The New York Lottery is celebrating the Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary with a new Million Dollar Raffle that offers the best odds of winning $1 million among all available Lottery games. The canal-themed raffle tickets go on sale August 4 and will be available through October 25 or until all 2 million tickets are sold.
The raffle prize structure is steeped in Erie Canal history. It features 15 top prizes of $1 million, along with 15 prizes of $100,000, 15 prizes of $25,000, and 5,460 prizes of $200, a nod to the canal’s 200th birthday. The overall odds of winning are 1 in 363, reflecting the canal’s original 363-mile length.
Tickets, priced at $20 each, can be purchased at any licensed New York Lottery retail location. Each ticket is printed on demand and features a unique number, starting at two million and counting down with each sale. The drawing will take place on October 26, 2025—the exact date marking two centuries since the canal’s grand opening.
If all tickets are sold, the raffle will generate more than $21 million for New York’s public schools. The initiative is part of a broader effort to commemorate the Erie Canal Bicentennial and support the state’s educational institutions.
“With dozens of winners and the best odds of any New York Lottery game, this raffle is an exciting contribution to Governor Hochul’s recognition of the Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary,” said Brian O’Dwyer, Chair of the New York State Gaming Commission. “It’s a chance for some lucky New Yorkers to make history of their own.”
Brian U. Stratton, Director of the Canal Corporation and Co-Chair of the Erie Canal Bicentennial Commission, called the raffle a “highly creative and inspiring” way to honor the canal’s legacy while raising needed funds for schools.
Advertising for the raffle was filmed at Erie Canal Camillus Park in Onondaga County. A 30-second promotional spot is now available online.
For more information about the Erie Canal Bicentennial, visit www.canals.ny.gov.
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