Bavaria’s Gambling Boom Hits €1.3B as a $18M USA Jackpot Goes Unclaimed

A record year for Bavaria’s casinos and lotteries left the state richer by €500M. Meanwhile, a forgotten $18M ticket in the USA could still make someone an overnight millionaire.

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2026 January 5 . 4:14 PM

1 min read

There is vending machine over here, with a lot of snacks in it. It is operated by giving money in... — There is vending machine over here, with a lot of snacks in it. It is operated by giving money in here, so that we can take the snacks and we get the snacks down here after giving money and selecting the snack, and in the background there is a wall and here is the window.

Lotto Bayern: 24 new Lotto millionaires in the past year - Bavaria’s Gambling Boom Hits €1.3B as a $18M USA Jackpot Goes Unclaimed

Bavaria saw a record year for gambling in 2025, with lottery players spending over €1.3 billion on tickets. The state also collected more than €500 million in taxes and levies from casinos and lotteries. Yet, despite 24 million-euro jackpots, one major prize of nearly €18 million remains unclaimed in the USA.

Lottery players in Bavaria won a combined total of around €621 million in 2025. The largest single prize was a €40.7 million Eurojackpot win in Upper Bavaria. Other significant payouts included nearly €18 million, over €6.3 million, and over €2.7 million—all from LOTTO 6aus49 and Eurojackpot draws in the same region.

In addition to lottery wins, Bavarian casinos reported strong growth. Visitor numbers rose by about 4.9%, while gross gambling revenue reached approximately €139 million. The state treasury benefited as well, receiving over €500 million from taxes, profit transfers, and casino levies. Despite the high number of winners—24 jackpots of €1 million or more—one major prize of nearly €18 million has yet to be claimed in the USA. The identities of the nine millionaires from Upper Bavaria remain undisclosed, as Lotto Bayern only publishes win amounts.

The 2025 figures highlight Bavaria’s thriving gambling sector, with record spending and substantial state revenue. While many winners have collected their prizes, one nearly €18 million jackpot still waits to be claimed in the USA. The state continues to profit from taxes and levies tied to casinos and lotteries.