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All New York Lottery offices will be closed on Monday, January 20 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day. Offices will reopen on Tuesday, Jan 21.

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Play Responsibly

Responsible Gaming Accreditation

The Division of the Lottery has earned joint responsible gaming accreditation from the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) following an independent review of the Lottery’s responsible gambling measures. A four-member independent assessment panel appointed by NCPG and NASPL determined the New York Lottery meets or exceeds responsible gambling industry best practices in the areas of planning, employee training, retailer training, public education and awareness, product oversight, research, advertising, and resources. The accreditation is good through 2026.

Top Tips for Responsible Play
  • Setting a limit of time and money spent gambling 
  • Not gambling to escape feelings of anxiety, stress or depression 
  • Knowing where to get help for gambling problems (see resources below)
  • Not gambling with money that is needed to pay bills 
  • Knowing that minors are prohibited from gambling

 

If gambling of any kind is a problem for you or someone you know, here are resources to inform and help you:

 

*Standard text rates may apply.

New York’s Responsible Gaming Program

The Lottery’s Responsible Gaming Program embodies the Gaming Commission’s commitment to providing individuals on both sides of the Lottery sales counter with information they need to make informed decisions about the products they buy and sell.

 

Elements of our award-winning Responsible Gaming Program include:

 

Implementing an annual plan dedicated to curbing underage play and promoting responsible play, responsible selling and responsible gifting. Strategic elements of the annual plan include–

 

  • Communicating Responsible Gaming strategies and tactics to the Lottery’s network of 15,000+ retailers via newsletter and training materials 
  • Equipping Lottery retailers with the means to place Problem Gambling messaging directly and discreetly in the hands of at-risk customers
    • Incorporating Responsible Gaming messaging with Lottery game information and winner stories via the Lottery’s statewide network of promotional screens in retail locations.
    • Writing, producing, and distributing Responsible Gaming Public Service Announcements focusing on the three tenets of our world-class Responsible Gaming Program: Informed Decision Making, Transparency, and Harm Minimization
    • Creating and managing the nation’s broadest Voluntary Self-Exclusion program allowing individuals to ban themselves from all forms of legal gambling available in New York State.
    • Maintaining an informational page at NY.Gov/NYResponsibleGaming to provide users with information they need to make informed decisions about their Lottery play, which includes a confidential Problem Gambling Self-Assessment Tool.
    • Publicizing the Office of Addiction Services and Supports toll-free help line number (1-877-8-HOPE-NY) at retail, on play cards and terminal tickets, on all instant Scratch-Off tickets, on every Video Lottery gaming machine, and on signage at each gaming facility.
  • Providing links to the State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the New York Council on Problem Gambling, the locations of New York's Problem Gambling Resources Centers, and Gamblers Anonymous on the New York Lottery website.
  • Collaborating with the State Office of Addiction Services and Supports on outreach and awareness programs to prevent youth gambling.
    • Furnishing Lottery terminals with barcode readers which enable retailers to verify a player's age from a driver's license.
  • Training Lottery marketing and sales staff on problem gambling awareness.
  • Producing guidelines for our Video Lottery Gaming facilities on the establishment of Responsible Gaming Programs, including the establishment of subject matter training for employees and self-exclusion programs.
  • Conducting quarterly reviews of all Problem Gambling Plans in effect at Video Lottery Gaming facilities.
  • Reviewing the Problem Gambling programs in other states to assess industry best practices for incorporation into New York’s program as needed.
  • Working with statewide business organizations to standardize age-verification practices for Lottery and other age-restricted products available at retail.
  • Launching the nation’s first Responsible Gaming Quick Response Code (QR Code) to connect New Yorkers to one of seven Regional Problem Gambling Resource Centers dedicated to finding help for problem gamblers, close to home. Visit www. https://nyproblemgamblinghelp.org/.