What Hoosiers Really Think About Sharing Their Lottery Winnings

Many give lottery tickets as gifts during the holidays. But if you win, should you share the prize? Let’s explore honest answers from Indiana residents.

I've been gifted a few lottery tickets over the years, but unfortunately, none have been winners. That said, I've always believed that if I were to win a massive prize, it would only be right to share it with the person who gifted the ticket. After all, it's free money, so it's not like you're actually losing anything. However, it seems that some of my peers in Indiana have a different perspective on this.

How Much Money Do Hoosiers Spend on Lottery Tickets During the Holidays?

Sports blog Deadspin surveyed 2,000 Americans across the country to find out just how much people are spending on the lottery during the holidays and if they're willing to share the winnings. According to the data, Americans spend an average of $77 on holiday lottery tickets per person, with New Jersey leading the pack at $265, while Louisiana sticks to a modest $22 per person. Indiana is also toward the low end, with an average of $43 per person.

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Are Indiana Residents Willing to Share Their Lottery Winnings?

When it comes to sharing lottery winnings, the country as a whole is likely not as greedy as you might think. In fact, according to the data, just 14% of Americans wouldn’t share any of their winnings with the person who gave them the winning ticket. Folks in Idaho are the most stingy, with 67% unwilling to share, followed by Alabama at 50% and Massachusetts at 31%. Indiana checks in with a no-share rating of 20%.

So, if you're planning on gifting your friends and family lottery tickets this Christmas, be warned that not everyone may be comfortable with sharing cash. In fact, because of this, 13% of Americans actually avoid buying lottery tickets altogether, worried about potential jealousy or awkwardness if the recipient wins. Still, Christmas is technically the season of giving, so maybe we should just give without thinking of ourselves anyway.