Experienced sports journalist, College sports expert and broadcaster, hailing from Pennsylvania
Most of us have had days where everything just seems to fall into place - and being in the right place at the right time can earn you a fortune! With more and more online betting sites entering the scene, there are now more opportunities than ever to have the realm of casinos at your fingertips.
Of the 45 states that participate in the Powerball, four of these states have never had a jackpot winner, whilst others have had multiple success stories. Just by living in a different state, you could see your odds of winning a life-changing amount skyrocket - but which areas have the best luck?
To answer this question we have delved into data surrounding the number of jackpot winners around the US to reveal the luckiest locations in the country, here's what we found.
The US States With The Highest Number of Jackpot Winners per Million People
Winning the jackpot is notoriously rare, but it will change your life forever if you are fortunate enough to have the winning numbers. Below is a list of the US states with the highest number of jackpot winners per million people.
| Rank | US State | Population | Total Jackpot Winners | Jackpot Winners per Million People |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | 1,031,985 | 5 | 4.85 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,402,957 | 5 | 3.56 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 1,764,786 | 5 | 2.83 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 1,090,483 | 3 | 2.75 |
| 5 | Louisiana | 4,553,384 | 10 | 2.20 |
| 6 | South Dakota | 923,484 | 2 | 2.17 |
| 7 | Indiana | 6,852,542 | 14 | 2.04 |
| 8 | Iowa | 3,203,345 | 6 | 1.87 |
| 9 | Missouri | 6,186,091 | 11 | 1.78 |
| 10 | Connecticut | 3,629,055 | 6 | 1.65 |
| 11 | Vermont | 647,156 | 1 | 1.55 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 5,904,977 | 9 | 1.52 |
| 13 | Nebraska | 1,972,292 | 3 | 1.52 |
| 14 | South Carolina | 5,372,002 | 8 | 1.49 |
| 15 | New Mexico | 2,110,011 | 3 | 1.42 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 12,931,957 | 18 | 1.39 |
| 17 | Kansas | 2,936,378 | 4 | 1.36 |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,255,437 | 12 | 1.30 |
| 19 | Minnesota | 5,722,897 | 7 | 1.22 |
| 20 | Arizona | 7,453,517 | 9 | 1.21 |
| 21 | Kentucky | 4,518,031 | 5 | 1.11 |
| 22 | Idaho | 1,973,752 | 2 | 1.01 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | 4,048,375 | 4 | 0.99 |
| 24 | Tennessee | 7,134,327 | 7 | 0.98 |
| 25 | Montana | 1,139,507 | 1 | 0.88 |
| 26 | New York | 19,496,810 | 17 | 0.87 |
| 27 | Florida | 22,661,577 | 17 | 0.75 |
| 28 | Maine | 1,393,442 | 1 | 0.72 |
| 29 | Oregon | 4,223,973 | 3 | 0.71 |
| 30 | Michigan | 10,030,722 | 6 | 0.60 |
| 31 | Colorado | 5,868,555 | 3 | 0.51 |
| 32 | Maryland | 6,154,710 | 3 | 0.49 |
| 33 | North Carolina | 10,832,061 | 5 | 0.46 |
| 34 | Massachusetts | 6,974,258 | 3 | 0.43 |
| 35 | Ohio | 11,747,774 | 5 | 0.43 |
| 36 | California | 38,915,693 | 16 | 0.41 |
| 37 | Washington | 7,830,827 | 3 | 0.38 |
| 38 | Georgia | 11,037,723 | 4 | 0.36 |
| 39 | Arkansas | 3,063,152 | 1 | 0.33 |
| 40 | Illinois | 12,477,595 | 4 | 0.32 |
| 41 | Virginia | 8,709,873 | 2 | 0.23 |
| 42 | Texas | 30,500,280 | 2 | 0.07 |
| 43 | Alabama | 5,098,746 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 43 | Alaska | 732,984 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 43 | Hawaii | 1,433,238 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 43 | Mississippi | 2,930,528 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 43 | Nevada | 3,209,142 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 43 | North Dakota | 780,588 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 43 | Utah | 3,422,487 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 43 | Wyoming | 583,279 | 0 | 0.00 |
Delaware - 4.85 jackpot winners per million people
With 4.85 jackpot winners per million people, the state of Delaware takes the top spot in this list. Located along the East Coast of America, this state has seen a total of five lucky winners, and when paired with its population, you won’t find a state with a better ratio of jackpot winners.
New Hampshire - 3.56 jackpot winners per million people
Falling just shy of the top spot is New Hampshire, in which 3.56 people per million are jackpot winners. Alongside its stunning landscapes, this state is known for its tax-free shopping - making it even more rewarding for you to spend your jackpot winnings here.
West Virginia - 2.83 jackpot winners per million people
Completing the podium of the US states with the highest number of jackpot winners per million people is West Virginia - totaling 2.83 winners per million. As of 2023, the largest jackpot win in this state is a whopping $276 million which is enough to change you and your family’s life forever!
The US States With The Highest Average Jackpot Win per Person
As much as we would all like to share the fortune of a jackpot win, the ticket can only belong to one person. Because of this, we wanted to see which US states have the highest average jackpot win per person - here’s what we found.
| Rank | US State | Population | Overall Jackpot Total | Jackpot Winnings per 100,000 people | Average Win Per Winning Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | 1,393,442 | $1.35bn | $96.88m | $1.35bn |
| 2 | California | 38,915,693 | $8.47bn | $21.77m | $529.46m |
| 3 | Illinois | 12,477,595 | $1.82bn | $14.59m | $455.13m |
| 4 | Tennessee | 7,134,327 | $2.69bn | $37.68m | $384.04m |
| 5 | Vermont | 647,156 | $366.70m | $56.66m | $366.70m |
| 6 | Washington | 7,830,827 | $988.60m | $12.62m | $329.53m |
| 7 | Michigan | 10,030,722 | $1.98bn | $19.70m | $329.35m |
| 8 | Maryland | 6,154,710 | $968.70m | $15.74m | $322.90m |
| 9 | Texas | 30,500,280 | $604.10m | $1.98m | $302.05m |
| 10 | South Carolina | 5,372,002 | $2.39bn | $44.42m | $298.28m |
| 11 | Florida | 22,661,577 | $4.92bn | $21.73m | $289.68m |
| 12 | Iowa | 3,203,345 | $1.66bn | $51.81m | $276.60m |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,402,957 | $1.35bn | $96.13m | $269.74m |
| 14 | New Jersey | 9,255,437 | $3.08bn | $33.29m | $256.76m |
| 15 | New York | 19,496,810 | $4.26bn | $21.85m | $250.56m |
| 16 | North Carolina | 10,832,061 | $1.21bn | $11.20m | $242.54m |
| 17 | Oregon | 4,223,973 | $673.10m | $15.94m | $224.37m |
| 18 | Ohio | 11,747,774 | $1.11bn | $9.43m | $221.60m |
| 19 | Arizona | 7,453,517 | $1.96bn | $26.28m | $217.64m |
| 20 | Wisconsin | 5,904,977 | $1.92bn | $32.51m | $213.32m |
| 21 | Missouri | 6,186,091 | $2.16bn | $34.98m | $196.72m |
| 22 | Virginia | 8,709,873 | $379.80m | $4.36m | $189.90m |
| 23 | Rhode Island | 1,090,483 | $548.30m | $50.28m | $182.77m |
| 24 | South Dakota | 923,484 | $348.90m | $37.78m | $174.45m |
| 25 | Nebraska | 1,972,292 | $518.80m | $26.30m | $172.93m |
| 26 | Indiana | 6,852,542 | $2.42bn | $35.31m | $172.84m |
| 27 | Minnesota | 5,722,897 | $1.17bn | $20.51m | $167.71m |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | 12,931,957 | $2.56bn | $19.79m | $142.18m |
| 29 | Idaho | 1,973,752 | $260.90m | $13.22m | $130.45m |
| 30 | New Mexico | 2,110,011 | $362.20m | $17.17m | $120.73m |
| 31 | Georgia | 11,037,723 | $464.90m | $4.21m | $116.23m |
| 32 | West Virginia | 1,764,786 | $543.70m | $30.81m | $108.74m |
| 33 | Kentucky | 4,518,031 | $522.50m | $11.56m | $104.50m |
| 34 | Connecticut | 3,629,055 | $599.00m | $16.51m | $99.83m |
| 35 | Delaware | 1,031,985 | $494.70m | $47.94m | $98.94m |
| 36 | Montana | 1,139,507 | $96.90m | $8.50m | $96.90m |
| 37 | Oklahoma | 4,048,375 | $325.30m | $8.04m | $81.33m |
| 38 | Colorado | 5,868,555 | $243.20m | $4.14m | $81.07m |
| 39 | Massachusetts | 6,974,258 | $198.50m | $2.85m | $66.17m |
| 40 | Kansas | 2,936,378 | $254.50m | $8.67m | $63.63m |
| 41 | Louisiana | 4,553,384 | $612.20m | $13.44m | $61.22m |
| 42 | Arkansas | 3,063,152 | $25.00m | $0.82m | $25.00m |
| 43 | Alabama | 5,098,746 | $0.00m | $0.00m | $0.00m |
| 43 | Alaska | 732,984 | $0.00m | $0.00m | $0.00m |
| 43 | Hawaii | 1,433,238 | $0.00m | $0.00m | $0.00m |
| 43 | Mississippi | 2,930,528 | $0.00m | $0.00m | $0.00m |
| 43 | Nevada | 3,209,142 | $0.00m | $0.00m | $0.00m |
| 43 | North Dakota | 780,588 | $0.00m | $0.00m | $0.00m |
| 43 | Utah | 3,422,487 | $0.00m | $0.00m | $0.00m |
| 43 | Wyoming | 583,279 | $0.00m | $0.00m | $0.00m |
Maine - Average jackpot win of $1.35 billion per person
Maine has a higher average jackpot win per person than any other state - totaling $1.35 billion. With only one jackpot winner in this state, the odds of winning might not be in your favor here, but if you should have luck on your side then the rewards are immense. Outshining the likes of Maryland and Michigan, the average wins in this state are over three times the amount of some of the other states in this top ten.
California - Average jackpot win of $529.46 million per person
The second-place ranking in this list belongs to the state of California. The jackpot wins in this state range from $60 million to an astonishing $2.04 billion, which one lucky player was fortunate enough to secure late last year. Taking all of California’s jackpot wins into account, this state sees an average jackpot win of $529.46 million - the second highest of any US state.
Illinois - Average jackpot win of $455.13 million per person
Completing this top three list of the US states with the biggest average jackpot wins is Illinois. Similarly to Maine, this state hasn’t seen a huge number of jackpot winners, but the jackpot totals have compensated for this - evidenced by the average win of $455.13 million per person.
The US States With The Highest Number of Jackpot Winners
From New Jersey to California, there are a few US states which have seen more than 10 jackpot winners over the years, making them hot spots when it comes to testing your luck. Below is a list of the US states with the most jackpot winners - see where your home state comes in the ranking.
| Rank | US State | Population | Total Jackpot Winners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | 12,931,957 | 18 |
| 2 | New York | 19,496,810 | 17 |
| 2 | Florida | 22,661,577 | 17 |
| 4 | California | 38,915,693 | 16 |
| 5 | Indiana | 6,852,542 | 14 |
| 6 | New Jersey | 9,255,437 | 12 |
| 7 | Missouri | 6,186,091 | 11 |
| 8 | Louisiana | 4,553,384 | 10 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | 5,904,977 | 9 |
| 9 | Arizona | 7,453,517 | 9 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 5,372,002 | 8 |
| 12 | Minnesota | 5,722,897 | 7 |
| 12 | Tennessee | 7,134,327 | 7 |
| 14 | Iowa | 3,203,345 | 6 |
| 14 | Connecticut | 3,629,055 | 6 |
| 14 | Michigan | 10,030,722 | 6 |
| 17 | Delaware | 1,031,985 | 5 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | 1,402,957 | 5 |
| 17 | West Virginia | 1,764,786 | 5 |
| 17 | Kentucky | 4,518,031 | 5 |
| 17 | North Carolina | 10,832,061 | 5 |
| 17 | Ohio | 11,747,774 | 5 |
| 23 | Kansas | 2,936,378 | 4 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | 4,048,375 | 4 |
| 23 | Georgia | 11,037,723 | 4 |
| 23 | Illinois | 12,477,595 | 4 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | 1,090,483 | 3 |
| 27 | Nebraska | 1,972,292 | 3 |
| 27 | New Mexico | 2,110,011 | 3 |
| 27 | Oregon | 4,223,973 | 3 |
| 27 | Colorado | 5,868,555 | 3 |
| 27 | Maryland | 6,154,710 | 3 |
| 27 | Massachusetts | 6,974,258 | 3 |
| 27 | Washington | 7,830,827 | 3 |
| 35 | South Dakota | 923,484 | 2 |
| 35 | Idaho | 1,973,752 | 2 |
| 35 | Virginia | 8,709,873 | 2 |
| 35 | Texas | 30,500,280 | 2 |
| 39 | Vermont | 647,156 | 1 |
| 39 | Montana | 1,139,507 | 1 |
| 39 | Maine | 1,393,442 | 1 |
| 39 | Arkansas | 3,063,152 | 1 |
| 43 | Alabama | 5,098,746 | 0 |
| 43 | Alaska | 732,984 | 0 |
| 43 | Hawaii | 1,433,238 | 0 |
| 43 | Mississippi | 2,930,528 | 0 |
| 43 | Nevada | 3,209,142 | 0 |
| 43 | North Dakota | 780,588 | 0 |
| 43 | Utah | 3,422,487 | 0 |
| 43 | Wyoming | 583,279 | 0 |
Pennsylvania - 18 jackpot winners
Taking the top spot in this list of the US states with the most jackpot winners is Pennsylvania. Despite having the smallest population of any state in this top three, Pennsylvania has more jackpot winners than every other location, totaling 18. If you are feeling fortunate then it appears that this is the place to try your luck!
New York, Florida - 17 jackpot winners
With 17 jackpot winners each, the states of New York and Florida are joint second in this ranking.
As well as having lots of winners in comparison to other locations, Florida is home to some big jackpot wins, including a $1.59 billion dollar Powerball jackpot that was recently won by a Floridian.
Among the most expensive states to live in is New York which is notorious for its high property prices, but for the 17 jackpot winners in this state, it is the least of their worries!
Methodology
We used Powerball to compile every Powerball jackpot winner in the last 20 years. We also used Wikipedia to make a list of every Mega Millions winner whose jackpot total was $300 million or more. We combined these two data sources to form our overall US jackpot list.
We used World Population Review to find the population of each US state as of 2023.
We divided the total jackpot winners for each state by its population before multiplying this number by 1,000,000 to calculate the number of jackpot winners per million people.
Using the above jackpot records, we added together the jackpots for each state to provide each one with an ‘overall jackpot total’.
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