Not Florida or California: these are the states where people spend the most on lottery tickets

It’s been said – I’m pretty sure it has – that lotteries are a “tax on people who are bad at math.” I mean, do you know, for example, that the chances of winning the Powerball jackpot can be close to 1 in 300 million?

Maybe so, but many Americans can’t resist trying their luck, and the states that spend the most might not be the ones you’d expect. According to a LendingTree analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data – thanks for doing the hard yards, guys – Americans spent an average of $320 per person on lottery tickets in 2023, a 4% jump from the year before. Total spending topped $108 billion, making it one of the country’s most consistent habits, somewhere between morning coffee and paying your streaming bill.

Which states spend the most on lottery tickets?

As per my headline, you can forget Florida and California from the top spot of the lottery players, although there are plenty of conspiracy theories about where the winners regularly come from. Instead, check out Massachusetts, where residents spent a staggering $915 each on lottery tickets in 2023, the most by far. That’s at least $300 more than any other state, and nearly triple the national average.

Rhode Island came in second at $573 per person, followed by Virginia ($532) and Georgia ($520). New York and Connecticut rounded out the next tier, each with average spending close to $470.

At the other end of the scale, North Dakotans spent just $50 a year on tickets, the lowest in the nation, while Wyoming ($75) and Montana ($76) barely cracked two digits.

As LendingTree’s report points out, lottery play is nearly universal – all but five states (Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah) have at least one game – but enthusiasm varies wildly by geography.

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Why does Massachusetts love the lottery?

Massachusetts’ dominance has long been a curiosity. Analysts cite the state’s deeply ingrained lottery culture, frequent ticket promotions, and broad game variety. The Massachusetts Lottery, established in 1971, is one of the oldest in the country and has become a fixture in corner stores and gas stations.

And while Bay Staters spend the most, they also tend to win back more than most states, making the habit slightly less punishing than it may look on this list.

Which is the ‘luckiest’ lottery state?

It’s fair to say that not all tickets are created equal. Virginia returned 73.5% of lottery spending as winnings, the highest payout ratio in the country. Massachusetts gave back about 69% of spending in prizes, and that’s despite its high ticket sales. Here’s a look at how they present it online:

On the flip side, South Dakota and Oregon returned less than 20% of what residents spent, making them some of the least favorable states for ticket buyers. West Virginia and Rhode Island also ranked low on payouts despite their reliance on lottery revenue.

That revenue matters. In Rhode Island, South Dakota and West Virginia, the lottery contributes around 3% of the state’s general revenue, triple the national average. In contrast, North Dakota’s contribution barely registers at 0.1%.

Lottery spending at a glance (2023)

Here is a quick summary of the LendingTree analysis:

• National average: $320 per person (up 3.6% from 2022)
• Total U.S. spending: $109 billion
• Average per-capita winnings: $201

Top five states by spending per person:

• Massachusetts – $915
• Rhode Island – $573
• Virginia – $532
• Georgia – $520
• New York – $481

Lowest three states by spending per person:

• North Dakota – $50
• Wyoming – $75
• Montana – $76

Fastest growth in spending (2022–2023):

• Wyoming – +60.6%
• North Dakota – +32.8%
• New Mexico – +22.7%

Highest payout ratios:

• Virginia – 73.5% of spending returned as winnings
• Maine – 71.0%
• Missouri – 70.4%

Lowest payout ratios:

• Oregon – <20%
• South Dakota – <20%
• West Virginia – 21.1%

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