US Census data: Americans spent $110.4bn on lottery tickets in 2024, averaging $323 per person

Americans spent $110.4 billion on lottery tickets in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data analysed by LendingTree. The figure works out at an average of $323 per person. Spending increased in 16 states over the year.

The picture varied widely by state. Spending fell in 28 states, while California stayed at about the same level as in the previous data set. Massachusetts recorded a decline to $904 per capita in 2024 from $915 in 2023, though it remained well ahead of every other state. Rhode Island was the second-biggest spender at $630 per person.

At the other end of the scale, North Dakota residents spent the least, at just $51 per person per year. The only other states with per-person spending below $100 were Wyoming, Montana, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Some states posted sizeable increases on 2023. In North Carolina, per-person spending rose from $421 to $506, a jump of 20.3%. Virginia went from $532 to $630, an increase of 18.3%. Virginia also stood out in the prize data: players there spent $5.6 billion and won $4.2 billion in return.

The report noted that, although lotteries offer many types of prizes, most players stick to a familiar format, draw games. Large jackpots also featured in 2024. Powerball saw two of its largest prizes won during the year, while Mega Millions had three of its ten biggest prizes awarded in the same period.

LendingTree chief consumer finance analyst Matt Schulz commented on the findings in a statement released with the analysis. "It's pretty remarkable that Americans are spending more than $110 billion a year on lottery tickets," he said. "That's a massive amount of money, especially when you consider how many people are struggling with everyday expenses."

The data offers industry observers a view of how demand for lottery products differs across US jurisdictions, with per-capita spending ranging from $51 to $904 depending on the state.