A fortunate lottery player in California recently won an astonishing $1.73 billion Powerball jackpot. To receive the full amount, they must accept annual installments over 30 years, bringing their yearly take-home to about $57.7 million – after beating odds of 1 in 292 million.
However, if the winner wanted an immediate lump sum payout instead, they would get around $756.6 million after taxes are applied. So while substantially less than the headline total, either way it’s a life-changing $2 ticket investment.
As it happens, $1.73 billion isn’t the biggest Powerball jackpot ever. That was $2.04 billion last year, also won by a ticket-holder in California (they don’t call it the Golden State for nothing).
The nation’s other major multi-state lottery, Mega Millions, has offered four top prizes of more than a billion bucks each.
Why do some Americans hand over a portion of their hard-earned pay with clockwork regularity – to the tune of an estimated $108 billion in total in 2022? Probably mostly because, as a now-retired slogan for the New York State lottery put it, “Hey, you never know.”
To discover what every state spends on lottery tickets, both individually and collectively, 24/7 Tempo reviewed “The US States Where People are Spending the Most on Lottery Tickets in 2023” — published by the casino gambling information platform Super Casino Sites. The site compiled data on ticket sales for both lottery games from Jan. 2 through Oct. 10 of this year, then calculated per capita spending for each state. States are ranked from the lowest to highest amount spent on both. Alaska, Alabama, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah are missing from this list because they do not participate in either multi-state game.
Gambling on the games seems to interest Arkansas the least, judging from a per capita spending of $19.48, while New Jersey is all in — spending almost three times that much per person. Nine of the ten states that gamble the most on Powerball and Mega Millions are along the Eastern Seaboard, from New Hampshire to Florida and the tenth (Pennsylvania) almost is. Good luck to them all. (Here are some bizarre superstitions people think will bring them money.)
Here is what every state spends on lottery tickets.
45. Arkansas
> Population: 3,045,637
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $33,444,666
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $25,897,821
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $59,342,487
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $19.48
44. Oklahoma
> Population: 4,019,800
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $45,950,392
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $33,438,653
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $79,389,045
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $19.75
43. Kansas
> Population: 2,937,150
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $38,598,519
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $27,057,766
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $65,656,285
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $22.35
42. New Mexico
> Population: 2,113,344
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $26,975,159
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $21,195,508
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $48,170,667
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $22.79
41. Montana
> Population: 1,122,867
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $16,348,048
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $9,905,387
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $26,253,435
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $23.38
40. Minnesota
> Population: 5,717,184
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $81,444,764
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $53,843,566
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $135,288,330
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $23.66
39. Washington
> Population: 7,785,786
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $99,476,675
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $87,617,224
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $187,093,899
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $24.03
38. Louisiana
> Population: 4,590,241
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $70,301,270
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $47,217,433
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $117,518,703
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $25.60
37. Indiana
> Population: 6,833,037
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $109,301,574
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $69,636,482
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $178,938,056
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $26.19
36. Mississippi
> Population: 2,940,057
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $43,668,313
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $33,431,892
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $77,100,205
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $26.22
35. South Dakota
> Population: 909,824
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $15,206,853
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $9,051,087
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $24,257,940
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $26.66
34. Tennessee
> Population: 7,051,339
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $117,829,855
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $71,456,134
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $189,285,989
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $26.84
33. Missouri
> Population: 6,177,957
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $97,807,657
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $68,883,764
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $166,691,421
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $26.98
32. Colorado
> Population: 5,839,926
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $99,169,680
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $67,114,542
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $166,284,222
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $28.47
31. Vermont
> Population: 647,064
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $10,973,589
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $7,625,991
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $18,599,580
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $28.74
30. Oregon
> Population: 4,240,137
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $74,130,703
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $48,567,990
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $122,698,693
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $28.94
29. Wisconsin
> Population: 5,892,539
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $99,921,985
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $71,074,922
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $170,996,907
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $29.02
28. North Dakota
> Population: 779,261
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $13,041,691
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $9,637,424
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $22,679,115
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $29.10
27. Iowa
> Population: 3,200,517
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $56,509,617
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $36,957,791
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $93,467,408
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $29.20
26. Illinois
> Population: 12,582,032
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $190,750,760
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $178,969,599
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $369,720,359
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $29.38
25. Nebraska
> Population: 1,967,923
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $36,166,347
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $21,983,845
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $58,150,192
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $29.55
24. West Virginia
> Population: 1,775,156
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $32,572,059
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $20,238,146
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $52,810,205
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $29.75
23. Texas
> Population: 30,029,572
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $473,379,276
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $429,286,530
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $902,665,806
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $30.06
22. Kentucky
> Population: 4,512,310
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $83,559,008
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $52,285,235
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $135,844,243
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $30.11
21. Idaho
> Population: 1,939,033
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $35,827,784
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $22,605,329
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $58,433,113
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $30.14
20. Ohio
> Population: 11,756,058
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $184,483,997
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $170,501,276
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $354,985,273
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $30.20
19. Wyoming
> Population: 581,381
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $9,842,622
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $7,781,702
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $17,624,324
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $30.31
18. Maine
> Population: 1,385,340
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $25,188,998
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $17,183,773
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $42,372,771
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $30.59
17. California
> Population: 39,029,342
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $639,998,528
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $615,206,296
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $1,255,204,824
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $32.16
16. Georgia
> Population: 10,912,876
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $186,645,399
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $173,718,273
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $360,363,672
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $33.02
15. North Carolina
> Population: 10,698,973
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $220,694,913
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $142,682,441
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $363,377,354
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $33.96
14. Virginia
> Population: 8,683,619
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $158,098,403
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $146,156,168
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $304,254,571
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $35.04
13. Arizona
> Population: 7,359,197
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $145,850,397
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $116,448,092
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $262,298,489
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $35.64
12. South Carolina
> Population: 5,282,634
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $116,263,446
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $75,436,460
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $191,699,906
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $36.29
11. Michigan
> Population: 10,034,113
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $194,305,150
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $183,181,812
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $377,486,962
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $37.62
10. Rhode Island
> Population: 1,093,734
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $26,729,700
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $17,128,549
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $43,858,249
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $40.10
9. Connecticut
> Population: 3,626,205
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $84,659,172
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $61,334,705
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $145,993,877
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $40.26
8. Pennsylvania
> Population: 12,972,008
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $308,162,397
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $217,670,570
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $525,832,967
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $40.54
7. Massachusetts
> Population: 6,981,974
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $158,752,221
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $136,141,869
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $294,894,090
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $42.24
6. New York
> Population: 19,677,151
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $440,118,424
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $403,266,170
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $843,384,594
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $42.86
5. Florida
> Population: 22,244,823
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $558,416,445
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $410,340,273
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $968,756,718
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $43.55
4. Delaware
> Population: 1,018,396
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $25,643,508
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $19,254,279
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $44,897,787
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $44.09
3. Maryland
> Population: 6,164,660
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $141,189,008
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $176,265,134
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $317,454,142
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $51.50
2. New Hampshire
> Population: 1,395,231
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $43,910,677
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $32,711,866
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $76,622,543
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $54.92
1. New Jersey
> Population: 9,261,699
> Powerball ticket sales (Jan. 2-Oct. 9, 2023): $277,142,839
> Mega Millions ticket sales (Jan. 3-Oct. 10, 2023): $239,335,887
> Combined ticket sales through Oct. 10, 2023: $516,478,726
> Combined spending on tickets per person through Oct. 10, 2023: $55.77