Lubbock Lottery Dip Mirrors Statewide Spending Decline

 By Jack Johnston, joh50807@ttu.edu

Statewide spending patterns show that Texans are pulling back when it comes to lottery tickets —both in how much players are spending and how many tickets are being sold.

Over the past year, Lubbock lottery players spent an average of $39.26 per month, placing the city at the lower end compared to other major metro areas. 

Houston West led the pack, with players there spending $79.56 monthly. Fort Worth followed with $65.99, while Austin and Dallas players spent $55.28 and $53.96, respectively.

Since 2022, however, overall lottery ticket sales have declined across Texas. Lubbock saw a 5% drop in total ticket sales. Meanwhile, some cities experienced even sharper declines: Fort Worth dropped by 9.4%, San Antonio by 10.8%, and Waco by 12.7%. 

East Houston saw the biggest dip, with a 16.2% decrease in sales compared to the previous year.

The reasons for the drop vary — from economic pressures to shifting entertainment habits — but the trend is clear: fewer tickets are being sold, even in areas where spending per player remains high.

Lottery commission data also highlights who’s doing the playing. 

Men are slightly more likely to buy tickets than women, with 57.2% of males reporting lottery play in the past year compared to 52.5% of females. 

Employment status matters too: 59.8% of employed Texans reported playing. That compares to 52.7% of retired individuals and 42.3% of unemployed individuals.

Age is a strong predictor, with the highest participation among those aged 35–44 and 45–54. 

Whether it’s chasing a multimillion-dollar jackpot or just scratching off a quick win, the lottery remains a popular pastime in Texas. But for now, fewer Texans are playing—and some cities are feeling it more than others.