The official lottery is a procedure for distributing money or prizes among members of a group by lot, drawing, or random selection. Generally, the winner is chosen from a pool of tickets purchased (or offered for sale) by the members of the group. A group may be a society, an organization, or an individual. Lotteries are common in many countries and are a form of gambling.

When they were introduced to Americans, state-run lotteries were marketed as ways to raise funds for education—K-12, college, or both. The promise held appeal for politicians seeking to keep vital services running without hiking taxes and incurring the wrath of anti-tax voters.

As a result, the lottery became “a kind of budgetary miracle,” writes Cohen. Politicians could use it to make revenue appear seemingly out of nowhere, and their constituents would be none the wiser.

The New York Lottery was one of the first to launch. It promised to use the proceeds to fund education, and that pledge has been kept since its inception. The lottery has raised billions of dollars for the state’s schools.

In addition to NY Lotto, the New York Lottery offers eight other games including: New York Pick 10, Take 5, Cash4Life, and Numbers Midday and Evening.

New York Lottery results are published daily. Federal and state tax withholdings are required for winners who are U.S. citizens or residents.

If you are an avid lottery player, be sure to check the latest winning numbers and other information on the New York Lottery’s website. However, be careful to play responsibly. If you are concerned that you are spending more than you can afford, consider seeking professional help.