Complete guide to state lotteries, Powerball, Mega Millions, and multi-state games across the United States
States with Lotteries
Annual Lottery Sales (2024)
Largest Jackpot Ever
Raised Since 1964
Two major multi-state lottery games are available in 47 jurisdictions (45 states plus Washington D.C. and U.S. Virgin Islands):
Launched: April 1992
Drawings: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday at 10:59 PM ET
Ticket Price: $2 per play
Odds of Jackpot: 1 in 292,201,338
Largest Jackpot: $2.04 billion (November 2022, California)
Official Site: powerball.com
Launched: September 1996 (as The Big Game)
Drawings: Tuesday, Friday at 11:00 PM ET
Ticket Price: $2 per play
Odds of Jackpot: 1 in 302,575,350
Largest Jackpot: $1.602 billion (August 2023, Florida)
Official Site: megamillions.com
Click on your state to visit the official lottery website for results, games, and ticket information:
Five U.S. states do not have state-run lotteries:
Strong religious objections from conservative Christian population. Despite periodic legislative efforts, lottery initiatives have consistently faced resistance.
Significant tax revenue from oil industry has historically reduced need for lottery revenue. Recent budget deficits have prompted new proposals for an Alaska Lottery Corporation.
Prohibits all forms of gambling. Opponents argue legalized gambling would disproportionately harm low-income communities and encourage gambling addiction.
The powerful casino industry has blocked public lotteries, viewing convenience store lottery ticket sales as direct competition to casino gambling.
State constitution bans "games of chance." The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon church) has historically opposed all forms of gambling.
| Rank | Amount | Game | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.04 Billion | Powerball | Nov 7, 2022 | Altadena, California |
| 2 | $1.765 Billion | Powerball | Oct 11, 2023 | Frazier Park, California |
| 3 | $1.602 Billion | Mega Millions | Aug 8, 2023 | Neptune Beach, Florida |
| 4 | $1.586 Billion | Powerball | Jan 13, 2016 | CA, FL, TN (3 winners) |
| 5 | $1.537 Billion | Mega Millions | Oct 23, 2018 | Simpsonville, South Carolina |
| 6 | $1.350 Billion | Mega Millions | Jan 13, 2023 | Maine (first jackpot win) |
| 7 | $1.337 Billion | Mega Millions | Jul 29, 2022 | Des Plaines, Illinois |
| 8 | $1.326 Billion | Powerball | Apr 7, 2024 | Oregon |
| 9 | $1.13 Billion | Mega Millions | Mar 26, 2024 | New Jersey |
| 10 | $1.08 Billion | Powerball | Jul 19, 2023 | Los Angeles, California |
All 10 largest jackpots have exceeded $1 billion since 2016. Jackpot sizes have increased due to higher ticket prices, more participating states, and reduced winning odds.
Available in: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington D.C., West Virginia
Games: Powerball, Mega Millions, state games, digital scratch-offs (select states)
Age: 18+ (21+ in Arizona, 19+ in Nebraska)
Some states allow online ticket purchases directly through their official lottery websites:
In fiscal year 2024, U.S. lotteries transferred $30.6 billion to beneficiaries. Most states allocate lottery revenue to education and public programs:
New York
Public education funding
Texas
Foundation School Fund
Massachusetts
Municipal aid & education
Lotteries operate in 48 U.S. jurisdictions: 45 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Five states do not have lotteries: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah. Each jurisdiction operates its lottery independently under its own laws - there is no national lottery organization in the United States.
Both are multi-state lottery games available in 47 jurisdictions with $2 ticket prices. Key differences:
Since 2010, both games are available in the same states after a cross-sell expansion agreement.
The largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history was $2.04 billion, won in the Powerball drawing on November 7, 2022. A single ticket purchased in Altadena, California matched all numbers. The winner, Edwin Castro, chose the lump sum payment of $997.6 million. This broke the previous record of $1.586 billion from 2016, which was split among three winners in California, Florida, and Tennessee.
No. You must be physically present within a state's borders to purchase lottery tickets for that state, whether in-person or online. Lottery apps like Jackpocket use GPS verification to confirm your location. If you travel to another state, you can purchase tickets there while visiting, but you cannot buy tickets remotely from home for a different state's lottery.
Nevada's powerful casino industry has successfully blocked public lottery legislation for decades. Casino owners view lottery ticket sales in convenience stores and grocery stores as direct competition to their gambling operations. While Nevada allows extensive casino gambling, slot machines, and sports betting, the state legislature has consistently rejected lottery proposals due to casino industry lobbying and concerns about cannibalizing existing gambling revenue.
Lottery odds vary by game:
Jackpot odds have decreased over time as games added more numbers to create larger, more newsworthy prizes.
Lottery revenue distribution varies by state, but typically includes:
In FY 2024, U.S. lotteries transferred $30.6 billion to beneficiaries. Since New Hampshire launched the first modern state lottery in 1964, lotteries have raised over $644 billion for government programs nationwide.
The minimum age to purchase lottery tickets varies by state:
You must meet the minimum age requirement for the state where you are purchasing tickets. Retailers are required to verify age, and online lottery apps use age verification during account registration.
Last updated on November 27, 2025