Lottery Addiction (Powerball and Mega Millions): Statistics, Signs, and Help

Lottery Addiction Key Stats and Observations:

• Lottery gambling is available in 45 states, access that fuels a $113.3 billion U.S. lottery market.
• While Powerball and Mega Millions can be addictive and harmful, research suggests they are the least addictive lottery products.
• In fact, a 2023 study found that traditional lottery games, such as Powerball and Mega Millions, are the least addictive form of gambling, except for raffles.
• Still, 17.9% of lottery players were either at-risk of problem gambling or were already addicted.
• Problem gambling involving daily lottery games is nearly twice as high as for Powerball/Mega Millions.
• Powerball and Mega Millions lack the “key ingredient” of intermittent reinforcement, a Yale Medicine professor says.
• At least a dozen state lotteries sell Powerball and Mega Millions tickets directly online.
• Self-exclusion options are available, but they vary significantly between states.
• Even more states allow Powerball and Mega Millions ticket sales through lotto courier apps.
• Meanwhile, some states with retail sales only allow for self-exclusion in the form of banning yourself from claiming prizes above $600. This safeguard could be effective for curbing compulsions to buy Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, but it appears weak for an addiction to daily lottery products.
• Sports betting parlays, the revenue engine of the online sports betting industry, mimic the lottery.

The Most Popular Form of Gambling

Lottery addiction often hides in plain sight because games and tickets appear as low-stakes and socially acceptable. State lotteries have said that gambling supports “good causes.”

Powerball and Mega Millions, the two most popular multi-state jackpot games in the U.S., have been widely normalized. Those games fuel a massive market for lottery products.

Americans spent $113.3 billion on the lottery in fiscal year 2024, according to the NASPL, a lottery trade group. Lottery gambling accounts for roughly two-thirds of all U.S. gambling.

“The lottery is a regressive tax disproportionately paid by the people who can least afford it, and little of the proceeds actually go to community funding,” said Robert Reich, a former U.S. Labor Secretary. The harm caused by the lottery has been studied for decades.

Lottery addiction can also remain hidden from view, like other forms of gambling addiction often are. The visibility of the addiction can depend on the person.

This article explains why the lottery is gambling and what lotto addiction looks like. We’ll also provide you with a list of lottery self-exclusion options, depending on your state.

Is Playing the Lottery Considered Gambling?

Yes, playing the lottery in any form (Powerball, Mega Millions, scratch-offs, instant games, etc.) is gambling. You risk something of value (money) in exchange for the chance to win more money. 

There are many forms of gambling, and the lottery is just one.

Don’t be fooled into thinking the lottery isn’t gambling by advertising that tells you playing the lottery supports “good causes.” A portion of lottery sales often goes to support worthwhile social services, but it doesn’t change the basic fact that the lottery is gambling.

It is possible to argue that gambling can be a form of “entertainment.” But the lottery isn’t merely entertainment or a hobby. Buying a ticket is a gambling transaction.

What is Lottery Addiction?

Lottery addiction is a pattern of compulsive ticket buying or game playing despite harm. 

It features cravings, chasing losses, escalating spend, and secrecy. Near-miss effects, large jackpots, and easy access can drive harmful lottery gambling.

Treating lottery addiction is like treating other forms of gambling addiction. 

The best form of treatment is CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). It’s a structured type of psychotherapy that helps people identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors.

If you are dealing with a crisis for lottery addiction, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Red Flags for Powerball and Mega Millions

Addiction can happen with any lottery product. For Powerball and Mega Millions, there can be specific warning signs to look for in yourself or someone you know.

• Jackpot-chasing: Your spending spikes when jackpots hit headline levels
• Upselling: Routinely buying add-ons to “boost” potential wins
• Superstitions: Refusal to skip a draw because “my numbers are due.” Other superstitions include anxiety about missing “lucky” days or visiting “lucky” retailers.
• Pool pressure: Workplace/friend pools leading to fear of missing out (FOMO), overspending to “keep up,” or arguments over contributions.
• Compulsive checking: Uncontrollable urges to check for updates on winning numbers
• Chasing losses: Playing scratchers or other games directly after a Powerball or Mega Millions loss to recoup money spent
• Secrecy: Hiding ticket purchases or discarding losing tickets away from home.

Understanding Lottery Addiction Risks

While Powerball and Mega Millions can be part of a lottery gambling addiction, these games are not the riskiest from an addiction perspective, Dr. Rani Hoff, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, told Gambling Harm in an interview.

“I’m less concerned about the mega-ball games than the harmful effects of everyday lottery,” Hoff, who is retired from teaching, said. “The reason is that the mega ball games do not provide intermittent reinforcement. You never win. The odds are so astronomically low that it doesn’t provide the key ingredient that is associated with developing a problem gambling issue. Your everyday lottery products do.” 

Scratch-offs and instant games are more associated with problem gambling. Nonetheless, for someone with a gambling problem, extremely large Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots can cause harm and potentially trigger more gambling.

Powerball and Mega Millions also raise political issues, according to Hoff.

“That being said, I think the mega-ball games speak to people’s financial insecurity,” Hoff said. “Even people who live relatively comfortably think huge amounts of money would solve a lot of life’s problems.”

What Was The Largest Lottery Jackpot Ever?

The addictive nature of the lottery and the dream of financial security have fueled record-setting Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots.

The largest lottery win in the history of the U.S. came from California in 2022.

A single ticket sold in California won a Powerball jackpot worth $2.04 billion after matching all six numbers in the Nov. 7, 2022, drawing.

In total, there have been 14 U.S. lottery jackpots worth at least $1 billion, all since 2016.

The fear of missing out has caused many people to gamble who otherwise wouldn’t have.

What Causes Lottery Addiction? 

The lottery involves absolutely no skill, but players often feel an illusion of control in choosing numbers and the retailers at which they purchase tickets. 

Lottery products create the dangerous near-miss effect, a core addictive feature of other forms of gambling such as slot machines and sports betting parlays.

Digital lottery apps can intensify gambling with push notifications, auto-buy, and “second-chance” drawings that keep the dangerous cycle going.

Worst of all, some people become addicted to the lottery because of the fantasy of winning truly life-changing money. This is unlike the situation with casino games, except for slot jackpots, super long-shot sports betting parlays, or a poker tournament.

That said, Dr. Hoff told GamblingHarm.org that Powerball and Mega Millions are relatively safe products for non-problem gamblers because they lack strong intermittent reinforcement.

Why to Avoid Lottery Gambling Addiction

Some people can play the lottery in moderation without issues. Meanwhile, others should be cautious of any form of lottery gambling.

Act early if you’re concerned about your lottery spending or the gambling of someone you know. Gambling addictions can escalate faster than substance addictions.

While you could try things such as setting a budget and deleting lottery apps, Gambling Harm recommends avoiding the lottery if you have a gut feeling that it might not be right for you.

A lottery addiction could be costly and seriously harm your life. Recovery from a gambling addiction is often a lifelong process, and relapses are common.

Are you showing signs of a lottery addiction? The earlier you interrupt the pattern, the less difficult your recovery will be. It’s never too late to stop gambling and seek help.

States with Powerball & Mega Millions Online

Unfortunately, playing the lottery is easier than ever. A dozen state lotteries offer products, including Powerball and Mega Millions, via the internet. 

Those jurisdictions include:

• District of Columbia
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Kentucky
• Michigan
• New Hampshire 
• North Carolina 
• North Dakota 
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Virginia 
• West Virginia

These states are in the minority of U.S. lottery jurisdictions.

Lottery tickets for Powerball and Mega Millions are sold at over 220,000 retail locations throughout the U.S. The games are available in 45 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

States Allowing Lottery Courier Apps

Lottery couriers, such as Jackpocket, Lotto.com, and Jackpot.com, act as middlemen between you and a state lottery.

After creating an account, the apps geolocate you and show eligible games. You choose numbers, pay in-app, and the courier’s retail partner physically buys a ticket on your behalf. 

A photo or scan of the ticket appears in your account as a receipt. Next, the paper ticket is stored until the results are posted. For big wins, you will need to claim the money outside the app.

States that allow lottery courier apps include:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Idaho 
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Montana
• Nebraska
• New Hampshire
• New York
• New Jersey
• Oregon
• West Virginia
• District of Columbia

Lottery courier apps offer some self-exclusion options for people with lottery addiction.

States with Lottery Addiction Help

Are you looking to self-exclude yourself from the lottery? For people with lottery addiction, the self-exclusion process depends on your state/jurisdiction. Check your state lottery’s website for the latest options.

Some jurisdictions, such as the District of Columbia, Illinois, Iowa, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Washington, have ways for people to (sort of) self-exclude themselves from retail lottery gambling.

Typically, gas stations, grocery stores, convenience stores, and bars/restaurants don’t have a system in place to enforce a ban on buying lottery tickets. It would be a regulatory nightmare for states.

So, states with retail lottery self-exclusion typically ban you from claiming winnings of $600 or more. It’s a weak self-exclusion system that could be useless for curbing an addiction to scratch-offs. However, it could be effective for Powerball and Mega Millions.

States with online lottery gambling have self-exclusion options, but they are exclusively for internet lotto games and ticket purchases.

Let’s look deeper at the U.S. landscape for lottery addiction self-exclusion.

District of Columbia (DC) Lottery Self-Exclusion

The DC Lottery allows you to self-exclude from purchasing lottery tickets at retail establishments and also through the internet and mobile app. 

You can’t redeem any prizes if you are self-excluded.

Georgia Lottery Self-Exclusion

In Georgia, lottery self-exclusion is limited to online lottery gambling. The Georgia Lottery does not provide self-exclusion options for buying tickets at retail locations.

The Georgia Lottery allows you to self-exclude for durations between 3-12 months.

To self-exclude, go to your iHOPE Account profile page and follow the instructions.

Iowa Lottery Self-Exclusion

The Iowa Lottery, which does not offer gambling online, has self-exclusion that allows it to deny prizes of $600 or more. Self-excluded lotto gamblers can claim prizes less than $600 because those smaller wins don’t require a visit to a lottery office.

To self-exclude, complete this form and return it to any Iowa Lottery regional office.

“The program is designed to act as a deterrent by taking away the incentive to play lottery games for those who have issues with compulsive behavior,” the Iowa Lottery said.

Illinois Lottery Self-Exclusion

In Illinois, you can only self-exclude from online lottery gambling. The Illinois Lottery gives you only one option for duration: five years.

Call the Illinois Player Hotline at 1-800-252-1775 for self-exclusion information.

Kentucky Lottery Self-Exclusion

You can self-exclude for up to your lifetime on your KY Lottery’s Fun Club/iLottery account. The KY Lottery also has weekly and monthly spending limits.

Michigan Lottery Self-Exclusion

The Michigan Lottery allows self-exclusion from internet lottery gambling. 

The player with lottery addiction may set exclusions through the ‘Responsible Gaming Tools’ section on the website or app or with the help of a lottery representative at 1-844-917-6325.

The Michigan Lottery’s website did not mention the duration options for self-exclusion.

The lottery also allows self-imposed deposit limits.

Missouri Lottery Self-Exclusion

You can sign up to self-exclude yourself from claiming prizes over $600, accessing the My Lottery Players Club account, and receiving text and email alerts from the Lottery. 

Sign-up forms can be downloaded here.

Tennessee Lottery Self-Exclusion

The TN Lottery allows online self-exclusion for up to life. You can self-exclude inside the app. For questions, call 888-836-6568 (888-TENNLOT) or email iLottery-help@tnlottery.com. 

New Hampshire Lottery Self-Exclusion

The NH iLottery app and website offer self-exclusion for 1, 3, or 6 months. 

You can also self-exclude from the state’s My603Rewards program, which involves retail lottery gambling. However, it doesn’t appear you can self-exclude from a retail location selling to you.

North Carolina Lottery Self-Exclusion

You may temporarily or permanently exclude yourself by contacting the NC Lottery’s Online Play Support Center at 1-866-934-0289 or through your online account.

The NC Lottery allows you to self-exclude for durations up to your lifetime. North Carolina users can also set deposit and loss limits.

North Dakota Lottery Self-Exclusion

The ND Lottery allows players to self-exclude for 1, 5, 10 years, or their lifetime. You can only do self-exclusion through your player’s account on the website.

Pennsylvania Lottery Self-Exclusion

You can self-exclude through your PAiLottery.com account for a period of 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years. Self-exclusion does not apply to retail locations.

Virginia Lottery Self-Exclusion

The VA Lottery allows self-exclusion from online gambling for 2 years, 5 years, or a lifetime.

You can sign up for a 2-year or 5-year ban via the internet. For a lifetime self-exclusion, you must do so in person at the VA Lottery headquarters. 

You can make an appointment at 804-692-7185.

Washington Lottery Self-Exclusion

Like the Iowa Lottery, the Washington Lottery doesn’t have online versions of games or sell tickets via the internet. For its self-exclusion program, players can’t claim prizes over $600.

You can sign up for WA Lottery self-exclusion through this form.

West Virginia Lottery Self-Exclusion

The WV Lottery allows you to temporarily or permanently self-exclude from using your WVL iPlay Account. You can do so online or by contacting the support center at 1-833-376-0384.

Are Sports Betting Parlays Like Lottery Tickets?

Yes, parlays mimic the lottery in key ways. 

Both bundle low-probability outcomes into a single ticket promising outsized payouts, which triggers jackpot-chasing and near-miss excitement. 

Unfortunately, odds compound against you, as each added leg, like each lottery number, slashes true winning probability while boosting headline returns. 

Marketing highlights rare big scores, not expected value, which is deeply negative. 

Unlike the lottery, parlays can involve perceived “skill,” but correlation traps and pricing edges tilt the math toward the house. Betting cashbacks, parlay boosts, and same-game promos can intensify risk.

Betting addiction statistics show that gambling on sports is even more addictive than playing the lottery.