New York Lottery
When it comes to state lotteries, they don’t get much bigger than the New York Lottery. In fact, this lottery is the biggest and most profitable in all of North America with over $3 billion earmarked for education in NY each year.
What’s more, this lottery was one of the very first government-run lotteries in America and the second state lottery when it was opened in 1967. Its inception was so successful that just over $53 million was grossed in the very first year. It was common for people from neighboring states to cross state lines for their very own New York lottery tickets.
Since then, the lottery has continued to flourish, building up more than $42 billion in lottery aid. The only time this lottery didn’t operate was following a scandal in the 1970s. The state closed the lottery then, after the agency who announced winning tickets did so with tickets that officials knew hadn’t really been sold. Since getting back on track, the NY lottery has paid out more than 110 prizes worth over $1 million.