Economy

Lottery sales explode amid gambling expansion

Census Bureau data shows sales nearly doubled between 2008 and 2024.
Powerball lottery tickets are displayed for customers to fill out at a convenience store on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Americans spent more than $100 billion on lottery tickets in 2024, netting tens of billions of dollars for state governments even amid the proliferation of internet and mobile sports wagering options that have come online in recent years.

New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows lottery ticket sales nearly doubled between 2008 and 2024, from $52.8 billion to $104.7 billion. States paid out $70.2 billion in jackpots and lesser prizes, while keeping $34.5 billion in revenue.

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