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Liquor & Gaming NSW

Public lotteries

A public lottery is a game of chance where a person chooses or is allocated numbers drawn at random. The aim is to correctly match the prize winning numbers.

Public lotteries include Lotto, OzLotto, Powerball, Lucky Lotteries, Set for Life, Lotto Strike, and Keno.

An instant scratch lottery is also a public lottery, however in the absence of a draw, certain numbers are designated as prize winning numbers or tickets.

Lottery operators

A public lottery may only be conducted in NSW by a licensed lottery operator.

There are two exclusive licensed lottery operators in NSW:

  1. NSW Lotteries Corporation Pty Ltd (a subsidiary of The Lottery Corporation): conducting Lotto, Lotto Strike, Oz Lotto, Powerball, Lucky Lotteries, Set for Life, and Instant Scratch Lotteries.
  2. Keno (NSW) Pty Ltd (a subsidiary of The Lottery Corporation) and Club Keno Holdings Pty Ltd as joint licensees conducting the game of Keno.

Entering a public lottery

Any member of the public who is over the age of 18 years may enter a public lottery.

It is an offence for a:

  • minor to enter or subscribe to a public lottery
  • licensee or agent to accept entry or payment from a minor
  • person to enter or subscribe to a public lottery on behalf of a minor
  • person to purchase an entry on another's behalf for a fee.

Regulating public lotteries

The Minister for Gaming and Racing is responsible for public lotteries in NSW under the Public Lotteries Act 1996. Regulation of public lotteries in NSW rests with L&GNSW.

Our compliance strategy includes a commitment to:

  • monitor and evaluate licensee compliance with regulatory requirements concerning public lotteries. This includes lottery equipment checks, and integrity reviews of people and businesses involved or closely associated with conduct of public lotteries.
  • engage in assurance activities to ensure that revenue made through public lotteries is accounted for in the proper manner.
  • review and investigate complaints from the public where it is alleged that the lottery operator has failed to comply with a regulatory requirement.