You just found an old ticket in your glove box. Or maybe you're sitting at the kitchen table, coffee in hand, staring at those little pink and white slips of paper. Checking new york state lottery winning numbers and results is a ritual for millions of us across the Empire State. It’s that split second of "what if" before reality kicks in.
But honestly? Keeping track of all these drawings is a headache. Between the midday draws, the evening draws, and the multi-state giants like Powerball, things get messy fast.
The Numbers from Yesterday and Today
If you're looking for the most recent hits, here is what went down over the last 24 hours. The Mega Millions drawing from Tuesday night, January 13, 2026, turned up the numbers 16, 4 (this is usually a combination of white balls and the Mega Ball, though the specific sequence varies by source). The jackpot was sitting at a cool $215 million. No one hit the big one, so we’re looking at $230 million for Friday.
For the daily grinders, the Numbers game for Tuesday evening was 0-1-8. The midday version earlier that day was 0-0-9.
Win 4 players saw 8-3-4-0 in the evening and 1-1-7-2 at midday.
Take 5—which is probably the best game for actually winning something—dropped 5-7-11-19-37 for the midday draw. The evening numbers were 2-14 (part of a five-number set). Just this past Sunday, someone over in Beacon actually hit the Take 5 jackpot at a Quick Mart on Main Street, pocketing $26,883. It happens.
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Why Some Games Are Better Than Others
Most people just chase the billion-dollar Powerball dreams. I get it. But if you actually want to see a return, you've gotta look at the odds.
Take 5 is the "people's game." Drawings happen twice a day, at 2:30 PM and 10:30 PM. The odds of hitting the top prize are about 1 in 575,757. Compare that to Powerball’s 1 in 292 million. It’s not even the same sport.
Cash4Life is the one that gets people talking because of the "for life" gimmick. You pick five numbers from 1 to 60 and a Cash Ball from 1 to 4.
- Top Prize: $1,000 a day for life.
- Second Prize: $1,000 a week for life.
- Lump Sum: You can take about $7 million instead of the daily payout.
Most people don't realize that if too many people win the top prize in one night (more than 14), the New York Lottery splits the pot. It’s rare, but it’s in the fine print.
How to Check Without Losing Your Mind
Don't trust a random screenshot on social media. People post fake results all the time for clout or just to be annoying.
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The official way is the New York Lottery Mobile App. It has a ticket scanner. You just point your camera at the barcode, and it tells you if you're a winner. It saves you from that "did I read that 6 as an 8?" panic.
If you prefer the old-school way, you can watch the drawings. Most of them are livestreamed on the official site.
- Powerball: Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 PM.
- Mega Millions: Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 PM.
- NY Lotto: Wednesday and Saturday at 8:15 PM.
I Won! Now What?
First, sign the back of that ticket. Right now. If you lose an unsigned ticket, anyone who finds it can claim it. It’s a "bearer instrument," which is just fancy legal talk for "whoever holds it, owns it."
If you won under $600, just go to any lottery retailer. Most gas stations or bodegas will pay you out in cash right there, assuming they have enough in the register.
For anything over $600, you’re heading to a Customer Service Center. You’ll need a valid ID and your Social Security number. New York is one of those states that won't let you stay anonymous. If you win big, your name and where you bought the ticket are going to be public record.
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Also, taxes. Oh, the taxes.
The New York State Gaming Commission automatically withholds 24% for federal taxes and 4% for state taxes on anything over $5,000. If you live in New York City or Yonkers, they’re going to take another bite for local taxes. Basically, expect to lose about a third of your jackpot before you even touch the money.
Common Mistakes People Make
The biggest mistake? Throwing away tickets because they didn't hit the jackpot.
Many games have "Second Chance" drawings. You can enter your "loser" tickets into the app for a chance at different prizes or cash. Also, in games like Take 5, matching just two numbers gets you a free Quick Pick ticket. It’s not a yacht, but it’s a free shot.
Another thing is the expiration date. You have exactly one year from the date of the drawing to claim your prize. I’ve heard horror stories of people finding a $10,000 winner in a winter coat pocket 13 months later. Don't be that person.
The Reality of the "Quick Pick"
Is there a strategy? Not really.
About 70% to 80% of lottery winners used Quick Pick. But that's only because about 70% to 80% of players buy Quick Picks. The math doesn't care if you used your birthday or if a computer picked the numbers. Every combination has the exact same microscopic chance of appearing.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your tickets immediately using the official NY Lottery app rather than relying on third-party sites.
- Sign the back of any ticket you purchase the moment you buy it to protect your ownership.
- Keep "losing" tickets for a few days to check for "Second Chance" promotions or free play prizes (especially for Take 5).
- Set a budget. Seriously. The lottery is entertainment, not an investment strategy.