California has been named the luckiest state in the U.S. for lottery players, according to a recent analysis of lottery data. The study, conducted by Casino.org, examined over 7,000 winning lottery and scratch-off tickets sold nationwide on July 17, referred to as National Lottery Day, from 2020 to 2024.
During this five-year period, California recorded 2,195 winning tickets sold on July 17, the highest total among all states. This resulted in more than $41 million in prize money claimed from tickets purchased on that specific date across the country.
Los Angeles emerged as the luckiest city, with 198 winning tickets sold on National Lottery Day over the same timeframe. These tickets collectively awarded $433,892 in prizes. The city's success on this particular day continued in recent years, with 45 winning tickets sold in Los Angeles on July 17, 2025, alone.
Within Los Angeles, the H & T Unocal #2, located at 475 S. Ave. 60 in Highland Park, was identified as the retailer responsible for the most winning tickets sold on July 17. Since 2023, players have collected a combined $38,920 in prizes from tickets purchased at this location.
While Los Angeles led in the number of winning tickets, it was not the city with the largest total prize payouts. That distinction went to Danvers, Massachusetts, where winners on July 17 claimed a combined $2.6 million over the five-year study period. Other cities with high prize money payouts included Orangeburg, South Carolina ($2.005 million), Tampa, Florida ($1.123 million), Delray Beach, Florida ($1.034 million), and Frisco, Texas ($1.033 million).
The analysis by Casino.org, a website founded in 1995 that offers gambling news and reviews, utilized exclusive Freedom of Information requests to gather historical lottery-winning data nationwide. The rankings are based on the frequency of winning tickets sold on July 17, rather than the size of the jackpots.
Researchers emphasized that these findings highlight historical trends and do not indicate a higher likelihood of future wins in any specific location. Lottery games are ultimately games of chance, with odds remaining constant regardless of where tickets are purchased.