People in These States Lose the Most Money on Lotto Tickets

Which states lose the most money on lotto tickets? Every state in the contiguous United States has a lottery of some sort. Americans spend $95.6 billion a year on lottery tickets, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Five states are excluded from this data, with Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah not participating in lottery sales. However, the proceeds from these programs go into programs for roads, education, and more. Some states are paying more per capita, though.

Arizona

• Prizes per capita: $135
• Losses per capita: $47
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.74

Arkansas

• Prizes per capita: $144
• Losses per capita: $51
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.7400

California

• Prizes per capita: $144
• Losses per capita: $72
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.67

Colorado

• Prizes per capita: $89
• Losses per capita: $37
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.70

Connecticut

• Prizes per capita: $258
• Losses per capita: $135
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.66

Delaware

• Prizes per capita: $221
• Losses per capita: $142
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.61

Florida

• Prizes per capita: $276
• Losses per capita: $110
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.72

Georgia

• Prizes per capita: $340
• Losses per capita: $145
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.70

Idaho

• Prizes per capita: $130
• Losses per capita: $46
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.74

Illinois

• Prizes per capita: $185
• Losses per capita: $89
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.68

Indiana

• Prizes per capita: $167
• Losses per capita: $70
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.71

Iowa

• Prizes per capita: $90
• Losses per capita: $42
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.68

Kansas

• Prizes per capita: $68
• Losses per capita: $33
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.68

Kentucky

• Prizes per capita: $237
• Losses per capita: $95
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.71

Louisiana

• Prizes per capita: $77
• Losses per capita: $51
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.60

Maine

• Prizes per capita: $194
• Losses per capita: $69
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.74

Maryland

• Prizes per capita: $269
• Losses per capita: $123
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.69

Massachusetts

• Prizes per capita: $614
• Losses per capita: $356
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.63

Michigan

• Prizes per capita: $312
• Losses per capita: $143
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.69

Minnesota

• Prizes per capita: $93
• Losses per capita: $38
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.71

Mississippi

• Prizes per capita: $96
• Losses per capita: $50
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.66

Missouri

• Prizes per capita: $205
• Losses per capita: $71
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.74

Montana

• Prizes per capita: $38
• Losses per capita: $18
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.68

Nebraska

• Prizes per capita: $62
• Losses per capita: $35
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.64

New Hampshire

• Prizes per capita: $222
• Losses per capita: $109
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.67

New Jersey

• Prizes per capita: $242
• Losses per capita: $132
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.65

New Mexico

• Prizes per capita: $40
• Losses per capita: $33
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.55

New York

• Prizes per capita: $224
• Losses per capita: $167
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.57

North Carolina

• Prizes per capita: $230
• Losses per capita: $94
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.71

North Dakota

• Prizes per capita: $21
• Losses per capita: $16
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.56

Ohio

• Prizes per capita: $242
• Losses per capita: $76
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.76

Oklahoma

• Prizes per capita: $56
• Losses per capita: $31
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.65

Oregon

• Prizes per capita: $63
• Losses per capita: $180
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.26

Pennsylvania

• Prizes per capita: $273
• Losses per capita: $103
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.73

Rhode Island

• Prizes per capita: $172
• Losses per capita: $258
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.40

South Carolina

• Prizes per capita: $302
• Losses per capita: $123
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.71

South Dakota

• Prizes per capita: $51
• Losses per capita: $195
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.21

Tennessee

• Prizes per capita: $175
• Losses per capita: $75
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.70

Texas

• Prizes per capita: $180
• Losses per capita: $75
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.71

Vermont

• Prizes per capita: $167
• Losses per capita: $66
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.72

Virginia

• Prizes per capita: $254
• Losses per capita: $105
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.71

Washington

• Prizes per capita: $77
• Losses per capita: $33
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.70

West Virginia

• Prizes per capita: $88
• Losses per capita: $289
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.23

Wisconsin

• Prizes per capita: $95
• Losses per capita: $50
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.66

Wyoming

• Prizes per capita: $30
• Losses per capita: $21
• Prizes paid per dollar: $0.59

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