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How Many Us States Have Lotteries

4/9/2022

In the United States, lotteries are run by 48 jurisdictions: 45 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Lotteries are subject to the laws of and operated independently by each jurisdiction, and there is no national lottery organization. However, consortiums of state lotteries jointly organize games spanning larger geographical footprints, which in turn, carry larger jackpots. Two major lottery games, Mega Millions and Powerball, are both offered in nearly all jurisdictions that operate lotteries, and serve as de facto national lotteries.

Learn which US states are the luckiest in terms of winning lottery grand prizes. Despite the fact that lotteries provide a great source of government revenue for state programs, especially education, and a great amount of fun, there are 8 states that currently do not have state lotteries. The states that currently do not have lotteries are: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming.

The oldest continuing government-run lottery in the US was established in Puerto Rico in 1934; the oldest continuing lottery on the US mainland began in 1964 in New Hampshire. As of 2011, lotteries are established in 43 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. A number of states have started to roll out online lottery services over the last few years, whether it is a full range of games or a select few. Find out where you can play over the internet in the U.S. And which other states might be offering online lotteries soon. Today, 44 states and the District of Columbia have some sort of lottery. Each state has its own mix of instant win scratch tickets and traditional drawing-style games with large jackpots.

In fiscal 2018, Americans spent $77.7 billion on various lotteries, up about $5 billion from 2017.[1]

History[edit]

How many us states have a lottery

Historian Neal Millikan using newspaper advertisements in the colonial era found at least 392 lotteries were held in the 13 colonies.[2]

Lotteries were used not only as a form of entertainment but as a source of revenue to help fund the colonies. The financiers of Jamestown, Virginia, for instance, funded lotteries to raise money to support their colony.[3] These lotteries were quite sophisticated for the time period and even included instant winners.[3] Not long after, each of the 13 original colonies established a lottery system to raise revenue.[3]

In the early post-independence era, legislators commonly authorized lotteries to fund schools, roads, bridges, and other public works.[4] Evangelical reformers in the 1830s began denouncing lotteries on moral grounds and petitioned legislatures and constitutional conventions to ban them.[5] Recurring lottery scandals and a general backlash against legislative corruption following the Panic of 1837 also contributed to anti-lottery sentiments.[5] From 1844 to 1859 alone, 10 new state constitutions contained lottery bans.[5] By 1890, lotteries were prohibited in every state except Delaware and Louisiana.[6]

Lotteries in the United States did not always have sterling reputations. One early lottery in particular, the National Lottery, which was passed by Congress for the beautification of Washington, D.C. and was administered by the municipal government, was the subject of a major U.S. Supreme Court decision – Cohens v. Virginia.[7]

The lottery never paid out,[3][clarification needed] and it brought to light the prevalent issue of crookedness amongst the lotteries in the United States. The wave of anti-lottery protests finally broke through when, by 1860, all states had prohibited lotteries except Delaware, Missouri, and Kentucky.[3] The scarcity of lotteries in the United States meant that tickets were shipped across the country and eventually led to the creation of illegal lotteries.[3] In 1868, after years of illegal operation, the Louisiana State Lottery Company obtained a 25-year charter for its state lottery system.[3] The charter was passed by the Legislature due to immense bribing from a criminal syndicate in New York.[3] The Louisiana Lottery Company derived 90% of its revenue from tickets sold across state borders.[3] These continued issues of corruption led to the complete prohibition of lotteries in the United States by 1895.[3] It was discovered that the promoters of the Louisiana Lottery Company had accrued immense sums of money from illegitimate sources and that the Legislature was riddled with bribery.[3] Before the advent of government-sponsored lotteries, many illegal lotteries thrived, such as number games.

Modern era[edit]

The first modern government-run US lottery was established in Puerto Rico in 1934.[8] This was followed, decades later, by the New Hampshire lottery in 1964.Instant lottery tickets, also known as scratch cards, were introduced in the 1970s and have become a major source of lottery revenue. Individual lotteries often feature three-digit and four-digit games akin to numbers games; a five number game, and a six number game (the latter two often have a jackpot.) Some lotteries also offer at least one game similar to keno, and some offer video lottery terminals. Presently, many US lotteries support public education systems.

As of November 2019, lotteries are established in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; the most recent U.S. state to legalize a lottery is Mississippi, with lottery commission members receiving appointments on October 19, 2018.[9]

The first U.S. multi-state lottery game was formed in 1985 in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont; its flagship game remains Tri-State Megabucks. In 1988, the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) was formed with Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oregon, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia as its charter members; it is best known for Powerball, which was designed to create large jackpots. Another joint lottery, The Big Game (now called Mega Millions) was formed in 1996 by six lotteries as its charter members.

As of October 2020, each of the 44 state lotteries offer both Mega Millions and Powerball as a result of a 2009 agreement between the Mega Millions consortium and MUSL to cross-license their game to one another's members, although the two organizations continue to administer Mega Millions and Powerball separately. Mississippi was the most recent to join both, beginning sales in January 2020. Puerto Rico is the only jurisdiction not to offer both, as they do not offer Mega Millions.

State revenues[edit]

State lotteries have become a significant source of revenue for states, raising $17.6 billion in profits for state budgets in the 2009 fiscal year (FY) with 11 states collecting more revenue from their state lottery than from their state corporate income tax during FY2009.[10]

Lottery policies within states can have conflicting goals.[11] Given that instructions are passed down from state legislatures, lottery implementation is often expected to be carried out with reduced advertising and funding while still producing the same amount of revenue.[11] This issue led states to look for loopholes in the system. Massachusetts, for example, had its advertising budget dramatically cut, and therefore started using free-play coupons as money to pay for advertising.[11] This led to an IRS investigation into alleged non-reporting of income because the IRS considered the coupons to have monetary value.[11]

States with no lotteries[edit]

Among the states that do not have lotteries, Alabama and Utah cite religious objections.[12]Nevada's lucrative gambling industry has lobbied against a state lottery there, fearing the competition;[13] similarly, the Mississippi Gaming Commission expressed concern that a state lottery would constitute a 'competing force' for gambling dollars spent at Mississippi casinos. Despite this, in August 2018, Mississippi passed legislation to create a state lottery. GovernorPhil Bryant expressed his support for the lottery to fund transportation in the state and has indicated he will sign the bill. Sales, initially only scratch tickets, began on November 25, 2019. Mega Millions and Powerball tickets became available to the state on January 30, 2020.[14]

Alaska and Hawaii, being outside the contiguous United States, have not felt the pressure of losing sales to competitors.[12] However in February 2020, Alaska's governor Mike Dunleavy introduced legislation proposing the establishment of an Alaska Lottery Corporation, as part of an effort to overcome a budgetary deficit.[15]

Which states have lotteries

New technologies[edit]

In recent years, new applications such as Lottery.com and Jackpocket were created for people to purchase lotteries over their smartphones.[16]

U.S. lotteries[edit]

Map showing U.S. lottery jurisdictions (in blue) - States highlighted offer Mega Millions and Powerball as of January 2020; the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands each also offer both games
State or TerritoryLotteryYear of
First
Ticket Sales
Other
Joint
Games
AlabamaNo
AlaskaNo
ArizonaYes19810
ArkansasYes2009LFL
CaliforniaYes19850
ColoradoYes1983LFL
ConnecticutYes1972LFL
DelawareYes1974LA, LFL
District of ColumbiaYes1982LFL
FloridaYes1988C4L
GeorgiaYes1993C4L
HawaiiNo
IdahoYes1989LA, LFL
IllinoisYes19740
IndianaYes1989LFL
IowaYes1985LA, LFL
KansasYes19872by2, LA, LFL
KentuckyYes1989LFL
LouisianaYes19910
MaineYes1974LA, LFL, TSM
MarylandYes1973C4L
MassachusettsYes1971LFL
MichiganYes1972LFL
MinnesotaYes1988LA, LFL
MississippiYes20190
MissouriYes1986LFL
MontanaYes1986LA, LFL
NebraskaYes19932by2, LFL
NevadaNo
New HampshireYes1964LFL, TSM
New JerseyYes1969C4L
New MexicoYes1996LA
New YorkYes1967C4L
North CarolinaYes2005LFL
North DakotaYes20042by2, LA, LFL
OhioYes1974LFL
OklahomaYes2005LA, LFL
OregonYes19850
PennsylvaniaYes1972C4L
Puerto RicoYes19340
Rhode IslandYes1974LFL
South CarolinaYes2002LFL
South DakotaYes1987LA, LFL
TennesseeYes2004C4L, LA
TexasYes19920
UtahNo
U.S. Virgin IslandsYes19370
VermontYes1978LFL, TSM
VirginiaYes1988C4L
WashingtonYes19820
West VirginiaYes1984LA
WisconsinYes19880
WyomingYes2013LFL
Key

2by2 = 2by2
C4L = Cash4Life
LA = Lotto America
LFL = Lucky for Life
TSM = Tri-State Megabucks consortium
0 = only multi-jurisdictional games are Mega Millions and/or Powerball

Other joint U.S. lotteries[edit]

These games also are offered by multiple lotteries.[17] Some of these games feature a shared progressive jackpot (noted by °):

Have
  • 2by2 (3 lotteries): Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota
  • Cash4Life (9): Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia
  • Lotto America° (13): Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia
  • Lucky for Life (26): Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming
  • Tri-State Lottery (Megabucks Plus°, Pick 3 (Day & Night), Pick 4 (Day & Night), Fast Play°): Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont

State Lotteries Usa

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Horton, Alex (October 18, 2018). 'How Mega Millions and Powerball changed the odds to create monster jackpots'. The Washington Post. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  2. ^Millikan, Neal (2011). Lotteries in Colonial America. Routledge. p. 2. ISBN9781136674464.
  3. ^ abcdefghijkRoger Dunstan (January 1997). 'History of Gambling in the United States'. Archived from the original on September 10, 2010.
  4. ^McMaster, John Bach (1911). A History of the People of the United States: From the Revolution to the Civil War. Appleton and Company. p. 588.
  5. ^ abcSzymanski, Ann-Marie E. (2003). Pathways to Prohibition: Radicals, Moderates, and Social Movement Outcomes. Duke University Press. pp. 95–96. ISBN978-0-8223-3169-8.
  6. ^John Houston Merrill; Charles Frederic Williams; Thomas Johnson Michie; David Shephard Garland (1890). The American and English Encyclopædia of Law: Least to Mail. Edward Thompson Company. p. 1172.
  7. ^Jean Edward Smith, John Marshall: Definer Of A Nation, New York: Henry Holt & Company, 1996, pp. 456-459
  8. ^'Ley Núm. 74 de 2006 -Ley del Programa de Ayuda a Jugadores Compulsivos de Puerto'. Lexjuris.com. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  9. ^Howard, Morgan. 'Gov. Bryant appoints MS Lottery Corporation board of directors'. wlox.com. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  10. ^'U.S. lotteries and the state taxman'. Reuters. July 15, 2011.
  11. ^ abcdNGISC (August 3, 1999). 'National Gambling Impact Study Commission Lotteries'.
  12. ^ ab'Five states that don't have lotteries'. Playport. July 30, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  13. ^'Knowing Vegas: Why doesn't Nevada have a state lottery?'. Las Vegas Review-Journal. April 11, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  14. ^'Mississippi lottery bill passes House, headed to governor'. WAPT. Associated Press. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  15. ^Maguire, Sean. 'Governor proposes independent corporation to run an Alaska lottery'. ktuu.com. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  16. ^'Jackpocket App Allows You to Buy Lottery Tickets Using Your Phone'. ABC News. September 29, 2015.
  17. ^'Games'. Multi-State Lottery Association. Archived from the original on May 19, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2016.

Further reading[edit]

  • Dasgupta, Anisha S. 'Public Finance and the Fortunes of the Early American Lottery.' QLR 24 (2005): 227+ Online
  • Millikan, Neal. Lotteries in Colonial America (2011). excerpt
  • Watson, Alan D. 'The Lottery in Early North Carolina.' North Carolina Historical Review 69.4 (1992): 365-387. Online

List Of United States Lotteries

Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lotteries_in_the_United_States&oldid=1009763684'
Despite the fact that lotteries provide a great source of government revenue for state programs, especially education, and a great amount of fun, there are 8 states that currently do not have state lotteries. The states that currently do not have lotteries are: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. It is evident why most of these states continue to resist implementing a state lottery. For example, in Alabama, Mississippi and Utah, there is considerable religious opposition to all gambling. In Nevada, the casino industry opposes the lottery because of the competition it would create. Both Alaska and Hawaii are isolated from other states and therefore need not worry about losing money to nearby states. Lottery supporters in all eight of these states remain hopeful that a state lottery will eventually be put into place. If this happens, these 8 states could not only create their own exciting lotteries, but also participate in multi-state games such as Powerball and Mega Millions.
Alabama
In 1999, a constitutional amendment to allow a State Lottery was defeated in the state of Alabama. Approximately 54% of voters opposed the lottery referendum while 46%, supported it. The total voter turnout was estimated at 50%. There is a strong Christian argument against instating the lottery in the state of Alabama. There has been little talk since 1999 about another state lottery proposal.
Alaska
In 2003 there was a lot of buzz about gambling proposals in the state of Alaska. However, unlike Alabama, Alaska never brought a state lottery proposal to ballot. There has been little talk lately of implementing a state lottery in Alaska.
Arkansas
There is much talk in Arkansas about instating a state lottery. In fact, on April 13th, 2008 Lt. Gov. Bill Halter announced that enough signatures had been collected to put a lottery proposal on the Nov. 4 ballot. The state lottery proposal in Arkansas is described as the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery. The proceeds of the lottery would be used to fund scholarships and grants to citizens of Arkansas who are enrolled in public and private nonprofit colleges and universities located within the State. In 1996 and 2000, Arkansas voters rejected state lotteries whose proposals also included provisions for casinos. It seems the Arkansas citizens will get another chance to vote on an Arkansas state lottery at the end of this year.
Hawaii
Hawaii also does not have a state lottery. Like Alaska, there has been little talk lately in Hawaii about instating a state lottery. There are few arguments for or against a state lottery in Hawaii. Politicians' main argument against a state lottery centers around the idea that it is unnecessary and is not needed for the education system to thrive.
Mississippi
While Mississippi does have casinos, it does not have a state lottery. In fact, proposals for a state lottery tend to be defeated in Mississippi because they would take away from casino profit. In 1990 a proposal for a state lottery was defeated in Mississippi. Like Alaska and Hawaii, there is little talk lately about the prospect of a state lottery in Mississippi.
Nevada
Like Mississippi, state legislatures have continuously voted down the state lottery proposals because it will interfere with the casino industry. In fact, a proposal for a Nevada state lottery has failed 24 times since 1975, and the people have never gotten the chance to decide. In 2007, on the 25th try, a bill made it through the House of Representatives but it has not been acted on in the senate yet. This bill would allow voters to decide the issue, although the legislature would have to approve the bill again in 2009 before it would appear on the ballot in 2010. There is constant talk in Nevada about implementing a state lottery.
Utah
Utah is the only state that currently does not have a lottery that is not seriously consider implementing a state lottery. Like Mississippi and Alabama, there is widespread religious opposition to gambling. There is little talk lately of putting into place a state lottery in Utah where gambling is completely banned.
Wyoming
Like the preceding seven states, Wyoming does not have a state lottery. For over ten years, lawmakers in Wyoming have been considering a state lottery. A proposed bill was narrowly voted down in 2005 by the Wyoming House of Representatives. In February of 2007 a bill to introduce a state lottery was voted down again by the Wyoming House of Representatives by a vote of 31-27. The talk of a Wyoming state lottery continues and supporters are hopeful that a lottery will soon be put into place.
How You Can Play the Lottery
If you live in any of these non-lottery states and wish to play this or any other state lottery, simply log onto official state lottery websites. These sites explain how to purchase tickets, and often times tickets can be purchased online so you can play most state lotteries from the comfort of your own home. You can also refer to official state websites for custom lottery news. Many sites offer lottery number generators to help make your lottery number picking easier for you. If you would like to purchase your tickets in person, you can also visit a local lottery terminal. No matter how you choose to purchase your tickets, or which tickets you choose to buy, you're bound to have some fun!