How Much is Spent on the Lottery State by State

THE SUCKER BIGGEST LOTTERY SPENDING BY STATE The Mega Millions jackpot hit $640 million last week-the largest amount ever. The chance at such an enormous sum convinced even the atypical lottery ticket buyer to line up at their local convenience store. And the fact that the chances of winning were 176 million to 1 didn't stop anyone. Using data compiled by Bloomberg (who also coined the term Sucker Index), we compare how much people spend on the lottery in each state with how much they win, and look at their ranking in the Sucker Index. $ $ $$ $ $ $ PAYING FOR A DREAM $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Lottery players in some states spend an incredible amount of money on the game, while others are a bit more conservative. AVERAGE LOTTERY LOTTERY SPENDING PER ADULT ($) / SPENDING AS % OF PERSONAL INCOME PER ADULT SPENDING BY LOTTERY $0 - $99.99 $100 - $199.99 $200 - $299.99 $300- $399.99 $400 - $499.99 $500+ NO STATE LOTTERY PLAYERS IN 2010 $95.47 $227.44 0.41% 0.17% $205.95 $61.18 $46.72 $196.33 0.39% 0.44% 0.13% 0.08% $108.18 $124.13 0.22% $860.70 0.23% $129.37 $74.49 $110.63 $450.47 1.3% 0.29% 0.22% 0.72% 0.14% $312.91 $283.15 N/A 0.68% 0.52% $110.54 $309.35 $95.51 0.22% 0.59% $361.56 0.5% 0.18% $282.79 N/A $225.92 $151.84 0.59% N/A 0.41% 0.33% $123.65 0.3% $233.45 $108.77 $131.77 $387.28 0.19% 0.23% $110.72 $212.97 0.58% $218.16 0.4% 0.21 % 0.44% 0.51% $195.94 $197.58 0.38% $234.64 0.42 % $70.79 $115.79 0.25 % 0.51% $95.07 $174.06 $284.12 $386.05 0.6% 0.15% 0.21% 0.4% 0.66% $470.73 N/A N/A 1% $204.51 $109.03 N/A 0.22% 0.39% $263.56 0.54% N/A $ $$$$$ $ THE BIGGEST SUCKER * $ $ $ $ $ $ Determined by subtracting the total dollar amount of prizes awarded in each state from the total dollar amount of ticket sales, then dividing by the total personal income of the state's residents, the biggest suckers are in the state of Georgia. Georgians spend the most and receive the least winnings in return. Where do the rest of the states fall in the Sucker Index? THE NON SUCKER: LIGHT SUCKER: MODERATE SUCKER: TRUE SUCKER: NO STATE SUCKER INDEX 0.0 - 9.9 10.0 - 19.9 20.0 - 29.9 30.0 + LOTTERY 16.5 6.9 14.4 17 4. 7.5 8.4 36.5 11.6 6.1 9.5 30 27.5 20.2 N/A 23 7.5 19.6 N/A 23.2 N/A 16.1 12.7 12.2 24.2 8.7 16.3 9.1 15.4 21.3 17.8 17.4 17.7 9.8 9.4 14.1 25 23.5 37 N/A N/A N/A 15 10.7 21.4 N/A SOURCE: U.S. Census 2010, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Fiscal Year 2010 Annual Reports of state lottery commissions, Bloomberg.com mint.com Data does not include video lottery games. THE SUCKER BIGGEST LOTTERY SPENDING BY STATE * * * The Mega Millions jackpot hit $640 million last week-the largest amount ever. The chance at such an enormous sum convinced even the atypical lottery ticket buyer to line up at their local convenience store. And the fact that the chances of winning were 176 million to 1 didn't stop anyone. Using data compiled by Bloomberg (who also coined the term Sucker Index), we compare how much people spend on the lottery in each state with how much they win, and look at their ranking in the Sucker Index. $ $ $$ $ $ $ PAYING FOR A DREAM $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Lottery players in some states spend an incredible amount of money on the game, while others are a bit more conservative. AVERAGE LOTTERY LOTTERY SPENDING PER ADULT ($) / SPENDING AS % OF PERSONAL INCOME PER ADULT SPENDING BY LOTTERY $0 - $99.99 $100 - $199.99 $200 - $299.99 $300- $399.99 $400 - $499.99 $500+ NO STATE LOTTERY PLAYERS IN 2010 $95.47 $227.44 0.41% 0.17% $205.95 $61.18 $46.72 $196.33 0.39% 0.44% 0.13% 0.08% $108.18 $124.13 0.22% $860.70 0.23% $129.37 $74.49 $110.63 $450.47 1.3% 0.29% 0.22% 0.72% 0.14% $312.91 $283.15 N/A 0.68% 0.52% $110.54 $309.35 $95.51 0.22% 0.59% $361.56 0.5% 0.18% $282.79 N/A $225.92 $151.84 0.59% N/A 0.41% 0.33% $123.65 0.3% $233.45 $108.77 $131.77 $387.28 0.19% 0.23% $110.72 $212.97 0.58% $218.16 0.4% 0.21 % 0.44% 0.51% $195.94 $197.58 0.38% $234.64 0.42 % $70.79 $115.79 0.25 % 0.51% $95.07 $174.06 $284.12 $386.05 0.6% 0.15% 0.21% 0.4% 0.66% $470.73 N/A N/A 1% $204.51 $109.03 N/A 0.22% 0.39% $263.56 0.54% N/A $ $$$$$ $ THE BIGGEST SUCKER * $ $ $ $ $ $ Determined by subtracting the total dollar amount of prizes awarded in each state from the total dollar amount of ticket sales, then dividing by the total personal income of the state's residents, the biggest suckers are in the state of Georgia. Georgians spend the most and receive the least winnings in return. Where do the rest of the states fall in the Sucker Index? THE NON SUCKER: LIGHT SUCKER: MODERATE SUCKER: TRUE SUCKER: NO STATE SUCKER INDEX 0.0 - 9.9 10.0 - 19.9 20.0 - 29.9 30.0 + LOTTERY 16.5 6.9 14.4 17 4. 7.5 8.4 36.5 11.6 6.1 9.5 30 27.5 20.2 N/A 23 7.5 19.6 N/A 23.2 N/A 16.1 12.7 12.2 24.2 8.7 16.3 9.1 15.4 21.3 17.8 17.4 17.7 9.8 7 9.4 14.1 25 23.5 37 N/A N/A N/A 15 10.7 21.4 N/A SOURCE: U.S. Census 2010, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Fiscal Year 2010 Annual Reports of state lottery commissions, Bloomberg.com mint.com Data does not include video lottery games. THE SUCKER BIGGEST LOTTERY SPENDING BY STATE * * * The Mega Millions jackpot hit $640 million last week-the largest amount ever. The chance at such an enormous sum convinced even the atypical lottery ticket buyer to line up at their local convenience store. And the fact that the chances of winning were 176 million to 1 didn't stop anyone. Using data compiled by Bloomberg (who also coined the term Sucker Index), we compare how much people spend on the lottery in each state with how much they win, and look at their ranking in the Sucker Index. $ $ $$ $ $ $ PAYING FOR A DREAM $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Lottery players in some states spend an incredible amount of money on the game, while others are a bit more conservative. AVERAGE LOTTERY LOTTERY SPENDING PER ADULT ($) / SPENDING AS % OF PERSONAL INCOME PER ADULT SPENDING BY LOTTERY $0 - $99.99 $100 - $199.99 $200 - $299.99 $300- $399.99 $400 - $499.99 $500+ NO STATE LOTTERY PLAYERS IN 2010 $95.47 $227.44 0.41% 0.17% $205.95 $61.18 $46.72 $196.33 0.39% 0.44% 0.13% 0.08% $108.18 $124.13 0.22% $860.70 0.23% $129.37 $74.49 $110.63 $450.47 1.3% 0.29% 0.22% 0.72% 0.14% $312.91 $283.15 N/A 0.68% 0.52% $110.54 $309.35 $95.51 0.22% 0.59% $361.56 0.5% 0.18% $282.79 N/A $225.92 $151.84 0.59% N/A 0.41% 0.33% $123.65 0.3% $233.45 $108.77 $131.77 $387.28 0.19% 0.23% $110.72 $212.97 0.58% $218.16 0.4% 0.21 % 0.44% 0.51% $195.94 $197.58 0.38% $234.64 0.42 % $70.79 $115.79 0.25 % 0.51% $95.07 $174.06 $284.12 $386.05 0.6% 0.15% 0.21% 0.4% 0.66% $470.73 N/A N/A 1% $204.51 $109.03 N/A 0.22% 0.39% $263.56 0.54% N/A $ $$$$$ $ THE BIGGEST SUCKER * $ $ $ $ $ $ Determined by subtracting the total dollar amount of prizes awarded in each state from the total dollar amount of ticket sales, then dividing by the total personal income of the state's residents, the biggest suckers are in the state of Georgia. Georgians spend the most and receive the least winnings in return. Where do the rest of the states fall in the Sucker Index? THE NON SUCKER: LIGHT SUCKER: MODERATE SUCKER: TRUE SUCKER: NO STATE SUCKER INDEX 0.0 - 9.9 10.0 - 19.9 20.0 - 29.9 30.0 + LOTTERY 16.5 6.9 14.4 17 4. 7.5 8.4 36.5 11.6 6.1 9.5 30 27.5 20.2 N/A 23 7.5 19.6 N/A 23.2 N/A 16.1 12.7 12.2 24.2 8.7 16.3 9.1 15.4 21.3 17.8 17.4 17.7 9.8 7 9.4 14.1 25 23.5 37 N/A N/A N/A 15 10.7 21.4 N/A SOURCE: U.S. Census 2010, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Fiscal Year 2010 Annual Reports of state lottery commissions, Bloomberg.com mint.com Data does not include video lottery games. THE SUCKER BIGGEST LOTTERY SPENDING BY STATE * * * The Mega Millions jackpot hit $640 million last week-the largest amount ever. The chance at such an enormous sum convinced even the atypical lottery ticket buyer to line up at their local convenience store. And the fact that the chances of winning were 176 million to 1 didn't stop anyone. Using data compiled by Bloomberg (who also coined the term Sucker Index), we compare how much people spend on the lottery in each state with how much they win, and look at their ranking in the Sucker Index. $ $ $$ $ $ $ PAYING FOR A DREAM $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Lottery players in some states spend an incredible amount of money on the game, while others are a bit more conservative. AVERAGE LOTTERY LOTTERY SPENDING PER ADULT ($) / SPENDING AS % OF PERSONAL INCOME PER ADULT SPENDING BY LOTTERY $0 - $99.99 $100 - $199.99 $200 - $299.99 $300- $399.99 $400 - $499.99 $500+ NO STATE LOTTERY PLAYERS IN 2010 $95.47 $227.44 0.41% 0.17% $205.95 $61.18 $46.72 $196.33 0.39% 0.44% 0.13% 0.08% $108.18 $124.13 0.22% $860.70 0.23% $129.37 $74.49 $110.63 $450.47 1.3% 0.29% 0.22% 0.72% 0.14% $312.91 $283.15 N/A 0.68% 0.52% $110.54 $309.35 $95.51 0.22% 0.59% $361.56 0.5% 0.18% $282.79 N/A $225.92 $151.84 0.59% N/A 0.41% 0.33% $123.65 0.3% $233.45 $108.77 $131.77 $387.28 0.19% 0.23% $110.72 $212.97 0.58% $218.16 0.4% 0.21 % 0.44% 0.51% $195.94 $197.58 0.38% $234.64 0.42 % $70.79 $115.79 0.25 % 0.51% $95.07 $174.06 $284.12 $386.05 0.6% 0.15% 0.21% 0.4% 0.66% $470.73 N/A N/A 1% $204.51 $109.03 N/A 0.22% 0.39% $263.56 0.54% N/A $ $$$$$ $ THE BIGGEST SUCKER * $ $ $ $ $ $ Determined by subtracting the total dollar amount of prizes awarded in each state from the total dollar amount of ticket sales, then dividing by the total personal income of the state's residents, the biggest suckers are in the state of Georgia. Georgians spend the most and receive the least winnings in return. Where do the rest of the states fall in the Sucker Index? THE NON SUCKER: LIGHT SUCKER: MODERATE SUCKER: TRUE SUCKER: NO STATE SUCKER INDEX 0.0 - 9.9 10.0 - 19.9 20.0 - 29.9 30.0 + LOTTERY 16.5 6.9 14.4 17 4. 7.5 8.4 36.5 11.6 6.1 9.5 30 27.5 20.2 N/A 23 7.5 19.6 N/A 23.2 N/A 16.1 12.7 12.2 24.2 8.7 16.3 9.1 15.4 21.3 17.8 17.4 17.7 9.8 7 9.4 14.1 25 23.5 37 N/A N/A N/A 15 10.7 21.4 N/A SOURCE: U.S. Census 2010, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Fiscal Year 2010 Annual Reports of state lottery commissions, Bloomberg.com mint.com Data does not include video lottery games. THE SUCKER BIGGEST LOTTERY SPENDING BY STATE * * * The Mega Millions jackpot hit $640 million last week-the largest amount ever. The chance at such an enormous sum convinced even the atypical lottery ticket buyer to line up at their local convenience store. And the fact that the chances of winning were 176 million to 1 didn't stop anyone. Using data compiled by Bloomberg (who also coined the term Sucker Index), we compare how much people spend on the lottery in each state with how much they win, and look at their ranking in the Sucker Index. $ $ $$ $ $ $ PAYING FOR A DREAM $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Lottery players in some states spend an incredible amount of money on the game, while others are a bit more conservative. AVERAGE LOTTERY LOTTERY SPENDING PER ADULT ($) / SPENDING AS % OF PERSONAL INCOME PER ADULT SPENDING BY LOTTERY $0 - $99.99 $100 - $199.99 $200 - $299.99 $300- $399.99 $400 - $499.99 $500+ NO STATE LOTTERY PLAYERS IN 2010 $95.47 $227.44 0.41% 0.17% $205.95 $61.18 $46.72 $196.33 0.39% 0.44% 0.13% 0.08% $108.18 $124.13 0.22% $860.70 0.23% $129.37 $74.49 $110.63 $450.47 1.3% 0.29% 0.22% 0.72% 0.14% $312.91 $283.15 N/A 0.68% 0.52% $110.54 $309.35 $95.51 0.22% 0.59% $361.56 0.5% 0.18% $282.79 N/A $225.92 $151.84 0.59% N/A 0.41% 0.33% $123.65 0.3% $233.45 $108.77 $131.77 $387.28 0.19% 0.23% $110.72 $212.97 0.58% $218.16 0.4% 0.21 % 0.44% 0.51% $195.94 $197.58 0.38% $234.64 0.42 % $70.79 $115.79 0.25 % 0.51% $95.07 $174.06 $284.12 $386.05 0.6% 0.15% 0.21% 0.4% 0.66% $470.73 N/A N/A 1% $204.51 $109.03 N/A 0.22% 0.39% $263.56 0.54% N/A $ $$$$$ $ THE BIGGEST SUCKER * $ $ $ $ $ $ Determined by subtracting the total dollar amount of prizes awarded in each state from the total dollar amount of ticket sales, then dividing by the total personal income of the state's residents, the biggest suckers are in the state of Georgia. Georgians spend the most and receive the least winnings in return. Where do the rest of the states fall in the Sucker Index? THE NON SUCKER: LIGHT SUCKER: MODERATE SUCKER: TRUE SUCKER: NO STATE SUCKER INDEX 0.0 - 9.9 10.0 - 19.9 20.0 - 29.9 30.0 + LOTTERY 16.5 6.9 14.4 17 4. 7.5 8.4 36.5 11.6 6.1 9.5 30 27.5 20.2 N/A 23 7.5 19.6 N/A 23.2 N/A 16.1 12.7 12.2 24.2 8.7 16.3 9.1 15.4 21.3 17.8 17.4 17.7 9.8 7 9.4 14.1 25 23.5 37 N/A N/A N/A 15 10.7 21.4 N/A SOURCE: U.S. Census 2010, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Fiscal Year 2010 Annual Reports of state lottery commissions, Bloomberg.com mint.com Data does not include video lottery games. THE SUCKER BIGGEST LOTTERY SPENDING BY STATE * * * The Mega Millions jackpot hit $640 million last week-the largest amount ever. The chance at such an enormous sum convinced even the atypical lottery ticket buyer to line up at their local convenience store. And the fact that the chances of winning were 176 million to 1 didn't stop anyone. Using data compiled by Bloomberg (who also coined the term Sucker Index), we compare how much people spend on the lottery in each state with how much they win, and look at their ranking in the Sucker Index. $ $ $$ $ $ $ PAYING FOR A DREAM $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Lottery players in some states spend an incredible amount of money on the game, while others are a bit more conservative. AVERAGE LOTTERY LOTTERY SPENDING PER ADULT ($) / SPENDING AS % OF PERSONAL INCOME PER ADULT SPENDING BY LOTTERY $0 - $99.99 $100 - $199.99 $200 - $299.99 $300- $399.99 $400 - $499.99 $500+ NO STATE LOTTERY PLAYERS IN 2010 $95.47 $227.44 0.41% 0.17% $205.95 $61.18 $46.72 $196.33 0.39% 0.44% 0.13% 0.08% $108.18 $124.13 0.22% $860.70 0.23% $129.37 $74.49 $110.63 $450.47 1.3% 0.29% 0.22% 0.72% 0.14% $312.91 $283.15 N/A 0.68% 0.52% $110.54 $309.35 $95.51 0.22% 0.59% $361.56 0.5% 0.18% $282.79 N/A $225.92 $151.84 0.59% N/A 0.41% 0.33% $123.65 0.3% $233.45 $108.77 $131.77 $387.28 0.19% 0.23% $110.72 $212.97 0.58% $218.16 0.4% 0.21 % 0.44% 0.51% $195.94 $197.58 0.38% $234.64 0.42 % $70.79 $115.79 0.25 % 0.51% $95.07 $174.06 $284.12 $386.05 0.6% 0.15% 0.21% 0.4% 0.66% $470.73 N/A N/A 1% $204.51 $109.03 N/A 0.22% 0.39% $263.56 0.54% N/A $ $$$$$ $ THE BIGGEST SUCKER * $ $ $ $ $ $ Determined by subtracting the total dollar amount of prizes awarded in each state from the total dollar amount of ticket sales, then dividing by the total personal income of the state's residents, the biggest suckers are in the state of Georgia. Georgians spend the most and receive the least winnings in return. Where do the rest of the states fall in the Sucker Index? THE NON SUCKER: LIGHT SUCKER: MODERATE SUCKER: TRUE SUCKER: NO STATE SUCKER INDEX 0.0 - 9.9 10.0 - 19.9 20.0 - 29.9 30.0 + LOTTERY 16.5 6.9 14.4 17 4. 7.5 8.4 36.5 11.6 6.1 9.5 30 27.5 20.2 N/A 23 7.5 19.6 N/A 23.2 N/A 16.1 12.7 12.2 24.2 8.7 16.3 9.1 15.4 21.3 17.8 17.4 17.7 9.8 7 9.4 14.1 25 23.5 37 N/A N/A N/A 15 10.7 21.4 N/A SOURCE: U.S. Census 2010, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Fiscal Year 2010 Annual Reports of state lottery commissions, Bloomberg.com mint.com Data does not include video lottery games.