New York Loves the Lottery Maybe a Little Too Much

No real big surprise but people in New York are fans of the lottery. We spend over $455 each per year on tickets.That is the fifth highest in the country, so we’re definitely in it to win it (or at least to try).

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Big Bucks Come with Big Losses

The Empire State brings in around $9 billion a year from the lottery, which ranks us third nationwide. Here’s the thing: New Yorkers also lose over $205 each on average playing the lottery. That’s the seventh highest loss in the country, so while we dream of hitting it big, many of us are just throwing money away.

Half of Americans Are Playing

It’s not just New Yorkers because around 50% of Americans buy lottery tickets every year. All together, the country spends over $100 billion on them. On average, people in states with lotteries spend $321 each but New Yorkers are spending way more than that.

The Odds? Not Great

The chances of winning the big prize are super slim. So when you’re buying tickets, you’re mostly just paying for the hope that maybe you’ll get lucky. Spoiler: most of us won’t.

What Else Could You Do With That Cash?

Instead of dropping hundreds of dollars a year on tickets, use that money for something else like saving up for a trip, enjoying a nice dinner, or just having extra cash on hand.

Keep Playing if You Want, But Play Smart

The lottery can be fun and exciting, and someone’s gotta win...eventually. Be smart and don’t bet the farm on it, and don’t spend more than you can afford to lose. If you’re buying tickets in New York, good luck! Just remember, it’s about having some fun, not making a fortune overnight.

If you want to see the lottery income by state or the lottery prize winnings and losing, go here. As of June 30th, these NY Scratch Off Games had some top prizes left: