Nevada Lottery | Guide to NV Lotto Results & Games

As the gambling capital of the United States, Nevada offers an unmatched gambling experience that millions of bettors from all over the world come to see every year. However, when it comes to the lotto, it may come as a surprise that Nevada has no active lottery.

Because we have no information to provide regarding the lottery games and schedules on offer in the state, we have instead dedicated this page to discussing why there is no lottery in the state and whether this might change any time soon.

In this NV lotto guide, we have begun by explaining the history of the Nevada lottery, from the moment it was outlawed until today. We have continued by exploring exemptions in the law that allow for some lottery games and described the strict terms around these offers.

The History of the Nevada Lottery

Since Nevada’s constitution was written in 1864, lotteries have been outlawed in the state. In fact, Section 24 specifically mentions that “no lottery may be authorized by this State, nor may lottery tickets be sold.” In 1909, all forms of gambling were officially outlawed in Nevada, though this didn’t stop illegal bookmakers from taking bets.

When a bill passed in 1931 to ease the restrictions on casino gambling, Section 24 of the constitution remained. After the passing of the bill, Nevada and Las Vegas, in particular, exploded in popularity and became what it is today, all without ever operating a lottery.

But this hasn’t stopped locals from trying. Since 1975, there have been more than 20 failed attempts to create a lottery in the state legislature. In many states where the lottery is legal, hundreds of millions of dollars a year are raised to fund local programs such as education and environmental preservation, and plenty of lawmakers have seen the value in this.

However, some point to this as the exact reason that gambling has remained to be outlawed in the state. In 2019, the Nevada Gaming Control Board announced that more than $12 billion dollars in revenues were generated by casinos. As the state only charges casinos a 6.75% tax on gross gaming win, this is a highly lucrative market for the casino industry.

For this reason, many point to the lobbying from Nevada’s powerful casino businesses in keeping out a state lottery. Many even believe that influence from casino interests was the exact reason that a 2009 bill looking to legalize lotteries passed the House but failed in the Senate.

So what does this mean for locals wanting to play the lottery? Do they have to miss out on the fun or are there any options Nevada residents have that are similar to other state’s lotteries? Below, we look at the limited lottery games that players can play.

NV Draw Games

In 1990, Nevada took its first step toward legalizing lotteries when it amended its constitution to allow charities to hold small lotteries. Regardless, there are still a number of strict rules that charities must follow in order to offer these games that concern how large prizes can be and who can play.

The only organizations that can hold these lotteries are registered charities or a local professional sports team franchise with the MLB, MLS, NBA, NHL or NFL. The total prizes that are offered by charities cannot exceed $500,000 while sports league held lotteries cannot exceed $2 million.

Other Lottery-Style Games

Up until 2009, a statewide lottery-style game called Nevada Numbers was operated by a private company called Las Vegas Gaming Inc. The game was similar to KENO, in that users had to select five numbers out of 80 for the price of $2 a ticket. The game was then drawn every three minutes.

The game featured a progressive jackpot that increased based on how many players participated. The jackpot started at $5 million, though the largest prize won was $6.3 million. The game was officially closed in 2009, only to be shortly reopened to a limited number of establishments in 2011 under the name Nevada Numbers Lite. It has now ceased operating.

Important Laws Regarding Nevada’s Charity Lotteries

Currently, participants in charitable lotteries with cash prizes must be over 18 years old to buy a ticket, and charities are not subject to any fees aside from the $25 licensing application fee. However, a recent move by the Nevada Gaming Control Board has seen regulators reconsider both of these factors.

Some parties are pushing for a 21-year minimum age to participate, while some want to charge charity organizations fees for holding lotteries. This has been criticized by several outdoor associations that rely on raffles for funding, though many have said it’s a necessity now that Las Vegas has a professional NFL team.

Nevada’s gambling laws require that all winnings on any gambling activity, charitable or otherwise, are subject to a 25% federal tax if the amount exceeds $600. As for how long winners have to claim their prizes, this will always depend on the individual terms of the charitable lottery that is being played.

It’s worth mentioning that Nevada residents are not outlawed from traveling interstate to participate in other lotteries. Just remember that it’s illegal to place these bets within state lines. All Nevada’s border states except Utah run lotteries, so we suggest traveling to play the California Lottery if you’re chasing big wins.

Overview of Nevada’s Gaming Control Board

The Nevada Gaming Control Board is in charge of regulating the entire gambling industry in the state, including charitable lotteries and raffles. It was created in 1955 by the Nevada Legislature and is composed of three members that have been chosen by the state Governor.

Additionally, the Nevada Gaming Commission was created in 1959 in order to act upon the recommendations of the Control Board. It is concerned with licensing matters and has the ability to permit, restrict, deny, revoke or suspend any gaming license. Together, they operate the largest gambling market in the country.

For the time being, there are no lottery bills currently in the Nevada house that seek to legalize the games. After the defeat of the lottery bill in 2009 in the state Senate, lawmakers have stopped trying to introduce a lotto. As the state’s casino industry is the second-highest source of tax revenue for state coffers behind sales taxes, it appears lawmakers will do all they can do to not threaten this relationship.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, Nevada is not a lottery state and for the time being, it appears as though it will remain this way for some time. This is not to say that residents cannot enjoy charitable lotteries, just don’t expect to accrue any of those huge progressive jackpots that are available in other states. For more information on states that do allow lotto and lottery, check out more of our American Lottery guides.

Common Questions that People Also Ask

If you still have questions about how the lottery and gambling in general in Nevada works, we have got you covered. Below, we’ve answered some common questions about gambling in the state of Nevada, so that you can find the best legal betting options for your needs.