The official lottery is a game of chance wherein participants pay a small amount of money for the chance to win a larger sum of money. These games are common throughout the world, but are regulated by government authorities for the protection of players. They are a popular source of tax revenue for many states. Some of the biggest prizes in history have been won by lottery winners. Prizes such as cars, houses, and even slaves have been raffled in the past. The modern day state lottery began in the 1960s, but humans have been playing lotteries for centuries. During the French Revolution, philosophers such as Voltaire condemned state lotteries for supposedly exploiting the poor.
The New York State Lottery was established in 1967 and since its inception has generated more than 34 billion dollars in revenue in aid of education. The New York State Lottery is an autonomous unit of the Department of Taxation and Finance, and it is a partner in the National Lottery.
In addition to its regular draw games, the lottery offers an extensive selection of scratch-off tickets with a variety of prize levels. Tickets may be purchased in convenience stores, grocery stores, or via a mass retailer. Play responsibly. Don’t be tempted to spend more than you can afford to lose and do not play while driving or operating machinery. For more information on responsible gaming, please visit 2-1-1 or call GamblerND. You must be 18 years or older to purchase and redeem lottery products.