New York (NY) Lottery Results - Winning Numbers for December 23, 2025

If you’re looking for the best odds of winning a prize in the New York Lottery, daily draw games generally offer better chances than big jackpot games. Among them, New York Take 5 stands out as one of the best choices.

• Take 5 has odds of 1 in 575,757 to win the jackpot, which is significantly better than major multi-state games like Powerball (1 in 292,201,338) or Mega Millions (1 in 302,575,350).
• Other daily games like Pick 10, Numbers, and Win 4 also have more favorable odds for smaller prizes compared to the large jackpot games.

If your goal is to win smaller prizes more frequently, consider trying Take 5 or Numbers. But if you’re aiming for a life-changing jackpot, Powerball and Mega Millions offer the biggest payouts, though with much longer odds.

The Mega Millions drawings in New York take place twice a week, every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). Ticket sales close at 10:45 PM ET on drawing nights, so be sure to buy your tickets before the cutoff.

You can check the latest winning numbers and past results anytime on our New York Mega Millions results page to stay up-to-date with the newest draws.

There’s no guaranteed way to win the New York Lottery — it’s a game of chance. However, you can improve your approach, manage risk, and increase your chance of winning small prizes by choosing games with better odds, joining pools, and using smart bankroll rules. Always play responsibly.

What you need to know

• The lottery is random. Every official NY Lottery draw uses random selection—no system can force a jackpot win.
• Odds vary widely by game. Scratch-offs, Numbers, Win 4, Lotto, Powerball and Mega Millions all have different odds and prize structures. Smaller games usually have better odds but smaller prizes.
• Buying more tickets helps — a little. Purchasing more tickets raises your absolute chance of winning, but the increase is proportional to your spend; costs can quickly outweigh expected returns.

Practical tips to play smarter

1. Pick the right games for your goals.
   • Want frequent smaller wins? Consider daily numbers or scratch-offs with better odds.
   • Chasing large jackpots? National games (Powerball/Mega Millions) have huge jackpots but much longer odds.
2. Use a budget and stick to it.
   • Treat lottery tickets like entertainment, not investment. Set a monthly entertainment budget and never chase losses.
3. Consider a lottery pool.
   • Pooling money with friends or coworkers increases ticket count and chances per draw — but remember prizes are split among participants. Put rules in writing (who pays, who collects, how prizes are split).
4. Avoid “guaranteed” systems and number patterns.
   • No legitimate method guarantees a win. Ignore services that promise sure wins or sell expensive systems.
5. Decide Quick Pick vs. self-picked numbers.
   • There’s no proven long-term advantage to either. Quick Pick (random) performs just as well as personally chosen numbers.
6. Track odds and payouts.
   • If you’re serious, check the odds and prize tiers for each NY Lottery game and choose ones with prize structures that match your goals.
7. Play consistently — if you can afford it.
   • Small, regular play within a fixed budget is preferable to risking large sums infrequently.

After you win (practical steps)

• Sign the back of the ticket immediately to establish ownership.
• Keep the ticket safe and make copies (photo/scans) as backup.
• Check official claim rules for deadlines and documentation — rules differ by prize size and game.
• Consider professional help for large prizes (financial advisor, tax professional, and an attorney) before claiming to plan taxes, privacy, and long-term management.

Common myths — busted

• “Hot numbers” or “due numbers” consistently win — False. Each draw is independent.
• Buying from “lucky” stores increases jackpot chances — False. The location of purchase doesn’t change random odds.
• Spending more guarantees profit — False. Expected value generally remains negative for players.

Responsible play & legal notes

• Play only if you’re 18+ (or meet NY Lottery age rules). Check official NY Lottery rules for age limits and legal requirements.
• If gambling causes problems, seek help from responsible gaming resources. Lottery should be entertainment, not a way to solve financial problems.

Here is the list of New York lotteries that play today (Tuesday, December 23, 2025):

All times shown are Eastern Time (GMT-5:00)

• Numbers — 2:30 PM, 10:30 PM

• Win 4 — 2:30 PM, 10:30 PM

• Take 5 — 2:30 PM, 10:30 PM

• Pick 10 — 8:30 PM

• Cash4Life — 9:00 PM

• Mega Millions — 11:00 PM