Fiscal 2021 (FY21) unaudited U.S. lottery traditional sales increased 17% to $94.9 billion from $80.9 billion in fiscal 2020, according to La Fleur’s Magazine. This represents 0.5% of the 2021 Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Fiscal year ends vary. FY21 sales are estimated for the Michigan Lottery and Texas Lottery.
Although data was not available for all U.S. lotteries, it is estimated that the industry returned approximately $57 billion in prizes and transferred $26 billion to government.
The Mississippi Lottery led the industry with a 51% increase in FY21 sales. Forty-three U.S. lotteries posted sales increases in FY21.
The New York Lottery ranked first in total traditional sales at $9.1 billion. The Massachusetts Lottery ranked first in per capita total sales at $841.
The star of U.S. lotteries’ portfolio is the instant ticket. Total FY21 U.S. instant ticket sales increased $9.1 billion to $63.05 billion, up from $53.9 billion in FY20. Instant ticket sales represented 66% of the U.S. lotteries’ total traditional sales in FY21.
The Florida Lottery ranked first in FY21 gross instant sales at $6.8 billion. The Massachusetts Lottery ranked first in FY21 per capita instant sales at $583. The Wisconsin Lottery ranked first with a 41% increase in FY21 instant sales.
In terms of instant sales by price point, the $25+ price point recorded a 32% jump in sales, the highest percentage growth rate, followed by a 30% gain for the $20 price point. Game sales grew 17.4% for the $10/$15 price point and 9% for the $5 price point and 0.2% for the $3 price point. FY21 sales dropped for the $1 and $2 price points.
The $10/$15 category is ranked first with $17.4 billion, which represents 28% of total FY21 instant sales. The $20 category is ranked second with $13.1 billion, which represents 21% in FY21 instant sales. The $5 category is ranked third with $12.9 billion, which represents 20% of total FY21 instant sales.
Forty-one U.S. lotteries reported growth in FY21 instant ticket sales. The top three FY20 sales leaders as measured by percentage sales increases were Wisconsin Lottery (41%), Mississippi Lottery (36%) and Idaho Lottery (31%). Thirty-nine U.S. lotteries reported double-digit increases in FY21 instant sales.
Total FY21 U.S. lottery draw (terminal) game sales increased 18% to $31.7 billion. Draw game sales represented 33% of the U.S. lotteries’ total traditional sales.
The New York Lottery ranked first in FY21 draw sales at $3.4 billion. The Maryland Lottery ranked first in FY21 per capita draw sales at $265. Forty-three U.S. lotteries experienced double-digit increases in draw game sales thanks to the huge jackpot rolls for Powerball and Mega Millions during the past winter.
Jackpot mania resulted in huge sales increases for the two national bloc lotto games. Mega Million’s FY21 sales increased 44% to $4.0 billion (from $2.8 billion a year earlier). Powerball’s FY21 sales grew 31% to $3.8 billion (from $2.9 billion in FY20).
In the non-lotto category, sales for the 3-digit numbers game increased 13% to $6.9 billion. Sales grew 10% to $5.6 billion for the 4-digit game. Combined numbers sales exceeded $12 billion. Monitor game sales increased 10% to $4.95 billion (down from $4.5 billion in FY20).
In the bloc lotto category, combined FY21 “For Life” sales increased 5% to $577.3 million. Small bloc lotto sales increased 3% to $83.6 million. In-state lotto sales rose 9% to $3.8 billion in FY21. Instant terminal game (ITG) sales totaled $947.3 million, which represented a 43.9% increase.
U.S. Consolidated Revenues
La Fleur’s fiscal 2021 report also features U.S. lotteries ranked by FY21 total consolidated revenues as measured by gross revenues, per capita revenues and percentage change. Consolidated revenues represents traditional lottery sales as well as non-traditional net revenues, such as video lottery terminals (VLTs), table games, electronic pull tabs and sports wagering.
In fiscal 2021, U.S. lotteries’ consolidated revenues totaled $102 billion, up 17% from $87.3 billion in FY20.
The New York Lottery ranked first in FY21 consolidated revenues at $9.1 billion. The Massachusetts Lottery ranked first in FY21 per capita consolidated revenues at $841. Montana Lottery ranked first with a 87% increase in FY21 consolidated revenues.
U.S. lotteries’ FY21 combined VLT revenues totaled $5.8 billion, up 3% from $5.6 billion in FY20. There are eight U.S. lotteries operating VLTs. As is this magazine’s policy, VLT revenues are not included with traditional lottery sales.
FY21 VLT revenues rebounded after the FY20 shutdown of VLTs due to the pandemic. In FY21, six lotteries reported a year-over-year increase in VLT net machine income: Delaware (21.8%), Maryland (39.9%), Ohio (44.5%), Oregon (7.9%), South Dakota (27.9%) and West Virginia (23.9%). FY21 VLT net machine decreased in two jurisdictions: New York (53.7%) and Rhode Island (2.2%).
Canadian Results
The Canadian lottery industry’s FY21 sales increased 6% to C$10.3 billion. Four of the five Canadian lotteries reported increases in FY21 traditional lottery sales.
LottoMax sales rose 2% to C$2.4 billion in FY21 while Lotto 649 decreased 5% to C$1.1 billion. Other lotto sales increased 3% to $727.3 million. Spiel sales were flat, totaling C$679 million. Sport pool sales totaled $470.8 million (-13%).
OLG ranked first in FY21 draw sales at C$2.7 billion. BCLC ranked first in per capita draw sales at C$283. BCLC led with a 26% increase in FY21 draw sales.
FY21 Canadian VLT net machine income dropped 60% to C$500.7 million, from C$1.3 billion in FY20.