Illinoisans Reveal 2025’s Most & Least Wanted Christmas Gifts

Are you completely stressed out over what to buy those hard-to-buy-for people on your Christmas list? A new Illinois Lottery survey just handed us the cheat codes for successful gift-giving this holiday season.

Christmas Stress

Every afternoon after I pick my kids up from school they ask me to drive by a neighbor's house that has a snowman yard decoration which counts down the days to Christmas, and every time we drive by it I start to sweat a little more.

As the days until Christmas dropped into the teens, I quickly realized I have a ton of things to do and so little time to get them done.

1. I have to finish buying gifts for several people on my list.
2. I have to wrap all the gifts.
3. I have to bake Christmas cookies with my daughters.
4. I have to go on at least two Christmas light drives, watch at least 15 more holiday movies, and walk through the outdoor light displays at Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens in Rockford.
5. I have to find a minute to enjoy my favorite season with my family.

Will life go on if I don't accomplish all the things on my holiday to-do list? Sure, but I'll be sad if any of my family's favorite holiday traditions go forgotten.

Like most people during the holiday season, gift buying is the thing that I am most stressed about right now, so I'm open to any help I can get. Thankfully, the Illinois Lottery just delivered the key to success.

Things Illinoisans DON'T Want for Christmas This Year

In October, the Illinois Lottery commissioned a survey of 500 Illinois residents 18 and over that found people dread receiving these gifts from their better half the most for Christmas:

And here are 5 gifts Illinois residents don't want to receive again this year:

Christmas Gifts Illinois Residents Want Most

If you've ever considered giving someone a gift that another person gave you in the past, don't feel bad! The Illinois Lottery survey says 79% of Illinois residents are fine with receiving a re-gifted present.

Now for the million dollar question: what do Illinois residents want most for Christmas this year? Illinois Lottery Instant Tickets.

I think we should take that result with a grain of salt, but when all other ideas fail, you can never go wrong with a box full of scratch-offs!