Have you ever wondered which state tops the charts when it comes to lottery ticket sales?
A lottery study conducted by Lending Tree in 2022 (and updated in 2023—the year of FOUR billion-dollar lottery jackpots) aims to answer the question of which state buys the most lottery tickets. To complete its study, Lending Tree analyzed ticket sales in 2021 by state along with U.S. Census Bureau data. Let’s dive into the results and see where your state ranks in lottery sales. We’ll also walk you through the basics of where lottery money goes in different states.
Top states that spend the most on lottery tickets
According to Lending Tree, Massachusetts is the state that spends the most on lottery tickets. In 2021, Massachusetts lottery players spent a whopping $1,024.91 per capita on lottery tickets. This was almost double the next closest state, Georgia, whose residents spent $526.98 per capita.
These are the top 20 ranking states for lottery sales per capita. Did your state make the list?
| State | Lottery Sales per Capita |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $1,024.91 |
| Georgia | $526.98 |
| Michigan | $480.75 |
| South Carolina | $467.91 |
| Rhode Island | $456.22 |
| Florida | $425.13 |
| Connecticut | $415.98 |
| Maryland | $415.45 |
| New York | $404.63 |
| Delaware | $399.84 |
| Pennsylvania | $397.90 |
| New Jersey | $397.58 |
| West Virginia | $392.70 |
| Virginia | $384.65 |
| New Hampshire | $357.10 |
| North Carolina | $354.49 |
| Kentucky | $352.19 |
| Ohio | $336.04 |
| Missouri | $293.78 |
| Illinois | $284.54 |
Lottery results: Get the latest winning numbers in your state
Top states for lottery ticket sales
In terms of overall lottery ticket sales, the list looks a little different. According to Statista, the state with the biggest lottery sales in 2023 was New York, generating over $10.5 billion in ticket sales, followed by Florida’s $9.8 billion in sales.
| State | Annual lottery ticket sales |
|---|---|
| New York | $10.5 billion |
| Florida | $9.8 billion |
| California | $9.2 billion |
| Texas | $8.7 billion |
| Massachusetts | $6.1 billion |
| Ohio | $5.8 billion |
| Georgia | $5.6 billion |
| Maryland | $5.2 billion |
| Pennsylvania | $5.1 billion |
| Michigan | $4.9 billion |
Read more: Which lottery games have the best odds?
Where Lottery Money Goes
How do the states that buy the most lottery tickets use lottery proceeds? Lottery revenue funds worthy causes in 47 states nationwide. After funding lottery prizes to winners, paying out retailer bonuses and commissions, and supporting administrative expenses, about 30% of lottery proceeds go to state-funded programs such as public education, veterans services, the environment, or municipal services. Let’s look at the 5 states that sell the most lottery tickets per capita as examples:
1. Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, the state that buys the most lottery tickets per capita, lottery proceeds are returned to the state in the form of local aid to all 351 cities and towns across the commonwealth. These cities and towns choose how they will utilize lottery funds in their location such as for improvements to road and infrastructure or for parks and recreation initiatives. In 2023, the Massachusetts Lottery returned $1,193,902,136 to the commonwealth.
2. Georgia
In Georgia, lottery proceeds are used to fund programs in education—both in the form of tuition grants and scholarships to undergraduate college students at eligible Georgia colleges and the Georgia Prekindergarten Program. Since the Georgia lottery first began, it has returned $28 billion to education.
3. Michigan
Michigan Lottery proceeds go to the state’s School Aid Fund for k-12 education. It contributed more than $1.3 billion in fiscal year 2023 alone.
4. South Carolina
The South Carolina lottery supports a number of higher education programs, including: scholarships & grants; programs for low-income and educationally disadvantaged children; research centers for education excellence in South Carolina’s three research universities. The SC Lottery has returned more than $7.1 billion to date.
5. Rhode Island
Lottery revenue in Rhode Island goes to the State General Fund, which supports tax relief, education, public safety, law enforcement, and human services among Rhode Island’s 39 cities and towns. Since the Rhode Island Lottery first started, over $8.8 billion has been generated for the state.
Where Did Your State Rank?
Were you surprised by what state sells the most lottery tickets? Whether playing Powerball, Mega Millions, or your local state lottery, you can feel good knowing that a portion of every lottery dollar will go to important programs in your state.
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Sources:
- Lending Tree: “Massachusetts Residents Spend the Most on the Lottery”
- Statista: “Sales of lotteries in the United States in 2023 (in million U.S. dollars), by state”
