Americans Spent $110B on Lottery Tickets in 2024

People in the United States are spending heavily on lottery tickets, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, which revealed that in 2024 alone, Americans spent $110.4 billion on buying various tickets. The data was analyzed by LendingTree, with the average American spending $323 on tickets, and spending increased in 16 states. Lottery Spending Ebbs and Flows Across States In another 28, spending fell, while California maintained a relatively the same level of spending as in the previous data set. Massachusetts also saw a decline to $904 per capita in 2024, down from the $915 registered in 2023, but still well ahead of other states. The second-biggest spender was Rhode Island, where people would spend $630 per person. Conversely, North Dakota residents spent the least – just $51 on the lottery per year. The only other states to register average spending per person below $100 were Wyoming, Montana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Commenting on this data, LendingTree chief consumer finance analyst Matt Schulz had this to add in a statement released by the company as part of the analysis: “It’s pretty remarkable that Americans are spending more than $110 billion a year on lottery tickets. That’s a massive amount of money, especially when you consider how many people are struggling with everyday expenses.” Some States See Lottery Spending Climb Up in 2024 Some states have also begun to spend considerably more than they did in 2023. According to the report, North Carolina saw lottery spending in 2024 of $506 compared to just $421 earlier, or a 20.3% jump. Virginia went from $532 to $630, an 18.3% jump. As for shares of prizes, Virginia led the way there as well, with players spending $5.6 billion and winning $4.2 billion in return. While there are plenty of different lottery prizes to go around, the majority of players are sticking to a familiar formula – draw prizes. Not only that, but the Powerball also saw two of its largest prizes won in 2024 alone. Mega Millions had an even better year, with three of its top ten rewards won in the same year.