Official New York Lottery Rules & Regulations

These rules are issued pursuant to New York Tax Law §§ 1600–1613 and Title 21 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations, and are administered by the New York State Gaming Commission and the New York State Lottery.

No prize shall be paid except upon presentation of a valid, original, physical, and unaltered official New York State Lottery ticket, duly issued by the Lottery. The ticket shall be the sole evidence of the right to claim a prize. Tickets that are lost, stolen, mutilated, illegible, altered, counterfeit, or otherwise defective shall be void and shall not be eligible for prize payment. The determination of the Lottery with respect to the validity of any ticket and the eligibility of any claimant shall be final and binding.

All claims for prizes must be filed with the Lottery within ninety (90) calendar days after the official drawing or announcement of the winning numbers applicable to the ticket. Any prize not claimed within such period shall be forfeited to the Lottery, except as otherwise provided by law or regulation.

Upon validation of a winning ticket, the Lottery shall retain twenty percent (20%) of the net prize amount for administrative and operational purposes, and the remaining eighty percent (80%) shall be paid to the verified claimant or claimants in accordance with the Lottery’s established prize payment procedures. All prize determinations shall be final and non-negotiable.

All prizes are subject to federal, New York State, and local taxes, as applicable. Federal income tax withholding, including a mandatory withholding of twelve percent (12%) or such other amount as required by law, shall be deducted prior to payment. The prize winner shall be solely responsible for any additional tax liabilities and for compliance with all applicable filing and reporting requirements.

The Lottery shall not be responsible or liable for any loss, delay, error, or failure in the processing or payment of prizes resulting from technical, administrative, operational, or external causes beyond its reasonable control, except as otherwise required by law. The Lottery reserves the right to amend, suspend, or terminate any game, program, or these terms and conditions in accordance with applicable New York State law and regulations.