Where does lottery money go in different states? : NPR

After a week without a winner, the Mega Millions jackpot has grown to nearly $1.35 billion, the second-largest jackpot in the game’s history, according to Mega Millions officials.

While the odds are still in your favor, players are definitely planning what to do next. if they should have hit the jackpot.

But while lottery winnings are often spent on luxury vacations, cars, and paying off debt, winnings also benefit states.

Although specific systems vary from state to state, each of the 45 states that offer lotteries (along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands) donates a certain percentage of ticket sales to specific state causes. .

(Five states—Alabama, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii, and Nevada—do not sell lottery tickets.)

Studies show that about 60% of state lottery revenue goes directly to winners because states keep the money left over after paying out prize money and paying certain fees like advertising.

For big lotteries like Mega Millions or Powerball, half of the ticket revenue goes to the lottery jackpot. The other half goes to expenses, including lottery administration and retail commissions, in addition to other beneficiaries, a Mega Millions spokesperson told ABC News.

According to the North American State and Provincial Lottery Association, a breakdown of each US state lottery and the beneficiaries each supports is: