Americans spent $110 billion on the Lottery in 2024
Lottery spending in the United States reached $110.4 billion in 2024, up from $109.0 billion in 2023 and $103.3 billion in 2022, according to an analysis by LendingTree of Census Bureau data. That works out to $323 per person in the 45 states with lotteries. But the growth was narrow. Per-person spending fell in 28 states, rose in 16, and held steady in California, a reversal from 2023, when it rose in 43 states.
| Highest per person, 2024 | Spent per person | Lowest per person, 2024 | Spent per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $904 | North Dakota | $51 |
| Virginia | $630 | Wyoming | $69 |
| Rhode Island | $567 | Montana | $76 |
| North Carolina | $506 | New Mexico | $84 |
| Georgia | $500 | Oklahoma | $85 |
The 10 highest-spending states are all in the East, and the 10 lowest are all in the West, LendingTree noted. North Carolina had the biggest jump, 20.3%. Its increase came almost entirely from online instant games while its paper scratch-off sales fell. Virginia rose 18.3%, and Arizona and Kentucky grew about 13% each. Wyoming fell the most, 8.0%. Virginia also returned the largest share of spending as prizes, 75.9%, while South Dakota returned 19.8%.
The Census figures stop at 2024. The lotteries' own audited reports for fiscal 2025, a year that ended June 30, 2025, for most of them, show the growth fading. Of the 10 large lotteries whose annual reports we track, 7 sold less than they did a year earlier.
| State | Fiscal 2024 sales | Fiscal 2025 sales | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $5.38 billion | $6.59 billion | +22.5% |
| Virginia | $5.52 billion | $5.77 billion | +4.5% |
| Georgia | $6.00 billion | $6.02 billion | +0.3% |
| Florida | $9.42 billion | $9.13 billion | -3.0% |
| Ohio | $4.54 billion | $4.38 billion | -3.7% |
| Michigan | $4.76 billion | $4.57 billion | -4.0% |
| Texas | $8.39 billion | $7.91 billion | -5.7% |
| Arkansas | $613 million | $578 million | -5.8% |
| Tennessee | $2.03 billion | $1.83 billion | -9.8% |
| Pennsylvania | $4.80 billion | $4.31 billion | -10.2% |
Big jackpots are a large part of the swing. In fiscal 2024, Powerball and Mega Millions produced five jackpots of $1 billion or more, including Powerball's $1.765 billion in October 2023. Fiscal 2025 had one, a $1.269 billion Mega Millions jackpot in December 2024. Paper scratch-offs, the bulk of lottery sales, also slipped. Their sales fell in 8 of the 10 states, with only Florida and Ohio up. The two states that grew most, North Carolina and Virginia, both sell instant games online.
How we did this. National, per-person, ranking, and payout figures are from LendingTree's study, updated October 19, 2026, which uses the Census Bureau's 2024 Annual Survey of State Government Finances, adds an assumed 5.5% for retailer commissions, and divides by 2024 American Community Survey population. Fiscal 2024 and 2025 sales are from each lottery's audited annual financial report for years ending June 30 (August 31 in Texas, September 30 in Michigan); lotteries define sales differently, so compare each state only with itself. Jackpot counts are from official Powerball and Mega Millions results in our draw database.
Sources
LendingTree: Annual lottery spending tops $110 billion nationwide
U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Finances
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Americans spend on the lottery?
About $110.4 billion in 2024, or $323 per person, according to a LendingTree analysis of Census Bureau data. Massachusetts led at $904 per resident, followed by Virginia at $630 and Rhode Island at $567. North Dakota was lowest at $51.
Which state spends the most on the lottery per person?
Massachusetts, at an estimated $904 per resident in 2024, 43.5% more than second-place Virginia, LendingTree found. North Carolina had the fastest growth, up 20.3% to $506, after it added online instant games in November 2023.
Is lottery spending still growing?
Not everywhere. Of 10 large state lotteries whose audited reports we track, 7 sold less in fiscal 2025, which for most ended June 30, 2025, than a year earlier. Only North Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia sold more, and Georgia only by 0.3%.
Jessie Jurado is a news writer who covers new scratch-off launches, state lottery guides, taxes on winnings, news, and much more. She joined ScratchCheck in 2026 and writes the site's state-by-state coverage.
