CORRECTION
January 12, 2023
A previous version of this list did not include Pennsylvania or Mississippi.
After several weeks of no winners, the Mega Millions jackpot has increasedto an estimated $1.35 billion — the second-largest jackpot in the game's history, according to Mega Millions officials.
While the odds could still be in your favor to win, players are no doubt mapping out what they would do if they were to win the jackpot.
But while lottery winnings are often spent on fancy vacations, cars and paying off debts, the payoff also benefits the states in some ways, as well.
Though specific systems differ between each state, each of the 45 states (along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) that offer lotteries donates a certain percentage of the revenue generated from ticket sales to specific state causes.
(Five states — Alabama, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii and Nevada — don't sell lottery tickets.)
Research shows that approximately 60% of the revenue from state lotteries goes directly to winners, as the states keep the remaining cash after paying out the prize money and paying certain costs such as advertisements.
For larger lotteries, like Mega Millions or Powerball, half of the ticket revenue goes toward the lottery's prize pool. The remaining half goes toward costs including lottery administration and retailer commissions, in addition to other beneficiaries, a Mega Millions spokesperson told ABC News.
Here's a breakdown of each U.S. state lottery and the beneficiaries each one supports, according to the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries:
Arizona
Heritage Fund Commerce Authority Arizona Competes Fund Mass Transit Healthy Arizona State of Arizona General Fund Court Appointed Special Advocate Fund (Unclaimed prizes) Homeless Shelters Department of Gaming University Bond Fund Internet Crimes Against Children Victims Tribal College Dual Enrollment ProgramArkansas
Educational Trust FundCalifornia
EducationColorado
Division of Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund School FundConnecticut
General Fund (which, as with other states, benefits the state's education, roads, health and hospitals and public safety)Delaware
General Fund Health & Social Services-Problem Gambler ProgramsDistrict of Columbia
General Fund Florida
Education Enhancement Trust FundGeorgia
Lottery for Education AccountIdaho
Public Schools (K-12) Public BuildingsIllinois
Illinois Common School Fund (K-12) Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund Ticket For The Cure Fund Quality of Life Endowment Fund Multiple Sclerosis Research Fund Special Olympics FundIndiana
Build Indiana Fund Teachers Pension Fund Police & Firefighters Pension FundIowa
General Fund Veterans Trust FundKansas
Transfers back to the State Kentucky
Post-Secondary & College Scholarships Literacy Programs & Early Childhood ReadingLouisiana
Transfers to State Problem GamblingMaine
General Fund Maine Outdoor Heritage FundMaryland
Maryland General Fund - Lottery Profit Baltimore City Schools - Lottery Profit Maryland Stadium Authority - Lottery Profit Education Trust Fund - Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) and Table Game Proceeds Local Impact Grants - VLT Proceeds Horse Racing Industry - VLT Proceeds Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Businesses - VLT Proceeds Responsible Gaming - VLT and Table Game AssessmentsMassachusetts
Cities and Towns Arts Council General Fund Compulsive GamblersMichigan
Education (K-12) Health and Human Services General FundMinnesota
General Fund Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund Game & Fish Fund Natural Resources Fund Compulsive GamblingMississippi
State Highway Fund Education Enhancement FundMissouri
Public Education in MissouriMontana
State of Montana General FundNebraska
Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund Education Innovation Fund Environmental Trust Fund State Fair Support & Improvement Fund Nebraska Opportunity Grant FundNew Hampshire
EducationNew Jersey
Education and InstitutionsNew Mexico
Lottery Tuition FundNew York
EducationNorth Carolina
Education Alcohol Law Enforcement NC Problem GamblingNorth Dakota
Compulsive Gambling Fund State General Fund Drug Task ForceOhio
EducationOklahoma
Education Mental HealthOregon
Economic Development Public Education Parks and Natural Resource Programs Gambling Addiction Prevention & Treatment ProgramsPennsylvania
Programs for older PennsylvaniansRhode Island
General FundSouth Carolina
Education Lottery FundSouth Dakota
General Fund Capital Construction Fund Grant to Human ServicesTennessee
Lottery for Education Account After School ProgramTexas
Foundation School Fund Multicategorical Teaching Hospital Texas Veterans Commission (Veterans Assistance Fund)Vermont
Education FundVirginia
Direct aid to Public Education K-12Washington
Washington Opportunity Pathways Account King County Stadium and Exhibition Center (Qwest Field) Economic Development Strategic Reserve Problem Gambling General FundWest Virginia
Education Senior Citizens TourismWisconsin
Public Benefit - Total Available for Property Tax ReliefWyoming
Wyoming cities, towns, and counties Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
