Powerball is a popular multi-state lottery game in the United States that is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association. It is played in 45 states, including New York, as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Powerball game has become known for its large jackpot prizes that can grow into the hundreds of millions of dollars. But when can you purchase Powerball tickets in New York to take a chance at winning big?
Powerball Ticket Sales Hours in New York
In New York, Powerball tickets can be purchased daily from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern Time. These hours apply to Powerball ticket purchases made at authorized lottery retailers across the state. This provides New Yorkers with a large window of opportunity to buy their Powerball tickets each day leading up to the drawings.
Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evening at 10:59 PM Eastern Time. New York ticket sales cut off at 10:00 PM on draw nights, providing players with nearly 1 hour advance notice to buy tickets before the upcoming drawing. It is important to note the time zone difference – while the drawings are held at 10:59 PM ET, they will occur at 9:59 PM local time in places like Buffalo that observe Eastern Daylight Time.
Where to Buy Powerball Tickets in New York
There are over 15,000 authorized lottery retailers across New York that sell Powerball tickets. This includes convenience stores, gas stations, supermarkets, newsstands and more. Any retailer that is authorized to sell New York Lottery games is able to sell Powerball tickets within the designated sales hours.
You can locate nearby Powerball retailers in New York by using the Lottery’s official mobile app. The app provides maps and directions to lottery retailers throughout the state. This makes it easy to find a convenient place to purchase your Powerball tickets.
Buying Tickets Online in New York
For added convenience, New Yorkers also have the option to purchase official Powerball tickets online. The New York Lottery allows players to set up an online account and purchase various lottery games on their website and through their mobile app.
The advantage to buying Powerball tickets online is that you can purchase tickets any time of day without having to visit a retailer. As long as you order tickets before 10:00 PM ET on the night of a draw, you will be included in that drawing. However, online sales are cut off at 9:58 PM ET on draw nights in New York.
New York Powerball Ticket Prices
Powerball tickets cost $2 per play in New York. Players can multiply their ticket purchases to buy tickets for up to 10 consecutive draws in the future. However, tickets can only be purchased one drawing at a time when buying online.
To participate in the Powerball Double Play add-on feature, players must pay an extra $1 per play. Double Play provides a second chance to win a top prize of $10 million in a separate drawing that takes place after the main Powerball draw.
Powerball tickets can be purchased in New York for a minimum of $2 per play up to a maximum of $100 per transaction. There are no limits on how many Powerball quick picks or number selections you can buy within that range.
Check Powerball Tickets in New York
It is important for New York Powerball players to always check their tickets after a drawing takes place. Retailers can scan your tickets to instantly check for winners up to $599 at the time of purchase.
For winning tickets of $600 or more, players will need to complete a claim form and submit the signed ticket to the New York Lottery central office in Schenectady. Ticket status can be checked in the following ways:
- Online – Players with official New York Lottery accounts can check the status of their Powerball tickets online.
- Mobile App – Ticket status can also be checked via the New York Lottery’s mobile app.
- Call Hotline – Call the Lottery’s Winning Numbers hotline anytime at 518-388-3370.
- Customer Service – Visit a local Lottery customer service center for in-person ticket checking.
If you win the Powerball jackpot, you should consider consulting financial and legal advisors before coming forward to claim. Big jackpot winners have up to one year from the draw date to claim their prize.
The Powerball Game in Review
Here is a quick overview of how the Powerball game works:
- Players choose 5 main numbers between 1-69 plus 1 extra Powerball number from 1-26
- To win the jackpot, players must match all 6 numbers drawn
- There are 9 ways to win a prize in Powerball
- Drawings are held 3 times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights
- Jackpot starts at $20 million and grows until there is a winner
- Odds of winning the jackpot 1 in 292 million
- Tickets cost $2 per play, add Power Play for $1 more
- Can play up to 10 consecutive draws on one Powerball ticket
Matching just the Powerball number will win you $4 while matching a single number plus the Powerball wins $7. The other Powerball prizes are:
| Matches | Prize Amount |
|---|---|
| 5 numbers | $1 million |
| 4 numbers + Powerball | $50,000 |
| 4 numbers | $100 |
| 3 numbers + Powerball | $100 |
The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 24.9 in Powerball. With potentially huge jackpots up for grabs, it’s easy to see why the game has remained so popular with people across New York.
Powerball Winning Strategies
When playing an entirely chance-based game like Powerball, there is no secret winning strategy or easy path to picking the winning numbers. Every number combination has exactly the same odds of being chosen. However, there are some methods players have used when selecting numbers in hopes of improving their odds.
Random Number Picking
One of the most commonly used approaches to playing Powerball is to rely on random quick picks. This involves letting the lottery terminal or online system randomly select your 5 main numbers and Powerball for each play. The advantage is it removes any bias in number selection, giving you just as much of a chance as choosing your own.
Significant Dates and Numbers
Rather than relying solely on random picks, many players enjoy using important dates, ages, addresses, phone numbers or other numerically significant occasions to choose their Powerball numbers. This helps players establish a personal connection with their number picks.
Hot and Cold Numbers
Some players analyze the statistics of numbers drawn most often, or those drawn least frequently, to look for a potential advantage. Hot numbers are those drawn most frequently while cold numbers have been absent from recent draws. There is no true pattern or predictable sequence to the numbers drawn.
Pool Lottery Play
Joining an office or lottery pool can be a fun way to play Powerball. This allows you to afford more number combinations than playing individually and increases your chance of winning a prize. Just be sure to establish clear rules upfront on how any winnings will be divided.
Play Consistently
To have a chance at winning, you have to play! Some regular players maximize their odds by purchasing Powerball tickets for every draw, often using the same sets of numbers each time. This offers more chances to potentially hit it big.
At the end of the day, Powerball is purely a game of chance. No strategy can predict or influence the randomly drawn winning numbers. But applying some thought to your number picks can help make playing more engaging.
Odds of Winning Powerball in New York
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338. This makes matching all 6 numbers correctly an extremely difficult feat. But the overall odds of winning any prize are actually a much more reasonable 1 in 24.9.
Let’s take a closer look at the odds of winning across the 9 prize tiers in Powerball:
| Prize Level | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|
| Jackpot | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| 5 numbers matched | 1 in 11,688,053.52 |
| 4 numbers + Powerball | 1 in 913,129.18 |
| 4 numbers | 1 in 36,525.17 |
| 3 numbers + Powerball | 1 in 14,494.11 |
| 3 numbers | 1 in 579.76 |
| 2 numbers + Powerball | 1 in 701.33 |
| 1 number + Powerball | 1 in 91.98 |
| Powerball only | 1 in 38.32 |
As you can see, matching just the Powerball offers odds of 1 in 38 of winning a $4 prize. Your odds steadily go up as you match more numbers. With 2 full weeks between drawings, buying just a few Powerball plays each time provides frequent chances to win.
Biggest NY Lottery Powerball Winners
Over the years, New York Lottery players have claimed some massive jackpot prizes in Powerball drawings. Here are some of the biggest Powerball winners from New York:
- March 2019 – $298.3 Million – Brooklyn resident takes the annuity option.
- December 2016 – $308 Million – One winning ticket purchased in New York.
- August 2013 – $225 Million – Orange County couple hit it big.
- November 2012 – $96 Million – Claimed by Newark Valley man.
- April 2011 – $72.5 Million – Shared with winner from Kansas.
These enormous jackpots show that people really can strike it rich playing the Powerball in New York. Smaller prizes are won more frequently, giving players regular chances to win.
Unclaimed Powerball Prizes in New York
Unfortunately, not every winning Powerball ticket gets cashed in. According to New York Lottery records, more than $62 million in prizes went unclaimed across all NY Lottery games in fiscal year 2021. For Powerball in particular, over $1.9 million worth of prizes went unclaimed that year in New York.
While jackpot winners always come forward to collect their prizes right away, smaller tiered prizes sometimes go unclaimed. Reasons for this may include losing the winning ticket or forgetting to check for a few months. New York Lottery winners have up to one year from the date of the drawing to claim their prize.
To avoid missing out on a potential win, players should sign the back of physical Powerball tickets immediately to secure ownership. It’s also wise to keep tickets safely stored or use the New York Lottery app to store digital versions. Playing Powerball with an official NY Lottery online account provides extra protection against lost tickets.
Players can always visit nylottery.ny.gov to search for unclaimed prizes by game. Matching a winning Powerball number from an old drawing that went unclaimed offers a second chance to collect on the prize.
New York Lottery Powerball Revenue
Powerball ticket sales generate significant revenue for the New York Lottery each year. This income ultimately benefits schools and education programs across the state.
In fiscal year 2021, the New York Lottery had record revenue topping $11 billion. More than $3 billion came from traditional in-state draw games like Powerball. These sales figures made the New York Lottery the largest and most profitable in North America.
After accounting for prizes and expenses, the New York Lottery returned over $3.6 billion in funding for education the previous year. This supported New York schools at a time when state education budgets were strained due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While Powerball is played primarily for entertainment and the chance at a big payday, players in New York can feel good that their participation also aids education in the state.
Responsible Gambling with Powerball
Playing the lottery is meant to be fun, but for some it can turn into an unhealthy habit. The New York Lottery encourages players to always gamble responsibly when purchasing Powerball tickets. Important tips include:
- Set a budget and do not exceed your spending limits
- Only use discretionary income that would otherwise be used for entertainment
- Balance lottery play with other recreational activities
- Don’t chase losses or try to “win back” money
- Don’t play when under stress or emotional influence
- Keep lottery play social and avoid isolation
If gambling becomes problematic, help is available by calling the state’s HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY. The New York Council on Problem Gambling also provides resources at nyproblemgambling.org.
Conclusion
Playing Powerball can add extra excitement to your week, with drawings held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday night. With jackpots starting at $20 million and able to climb over $1 billion, it offers the chance to dream big. Tickets can be purchased at authorized retailers across New York or conveniently online.
Now that you know Powerball tickets can be bought daily from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM in New York, you can better plan your ticket purchases. Just be sure to get your tickets before the 10:00 PM cutoff on nights of the drawings. Check your tickets promptly either online or through the New York Lottery mobile app. With a little luck, you just might find yourself becoming New York’s next big Powerball winner!
