MA Tops U.S. Lottery Spending Rankings With Eye-Popping Total

Massachusetts residents spend more money on lottery tickets than residents of any other state, according to a new study that found the average Bay State resident spends $904 annually on games such as scratch tickets and Powerball.

The study by LendingTree found that Massachusetts once again led the nation in per-capita lottery spending, far exceeding the national average of $323.

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Overall, Massachusetts residents spent more than $6.46 billion on lottery tickets, according to the report. About 70% of that money was returned to players through prizes.

Nationally, Americans spent $110.4 billion on lottery tickets, up from $109 billion the previous year.

Average lottery spending nationwide increased 4.5% over two years, rising from $309 to $323 per person. The average amount returned to players in winnings was $215 per person.

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

Schulz said Massachusetts' spending figures were particularly striking.

"And the fact that the average Massachusetts resident spends more than $900 a year is just eye-popping," Schulz said in the statement. "There's nothing wrong with buying a lottery ticket now and then for a little fun. However, when those purchases become a regular habit, the costs can add up a whole lot faster than people realize."

Virginia ranked 2nd nationally at $630 per resident, followed by Rhode Island at $567, North Carolina at $506 and Georgia at $500.

Other New England states also ranked relatively high, including Connecticut, tied for 7th at $460, and New Hampshire, tied for 11th at $423.

Massachusetts' average spending declined slightly from $915 in 2023 to $904 in 2024, the most recent year analyzed. The study used U.S. Census Bureau data and estimated retailer commissions to calculate spending.

Check out the full study at Lending Tree.

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