Lottery Ticket Sales Soar Nationwide

See how much players won in your state as the share kept by states declines.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 12:35am

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life featuring a stack of lottery tickets in various colors and denominations, along with a few gold coins, all arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background, conceptually representing the abstract ideas of risk, reward, and the allure of hitting the jackpot.As lottery ticket sales soar nationwide, the declining share of revenue retained by states raises questions about the financial benefits of these games.NYC Today

New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that lottery ticket sales in the United States nearly doubled between 2008 and 2024, reaching $104.7 billion in total sales last year. However, the percentage of revenue that states are keeping for themselves has steadily declined over that same period, from around 40% in 2008 to just one-third in 2024.

Why it matters

The surge in lottery ticket sales reflects growing consumer demand for lottery games, but the declining share of revenue retained by states raises questions about whether lotteries are providing the expected financial benefits to state budgets and programs. This data provides insight into the evolving lottery industry and its impact on state finances.

The details

The Census Bureau's figures show that while total lottery ticket sales have skyrocketed, the percentage of revenue that states are paying out in prizes has increased. In 2008, states kept around 40% of lottery revenue, but by 2024 that figure had dropped to just one-third. This means players are winning a larger share of the money spent on tickets. The top-selling lottery states in 2024 were California ($9.28 billion in sales), New York, and Florida.

  • Lottery ticket sales data is from 2008 to 2024, the most recent year available.
  • The Census Bureau released the latest lottery sales figures in April 2026.

The players

U.S. Census Bureau

The federal agency that collects and publishes data on the U.S. economy, including lottery ticket sales.

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The takeaway

The dramatic rise in lottery ticket sales across the country, coupled with states retaining a declining share of revenue, suggests players are winning bigger prizes but also raises questions about whether lotteries are providing the expected financial benefits to state budgets and programs.