Nevada Lottery (NV): FAQs and How to Play

Is there a lottery in Nevada?

No. Nevada is among 5 US states that do not have a state-operated Nevada lottery, together with Alabama, Alaska lottery, Hawaii, and Utah.

Why Nevada Doesn’t Have a Lottery

For a state where gambling and casino culture is so prevalent, it might seem strange that a state lottery is not present in Nevada. But as it is, Nevada's state constitution outlaws such games of chance – stating that “no lottery may be authorized by this State, nor may lottery tickets be sold.”

Additionally, while Nevada lawmakers have been floating the idea of a state-sponsored Nevada lottery for the past 3 decades, every effort to amend current laws has failed. This is mostly due to resistance from the local gambling industry as well as various religious groups in Nevada, and widely in Las Vegas.

Can you buy lottery tickets in Nevada?

No. With the absence of a state-sponsored Nevada lottery, similar to Utah Lottery, and the fact that US federal law does not permit the sale of tickets across state borders, it is currently not possible to buy tickets within the state of Nevada. Its the complete opposite of the Illinois Lottery.

However, some evidence seems to indicate that a few locations within the state do in fact sell lottery tickets for certain multi-state games. According to some reports, establishments that operate with an unrestricted gaming license do sell tickets to games like Powerball.

How can people in Nevada play lottery?

Nevada residents will have to go out-of-state to purchase tickets for games like Powerball and Mega Millions. Neighboring states Arizona, California, Idaho, and Oregon all permit lottery sales, so those would be the most convenient places to go to.

Can you win the lottery if you live in Nevada?

Yes, you can, but you'll have to pay additional state taxes on top of any standard taxes that already apply.

Will Nevada ever get the lottery?

The idea of a Nevada-sanctioned state lottery has been suggested by lawmakers in the past, but due to massive opposition from the local gaming industry, this seems unlikely to happen anytime in the foreseeable future. Neither its common to find any lottery ticket for sale in Nevada. Similarly, Hawaii lottery is also illegal for similar reasons.