What are the luckiest states for winning the lottery? See where California ranks
An analysis by Vegas Now found that California ranked high on a list of top lottery-winning states per capita.
“While every ticket carries the same odds, some states consistently produce winners, while others see far fewer major payouts over time,” the study published April 2 said.
The study examined historical Powerball and Mega Millions jackpot results through 2025, analyzing wins per year and per million residents, the study said.
How does California rank for lucky lottery winners?
The Golden State comes in at No. 4 on the list, with its high population somewhat diluting the number of winners each year.
California racked up 44 jackpots, with 94.1 lottery winners in the two games per year for an average of 24.2 wins per million residents, the study found.
What are the luckiest states for lottery winners?
Here are the Top 10 states for Powerball and Mega Millions winners per capita, according to Vegas Now:
- Michigan
- Virginia
- New York
- California
- Maryland
- Iowa
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- Rhode Island
- Wisconsin
What are the unluckiest states for lottery winners?
“Wyoming, South Dakota, and Montana recorded zero jackpot wins, placing them joint last in the ranking,” the study found.
Vermont and New Hampshire also ranked poorly.