How to Play in New York

Playing the lottery from New York has gotten simpler than ever. You don’t need to visit a store, you can use a courier service to order tickets safely from your phone, tablet, or computer. An agent handles the purchase, a scanned copy of your ticket gets uploaded into your account for proof, and you get help claiming your prize if you win something big.

Powerball

Powerball has a minimum jackpot of $20 million and draws happen every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. When nobody wins, the grand prize rolls over, sometimes all the way into the billions.

Ticket sales at retail outlets stop at 10:00 p.m. ET, though courier services usually insist on earlier order deadlines so they have enough time to buy and scan the ticket. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to play Powerball:

• Choose five numbers plus a Powerball number. You can also use a Quick Pick to let the system pick randomly.
• You can add Power Play for $1 more to multiply your non‑jackpot wins; multipliers range from 2× up to 10× under certain conditions.
• You can enter multiple draws ahead of time! Plan up to 39 consecutive draws using the Multi‑Draw option.
• After paying, you either receive a physical ticket (if playing in‑store) or a scanned image in your online account (if you use a courier).

Mega Millions

Mega Millions draws take place on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:00 p.m. Starting at $20 million, the jackpot works similarly to Powerball, with some specific tweaks:

• Pick five main numbers (1 to 70) plus one Mega Ball (1 to 25). Quick Pick option is also available.
• There’s an add‑on called Megaplier, costing an extra $1 per play, which can bump up your non‑jackpot prizes up to 5×.
• If you prefer, you can choose “Just the Jackpot”, which lets you get two Quick Picks for $3 instead of $4. This option only gives you a chance at the jackpot (no smaller prizes).
• You can play up to 26 draws in a row using the same numbers.
• Make sure you buy your ticket or place your courier order before the cutoff time.

You can win from nine different tiers to Powerball and Mega Millions. Win by matching numbers on your tickets to the ones drawn. Match them all and you'll take home the jackpot!

Extra Features & Prize Claims in New York

If you held a ticket from the past 30 days, the Play It Again option allows you to replay those exact numbers by handing the old ticket in at a retailer and generating a new ticket. Prizes are usually paid directly into your account when you use a courier/purchasing service. For larger winnings, the courier will safely deliver your physical ticket so you can claim in person.

For prizes above $601, you can claim them by mail or go to a New York Lottery Customer Service or Prize Center. You have one year from the draw date to claim any prize. Winners of major prizes cannot remain anonymous under New York law.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery is one of the biggest in North America, contributing billions annually toward the state’s education system. The state has seen some massive wins, for example, Johnnie Taylor won a record $476 million Mega Millions jackpot in April 2023. On the Powerball side, Robert Bailey was part of a winning ticket worth $687 million in October 2018.