Lottery FAQ
Frequently asked questions about jackpots, odds and more

 

• How much do lotteries sell?
  According to North American Association of State & Provincial Lotteries, U.S. lottery sales topped $53 billion in 2005. By contrast, sales in Canada were $8.2 billion for the same year.
• Where do people buy lottery tickets the most?
  Based on sales alone, the State of New York sells more lottery tickets than anywhere else in North America. In 2005, the state sold more than $6.2 billion worth of lottery tickets. Massachusetts is the next biggest lottery-selling state with $4.5 million in tickets sold in 2005.
• Do all lottery proceeds go to winners?
  No. In fact, the proceeds of lotteries often go toward many different programs. Most often, the proceeds are combined with a state's tax revenue, which in turn supports several government-run programs, including education, programs for seniors, economic development projects, parks, environmental initiatives and others.
• Do the stores that sell tickets make any money?
  Yes. Retailers who sell lottery tickets typically earn a commission (anywhere from 5-8%) on each ticket sold at their establishment. Stores may also receive extra compensation for selling high amounts of tickets and for cashing many winning tickets. Not only that, but when one of their tickets is a big winner, the retailer may also receive a bonus.
• I work for a lottery, can I play?
  No – usually never. In fact, in most cases, your immediate family members are not allowed to play either. Even though there is no possible way for you or a family member to alter a game, it wouldn't look good to the public if you won. This, in turn, could hurt the success of future lotteries.
• Can I buy tickets online or by mail?
  Sorry, no. In order to play a lottery, you must travel to the state where those lottery tickets are being sold. There is no legal way to buy tickets by mail or telephone. If you hear of such a lottery, it is probably not a legal lottery, or it could be a scam.
• I won! What do I do?
  If it's a relatively small prize (up to $1,000), you can try cashing it in at any authorized lottery ticker seller. For large jackpots, you must take the lottery ticket to your nearest lottery headquarters.
• I lost my ticket. Can I still get my winnings?
  Sorry, no. You must have the original winning lottery ticket. Otherwise, there is no way to prove you won. But generally, you will have about 6 months to a year to find it … so, start looking.
• I bought 6 tickets for a game where the odds were 1 in 4. Aren't I guaranteed to win?
  No, you must remember the rules of probability. If you toss a coin 2 times, that doesn't mean it will definitely show up heads once, and tails the other. In fact, you could toss it 6 times and it might show up heads every time. The same applies to lotteries. Your technical odds may be 1 in 4. But that doesn't mean you will win by buying 4 or more tickets.
• Is there way to cheat the lottery?
  No. And unless you want to spend years behind bars, don't try it.

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