Illinois ranks among luckiest states for lottery winnings: study

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A new analysis of state lottery data revealed the luckiest states for players, with Illinois making the list.

The Study:

McLuck, a social casino website, took a deep dive into 2023 lottery data from states that share their prize information.

Ohio came out on top, raking in an impressive $992,054 per draw, while Illinois landed in eighth place with an average of $256,455 per draw.

By the numbers:

Ohio recorded 62 draws with 146,496 winners, averaging 2,363 winners per draw. Each winner took home an average of $419.86.

Oregon followed closely in second place, with $973,291 in winnings per draw and an average payout of $343.78 per winner.

Louisiana, California and Florida rounded out the top five, with winnings per draw of $515,406, $494,047, and $454,290, respectively.

Illinois ranked eighth, averaging $256,455 in winnings per draw.

What they're saying:

A McLuck spokesperson shared their thoughts on the findings, stating:

"This study provides intriguing insights into the states with the highest average lottery winnings. While luck plays a significant role in the lottery, one might assume that states with more draws would have higher winnings. However, this study reveals an element of randomness in determining average winnings. For instance, Ohio has the highest average winnings despite having the fourth-lowest number of draws. On the other hand, Texas has the highest number of draws but ranks fourteenth in winnings per draw." 

Top 10 luckiest lottery states

1. Ohio – $992,054 per draw
2. Oregon – $973,291 per draw
3. Louisiana – $515,406 per draw
4. California – $494,047 per draw
5. Florida – $454,290 per draw
6. Virginia – $419,233 per draw
7. New York – $386,234 per draw
8. Illinois – $256,455 per draw
9. Michigan – $251,393 per draw
10. Massachusetts – $229,222 per draw