The lottery is a game of chance that is played in many states across the United States. Lotteries are used by states to generate revenue that can be used for education, infrastructure, and other public programs. While some states have had citizens win massive lottery jackpots over the years, there are a handful of states that have never had a resident win a major multi-state lottery drawing.
States with No Powerball or Mega Millions Jackpot Winners
The two biggest lottery games in the United States are Powerball and Mega Millions. These games are played in nearly every state and regularly have jackpots that climb into the hundreds of millions of dollars. However, despite selling tickets for these lotteries for years, a few states have yet to have a resident win a Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot:
- Alaska
- Hawaii
- Utah
- Nevada
- Mississippi
- Alabama
Let’s take a closer look at each of these states and why they have yet to hit it big in Powerball or Mega Millions.
Alaska
Alaska does not actually participate in Powerball or Mega Millions. The Last Frontier is one of only six states in the U.S. that does not offer either of these major national lottery games. The other five are Hawaii, Utah, Nevada, Mississippi, and Alabama.
Alaska does have its own lottery, however, called the Alaska State Lottery. It was launched in 2015 and features in-state draw games and pull-tab tickets. The Alaska lottery offers smaller jackpots since participation is limited to within the state. The record jackpot for an Alaska lottery game is $380,000.
Hawaii
Hawaii residents have never won a Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot for the same reason as Alaska – the state does not participate in these national lottery games. Hawaii once had a state-run lottery in the 1960s, but it was shut down after only a few years. Efforts to revive a Hawaii state lottery have come up short.
Instead, Hawaii relies on other forms of legalized gambling for state revenue, such as casinos and horse racing. While there have been attempts to get Hawaii to join Powerball and Mega Millions over the years, conservative views on gambling within the state legislature have kept the Aloha State out of the major national jackpot games.
Utah
Utah is another state that does not participate in Powerball or Mega Millions. This is due to strong conservative views on gambling in the mostly Mormon state. In fact, Utah has some of the strictest gambling laws in the country.
The Beehive State does not have any forms of legalized gambling, including no state lottery. Efforts to establish a Utah state lottery in recent years have not garnered enough support to pass the state legislature. As a result, Utah residents have to cross state lines to purchase lottery tickets and participate in multi-state games.
Nevada
Nevada may be the gambling capital of the United States, with Las Vegas casinos bringing in billions in revenue each year. However, the Silver State does not participate in Powerball or Mega Millions.
While Nevada has various forms of legalized gambling, state law prohibits lotteries that award prize money based on chance alone. State lotteries must involve some skill for players to win under Nevada law. Attempts to start a Nevada state lottery have been rejected based on this prohibition.
Those who want to play Powerball and Mega Millions have to cross state lines or purchase tickets online. Despite being surrounded by states that participate in the big jackpot games, Nevada residents have yet to get lucky with a major Powerball or Mega Millions prize.
Mississippi
Mississippi is one of the poorest states in the country and could certainly use a big lottery winner. However, the Magnolia State does not participate in Powerball or Mega Millions. Efforts in recent years to start a state lottery in Mississippi have failed.
The lack of Powerball and Mega Millions does not mean Mississippi has no gambling options. The state has casinos along the Gulf Coast and riverboats that offer gaming. But joining the multi-state lottery games remains a hard sell in the socially conservative state.
Those who want a shot at winning Powerball or Mega Millions have to drive to neighboring states like Louisiana and Arkansas to purchase tickets. Until Mississippi launches its own lottery or joins the multi-state games, residents will have to keep crossing their fingers for luck elsewhere.
Alabama
The story is similar in Alabama, which does not participate in Powerball or Mega Millions. Conservative views on gambling have prevented the Yellowhammer State from establishing a state lottery, despite multiple attempts over the years.
Interestingly, Alabama does have five Indian casinos that offer electronic games. However, political disputes have hampered efforts to expand gambling options in the state. Alabama remains one of the few holdouts where Powerball and Mega Millions are both unavailable.
Alabama residents have to drive into Florida, Tennessee, Georgia or Mississippi to purchase lottery tickets. With millions of people in bordering states playing, Alabama has missed out on major jackpot winners over the years.
Other States with No Jackpot Winners
Beyond the six states that don’t participate in Powerball or Mega Millions, there are a few other states where residents have not won an enormous lottery jackpot:
- North Dakota
- Maine
- South Dakota
- Wyoming
Let’s look at the situations in these states and why they have been shut out from the biggest lottery prizes.
North Dakota
North Dakota launched its lottery in 2004 but did not introduce Powerball sales until 2010. Even with six years of Powerball participation under its belt, the Peace Garden State has yet to produce a major jackpot winner.
The same goes for Mega Millions, which North Dakota started selling in 2010 alongside Powerball. With one of the smallest populations in the country, North Dakota has long odds for producing homegrown jackpot winners.
The biggest North Dakota lottery prize to date was $27.6 million, split between two Powerball tickets in 2008. Winning Powerball or Mega Millions could be a long shot for North Dakotans, but hope always springs eternal in gambling.
Maine
Maine has participated in Powerball since 1995 and was one of the original members of the game. It added Mega Millions in May 2010. However, in nearly 30 combined years of selling tickets for the major national jackpot games, no Mainer has won big.
The Pine Tree State has seen some sizable wins over the years from its own state lottery games. But that elusive Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot continues to be out of reach for Maine residents.
Given its small population, Maine faces long odds to produce a homegrown jackpot winner. But with New Englanders known for their luck and pluck, Maine still has hope its day will come.
South Dakota
South Dakota has participated in Powerball since 1990 and Mega Millions since 2011. But despite being involved in both games nearly from their inceptions, the Mount Rushmore State has yet to chalk up a major jackpot winner.
The biggest South Dakota lottery prize to date was $232.1 million Powerball jackpot shared by a couple from Alaska who purchased their ticket in South Dakota in 2006. For a true South Dakotan to win big, the state’s modest population means it may take some patience.
Wyoming
Wyoming began selling Powerball tickets all the way back in 1994 and was one of the founding members of the game. It was also among the early adopters of Mega Millions when it launched in 2002.
Yet despite participating in both games for decades now, the Cowboy State has never had one of its residents win a Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot. With a tiny population of just over 500,000, Wyoming faces extremely long odds.
The biggest Wyoming lottery prize to date was a $14.6 million Powerball jackpot claimed in 2014 by a resident of Colorado who bought the ticket in Wyoming. For a true Wyomingite to hit it big, it may require a great deal of luck and perfect timing.
Why Some States Lag in Lottery Jackpot Wins
Looking at the states detailed above, some common factors emerge about why these particular places have never produced big Powerball or Mega Millions winners:
- Small populations – Less people means fewer lottery ticket sales and long odds of a home-state winner.
- No participation – A handful of states do not participate in the national games at all.
- Late adoption – Some states only recently began offering Powerball and/or Mega Millions.
- Conservative views – A few states shun or limit lottery gambling over moral objections.
States that check a few of these boxes face inherent disadvantages in achieving Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot wins. But for lottery true believers, anything is possible if the stars align correctly.
Will These States’ Streaks End Soon?
Can any of the above states finally break through with a historic Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot winner? Here are some thoughts:
- For the six states that don’t participate at all, change would require lawmakers approving participation in Powerball or Mega Millions. This seems unlikely in the short term in conservative places like Utah, Mississippi and Alabama.
- Small population states face inherent disadvantages. But a visitor passing through could win and claim the prize, like past winners in North Dakota and South Dakota.
- Maine nearly ended its losing streak but had a $1.35 billion Mega Millions ticket holder choose the cash option in January 2023. An interested Maine legislator could use this close call to lobby for increased marketing and sales initiatives.
- Wyoming with its rugged individualism seems overdue to have a rancher or miner hit it lucky.
In the end, for states without that elusive big lottery win, all it takes is a single ticket to change history. And with lottery fever running high when jackpots climb, anything is possible thanks to the magic and mystery of random chance.
The Patterns of Lottery Jackpot Wins by State
Looking at lottery data reveals some interesting patterns about jackpot wins across different states. Here is a table showing the number of Powerball and Mega Millions jackpot wins by state since the games began:
| State | Powerball Jackpot Wins | Mega Millions Jackpot Wins |
|---|---|---|
| California | 39 | 21 |
| Texas | 32 | 8 |
| New York | 26 | 22 |
| Florida | 22 | 9 |
| New Jersey | 16 | 12 |
| Pennsylvania | 18 | 6 |
| Illinois | 15 | 11 |
| Georgia | 10 | 6 |
| North Carolina | 9 | 5 |
| Michigan | 10 | 3 |
Looking at the data, we can see that the most populous states like California, Texas, New York and Florida have had the most jackpot winners. This makes sense given they have the largest populations and therefore the most lottery ticket sales.
We can also see that certain states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania punch above their weight class when it comes to jackpot wins compared to their populations. And notoriously unlucky jackpot states like North Dakota and Maine are indeed near the bottom.
For the biggest lottery prizes, the data shows that where you play matters. Buying a ticket in a huge state with millions of other players gives you the best mathematical odds versus playing in lower-population states. But the randomness of the lottery means anything is possible, no matter the odds.
State Population vs. Number of Jackpot Wins
To take a closer look at how state population relates to jackpot wins, here is another table comparing those two factors:
| State | Population | Powerball + Mega Millions Jackpot Wins |
|---|---|---|
| California | 39,538,223 | 60 |
| Texas | 29,145,505 | 40 |
| Florida | 21,781,128 | 31 |
| New York | 19,835,913 | 48 |
| Pennsylvania | 13,011,844 | 24 |
| Illinois | 12,812,508 | 26 |
| Ohio | 11,799,448 | 24 |
| Georgia | 10,711,908 | 16 |
| North Carolina | 10,601,767 | 14 |
| Michigan | 10,077,331 | 13 |
The data shows that states with larger populations do tend to have more jackpot wins, indicating that population size matters when it comes to lottery odds. However, some smaller states like North Carolina and Michigan outperform their population size while massive states like Texas slightly underperform.
The odds of randomly hitting the jackpot are simply better when millions more people are playing. But as lottery lore is filled with examples of against-the-odds wins, fate may have its own plans no matter a state’s size.
Conclusion
Winning Powerball or Mega Millions requires an intersecting mix of luck, math, concentration of population, and faith in randomness. While history shows some states seem luckier or unluckier than others, the beauty of lottery games is that on any given draw, someone somewhere will defy the odds.
For states still seeking that first jackpot win, all it takes is one lucky ticket to erase years of frustration. That kind of unpredictability and surprise is what makes lottery jackpots so alluring. In the end, everyone has a shot at holding a lucky ticket, no matter your location. All you need is one single random moment of good fortune to change your life forever.