Official lottery is a state-run lottery that is designed to generate funds for public services, such as schools. It is a popular form of gambling in many countries. Its origin can be traced back to the fourteenth century, when European monarchs used lotteries to finance towns and cities. Later, the practice spread to America. The founding fathers, including Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock, ran lotteries to raise money for public projects. George Washington’s attempt to use a lottery to fund a mountain road failed, however.

In modern times, the lottery’s popularity has soared as a result of recession and state budget crises. It has been criticized as a tax on the stupid, and studies show that people in low-income neighborhoods spend far more of their incomes on scratch-off tickets than those in high-income areas. Lottery advertising is often targeted at communities that are disproportionately poor, Black, or Latino.

New York’s state-run lottery was inaugurated in 1967 with the slogan “Your Chance of a Lifetime to Help Education.” The proceeds of its games have generated more than $34 billion for educational purposes. Winning lottery tickets must be claimed within 180 days. Any unused prize amounts are added to the portion of the revenue that goes to public schools. People can play the New York lottery online and through authorized resellers. They can also buy tickets by phone or at retail outlets around the state. Winning numbers are announced every day at 2:30pm and 10:30pm. To see the latest results, visit the New York Lottery’s website.