Study reveals America’s holiday lottery traditions

As the year wraps up, people aren’t just dreaming of a White Christmas—they’re more so hoping for a golden ticket to ring in the new year! End-of-year lotteries are as much a holiday classic as mistletoe and New Year’s resolutions. But how much do we really spend on these? And, most importantly, how keen are we to give someone a lottery ticket that could make them the next millionaire? Deadspin surveyed 2,000 Americans from across the country to find out.

Some of the findings:

• Americans spend an average of $77 on holiday lottery tickets per person, with New Jersey leading the pack at $265, while Louisiana sticks to a modest $22 per person.
• 13% avoid gifting holiday lottery tickets to others, fearing jealousy or awkward relationships.
• 1 in 7 Americans wouldn’t share their winnings with the person who gave them the ticket if they won.
• Paying off debt is the top choice for what people would do first if they won $1 million.

Nearly 7 in 10 Americans take part in holiday lotteries

Americans aren’t opposed to a little end-of-year lottery fun. Our research reveals that 68% of people regularly participate in one or more holiday lotteries. Similarly, 68% of them buy more tickets at the end of the year than at any other time. We asked respondents what motivates them to join these lotteries, and it turns out that the main reason is simply because it’s fun, followed by the big jackpots, and in third place, it’s because they consider it a holiday tradition.

The chance to win big is worth quite a bit to us: on average, we spend $77 per person on holiday lotteries. But the numbers vary widely by state. New Jersey residents spend the most by far, at $265 per person. Virginia also loves an end-of-year gamble, with an average spend of $151 per person, followed by Missouri at $124. On the other end, Louisiana spends the least on holiday lotteries, with just $22 per person on average. Iowa follows with $25, while Washington and Massachusetts tie for the third-lowest, both at $27 per person. But lotteries aren’t the only way people try their luck during the holidays—many also enjoy the excitement of sportsbook apps, for example.

Would you share your winnings if someone gave you the winning ticket?

Getting gifts is always a treat, especially when it comes with a chance to win—whether through a lottery ticket or the luck of sweepstakes casinos. But what if luck’s on your side, and you win with a ticket you got as a gift? Turns out, 1 in 7 Americans wouldn’t share any winnings with the person who gave them the ticket, according to our survey. In Idaho, they’re especially direct about it—67% say they wouldn’t share, the highest rate in the nation. Alabama follows with 50% of respondents saying no thanks to sharing, and Massachusetts rounds out the top three at 31%.

Half of Americans would share their winnings with family

When asked if they’d share their winnings with friends or family, most respondents (52%) said they’d share at least some with family. A third (34%) would share with both, while only 1% would share just with friends. That leaves 13% who wouldn’t share any potential winnings with friends or family at all.

13% avoid gifting lottery tickets over fear of jealousy

It’s not like we’re all eager to hand out lottery tickets at the end of the year. While they might seem like a fun and festive gift, some people hesitate to give them away. In fact, 13% of Americans say they avoid giving year-end lottery tickets as gifts altogether, worried about potential jealousy or awkwardness if the recipient wins.

What would you do first with a million dollars?

Winning big is an exciting thought—whether it’s through sheer luck or the thrill of live betting sites. If you won a large sum of money, what would be the first thing you’d do with it? By far, the most popular choice is paying off debt—it tops the list of what people would do first with $1 million. Following closely are buying or renovating a house, and making investments. Coming in at number four is saving for future financial security, while helping out family and friends takes the fifth spot. The rest of the list includes starting a business, traveling, and donating to charity. Some would spend it on hobbies, such as gardening, restoring cars, or painting. And last but not least, some would invest in learning something new by taking a course.

Methodology

In November 2024, Deadspin conducted an independent survey of 2,000 U.S. residents. We asked respondents about their average spending on holiday lotteries, their views on gifting lottery tickets, sharing winnings, and what they would do if they won a large sum of money. The survey was made up of 60% female, 39% male, and 1% non-binary respondents, with an average age of 39.8 years. The following states were excluded due to insufficient data: Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.