Lottery and betting cost calculator
Enter what you stake and how often you play to see what lottery tickets and bets cost over the years – and how much of it comes back as winnings on average.
Settings
The share of all stakes paid back as winnings. Lotteries usually pay back about half, sports betting and casino games 90–97%.
What it costs
- Per month
- $0.00
- Per year
- $0.00
- Average loss a year
- $0.00
How the cost of lottery and betting is calculated
The yearly cost is the stake × games per week × 52 weeks. The monthly cost is a twelfth of that, and the 10-year total uses today’s stakes.
The payout rate is the share of all stakes that is paid back as winnings. With a 50% payout rate, $10 twice a week is $1,040 a year in stakes, of which about $520 comes back as winnings on average – an average loss of $520 a year. One player can win big or lose everything, but over many games the result moves towards the average.
The “If you invested it instead” box shows what the stakes would grow to if you invested them every month instead, at a 4% yearly return over 10 years. If gambling feels hard to control, your doctor or a local gambling helpline can help.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I spend on the lottery in a year?
Multiply the stake by the number of games a week and by 52. $10 twice a week is $1,040 a year and $10,400 in ten years.
What is a payout rate?
It is the share of all stakes that is paid back to players as winnings. Lotteries usually pay back about half of the stakes, while sports betting and casino games pay back 90–97%. The rest goes to the operator – and is what players lose on average.
What if I invested the money instead?
The “If you invested it instead” box shows what you would have after 10 years if you invested your stakes every month instead, at a 4% yearly return compounded monthly. $10 twice a week is about $86.67 a month, which grows to about $12,710 – $10,400 of your own money and the rest returns. Taxes, fees and inflation are left out. It is an example, not investment advice.