These New York State Stores Might Be The Luckiest!

Welcome to tax filing season in New York State! If you haven’t done your taxes yet, don’t worry, the April deadline is still ahead of us. However, if you’re expecting a refund, you’re probably trying to get your taxes taken care of as quickly as possible.

And if you’re not waiting on a refund, maybe you’re hoping to get lucky in a different way, by winning the lottery. If that’s the case, there may be one store in New York State you’ll want to visit to improve your odds.

We’re only about six weeks into 2026, and already the Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots are climbing to impressive levels. As of early February 11, the estimated Powerball jackpot was $126 million. Meanwhile, the Mega Millions jackpot had surged to an eye-popping $366 million.

Big Time Winners At These New York State Stores

Recently, Stewart’s Shops released a report detailing how much money they’ve paid out in lottery winnings so far this year. According to the report, customers who purchased tickets at Stewart’s locations have already won more than $18 million in total prizes. Even more impressive, four winners cashed in prizes worth more than $1 million.

We all have our favorite places to buy lottery tickets, and for some, that location changes often. No matter where you go, though, there’s a good chance that if you’re in a hurry, you’ll end up behind someone who seems to be taking forever at the counter. It never fails — when you’re trying to be in and out quickly, you find yourself in the longest line of the day. But if you’re lucky enough to cash in a winning ticket, the wait is well worth it.

The Lottery of Love?

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, this is also a busy time for lottery retailers and scratch-off ticket sales. Some might call it a little tacky, but it’s still quick and easy to grab a card, some flowers, and a scratch-off ticket or two for your sweetheart. After all, it’s the thought that counts, and you never know, you just might end up winning big together.