South Dakota Lottery Spending Fell in Fiscal Year 2025
State residents spent $78 per person on traditional lottery games, down 16.3% from the previous fiscal year.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Gambling
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Data from fiscal year 2025 shows South Dakota residents spent $72.6 million on traditional lottery games. This reflects an average of $78 per person, placing the state among the lowest in the nation for traditional lottery engagement.
Why it matters
The decline in traditional lottery interest highlights changing preferences in state gaming markets. While traditional sales dropped, South Dakota video lottery machines remained a significant draw, generating $333.1 million in net revenue.
South Dakota residents spent $78 per person on traditional lottery games, significantly trailing the $294 national average. Scratch-off tickets accounted for nearly two-thirds of the $72.6 million in total state sales.
The players
North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries
This professional organization represents state and provincial government-sanctioned lottery operators across North America.
U.S. Census Bureau
This federal agency is responsible for collecting data about the nation's people and economy through surveys and population counts.
The details
Researchers utilized fiscal year 2025 sales data from the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries and U.S. Census Bureau estimates to evaluate spending. The study specifically focused on traditional lottery games, excluding video lottery terminals, sports betting, and table games from its calculations.
Timeline
Fiscal year 2025 served as the primary study period for lottery sales data.
Monday marked the most recent Powerball drawing that resulted in no jackpot winner.
Wednesday night is the scheduled time for the next Powerball drawing.
Culture Shift
South Dakota's 16.3% decline reflects a much sharper downward trajectory than the 5.1% nationwide trend. This shift highlights a departure from traditional ticket-based gambling in favor of digital and terminal-based gaming formats.
The decline suggests residents are shifting their discretionary gaming budget toward alternative platforms like video lottery terminals. While traditional tickets remain accessible, the lower per-person spending reflects a broader change in how the average consumer participates in state-run games.
The takeaway
The gap between South Dakota's $78 per-person spending and the $294 national average suggests a unique regional preference for other forms of gaming. Residents should note that state-wide averages often mask high participation in specific game types like scratch-offs.
What happens next
The Powerball jackpot drawing is set for Wednesday night with an estimated jackpot of $409 million and a cash option of $170.2 million.
Further reading
Find additional details on state betting trends in the South Dakota Gambling section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kotatv.
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