Whether you play a numbers game or scratch tickets, the official lottery app keeps you up to date on all your lotto activities. This free download lets you quickly and easily check results, buy tickets, find retailers and get your winnings!

Using your smartphone, you can place orders for Powerball, Mega Millions, Take5, MassCash and more. Orders are fulfilled in-store at local convenience stores. The app is available for iOS and Android devices.

When state-run lotteries first entered the United States, they were promoted as a way for people to make money while helping their community. This was the guiding principle of the New York Lottery, which was established in 1967, when a constitutional amendment mandated that all proceeds be used for education.

New York was not the first to have a lottery, but it was one of the first to use its profits for public services. Before the constitutional amendment, the state lottery generated money that helped build and repair roads, canals, ferries and even the city hall, and funded the construction of military weapons, including cannons and artillery.

The state lottery also provided a source of revenue for a range of popular government services, including elder care, public parks and aid to veterans. Despite these benefits, the lottery has a dark side that critics say exploits vulnerable people and contributes to gambling addictions.