An official lottery is a government-run system for distributing money or prizes to people who have purchased chances in a game of chance. Unlike commercial gambling, a state lottery must be conducted in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction under which it is operating. This includes regulating the operation and accounting of the lottery; disbursement of funds; time limits for claiming prizes; and activities considered illegal (such as selling tickets to minors).

New York Lottery started in 1967 and is an integral part of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board. The official slogan of the lottery is “Your Chance for a Lifetime to Help Education”. Its revenues have generated billions of dollars in aid for public schooling. New York lottery results can be tracked online or via physical retailers located throughout the state.

In modern lotteries, money or goods are paid as the stakes in a drawing that selects winners. A prize is usually a cash sum, but may be a service or other intangible asset. A key requirement of a lottery is that a percentage of the total amount wagered must be retained for organizing and promoting the event, while another percentage must go to the sponsors and a smaller portion to the winners.

Despite their popularity, many critics of lottery games argue that they are inefficient ways for governments to raise money and promote gambling. They argue that, if states need money, they could better use taxation or borrowing to fund their needs. They also point out that, even with the large jackpots in recent years, lottery revenue has been a drop in the bucket for actual state revenues.