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Americans spent $110.4 billion on lottery tickets in 2024, up from $109 billion in 2023.
Massachusetts led per-capita spending, while North Carolina’s increase coincided with the expansion of digital instant-win games.
An analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, reported by KXAN, shows how sharply lottery spending varied across states. The figures also distinguish ticket purchases from prize payments—two different measures of the lottery market.
Lottery Spending Rose, but State Totals Varied Widely
Massachusetts had the highest per-capita spending at $904, down from $915 the previous year. Virginia ranked second at $630, followed by Rhode Island at $567.
At the other end, North Dakota recorded $51 in spending per person. Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico and Oklahoma were the only other states below $100.
The geographic split was pronounced: All 10 of the highest-spending states were east of the Mississippi River, while all 10 of the lowest-spending states were west of it.
These are per-capita comparisons, not figures showing how much each participating lottery player spent.
North Carolina’s Growth Coincided With Digital Games
North Carolina posted the largest percentage increase in per-capita spending, rising 20.3% to $506.
That increase coincided with the state’s launch of digital instant-win games in 2023. Those games generated more than $1.3 billion in sales in fiscal 2024, according to the report.
The figures establish that digital games were a substantial sales category.
Virginia’s per-capita spending increased 18.3% to $630. Four states recorded double-digit percentage increases overall. Wyoming had the largest decline, at 8%.
Prize Returns Differed Across States
Average per-capita lottery winnings reached $215 in 2024, according to LendingTree figures cited in the report.
Virginia returned the largest share of lottery spending as prizes. Players spent $5.6 billion and received $4.2 billion in winnings, with the analysis reporting a payout share near 76%. South Dakota had the smallest reported share, at 19.8%.
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Source: As reported by KXAN Austin.
