Play New York Lotto
New York Lotto is a game that’s only available in the Empire State. You won’t find it if you’re across the border or elsewhere in the country. You can play at any licensed lottery retail location, just by making a few selections on your playslip.
Follow the steps below to take part in Lotto. Draws happen at 8:15 PM, and you need to buy your tickets before 8:00 PM.
Select your numbers
Choose six numbers from 1 to 59, or get a Quick Pick if you’d prefer to play a random set. You have to submit a minimum of two plays in Lotto. On a playslip, you can also select four, six, eight or 10 sets of numbers.
How many draws?
Use the multi-draw section of your playslip to indicate how many consecutive drawings you want to play – 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15 or 26. Leave this area blank if you just want to enter the next drawing.
Purchase your tickets
Check your selections and hand your playslip over to the retailer. The cost of entry is $1 for two plays, or $2 for four plays, and so on.
Another option is to ‘Play It Again’ if you already have a ticket and just want to replay those same selections. Your ticket must be from the last 30 days, and the cost of the new one will match the original play exactly.
How the Draw Works
Drawings are broadcast on television stations throughout the state on Wednesday and Saturday nights. Six numbers are selected at random from 1 to 59, followed by a Bonus Ball.
This Bonus Ball is drawn from the 53 numbers that are left after the main six have been picked, so you do not have to choose a Bonus number on your playslip. Go to the Bonus Number page to find out more about how this works.
How to Win
You must match all six main numbers to win the Lotto jackpot. There are also prizes for matching three, four or five numbers, while the Bonus gives you a chance to win even more if you get five numbers. See the Odds and Prizes page to learn more about all the payouts and your chances of winning.