Short answer: Our top sentimental Mother's Day pick is $1,000,000 MUST LOVE DOGS (game #1692, $5, Smart Score 77) — the only currently active dog-themed NY scratch-off. For a higher-end gift, $10,000 A WEEK FOR LIFE (game #1686, $20, Smart Score 99.4) is the highest-ranked $20 ticket on shelves now.
Reviewed by Marcus Chen, Lead Data Scientist · 2026-06-15
$1,000,000 MUST LOVE DOGS (game #1692, $5) is our top sentimental pick because it's the only currently active dog-themed NY scratch-off. For a higher-end gift, $10,000 A WEEK FOR LIFE (game #1686, $20) is the highest-ranked $20 ticket statewide right now.
Mother's Day 2026 is Sunday, May 10. Buy scratch-offs by Saturday May 9 to avoid Sunday hours issues at smaller upstate retailers.
A $20–$30 total budget is the sweet spot for a Mother's Day card or bouquet add-on. That covers one mid-tier ticket plus a couple of $1–$5 fillers, which extends the scratching experience beyond a single ticket.
Yes. Anyone 18 or older can buy and gift NY Lottery instant tickets to other adults aged 18+. Never give scratch-offs to a minor — it violates NY Lottery rules and voids prize claims.
This guide is informational, not legal or tax advice. Always verify requirements with the official NY Lottery before submitting a winning ticket.Data sourced from nylottery.ny.gov and NY Open Data. Independent, non-commercial project. Play responsibly — NY Problem Gambling · 1-877-8-HOPENY.