California scratch tickets, ranked by expected value

Every California State Lottery scratch ticket still on sale, from least bad to worst: what an average ticket pays back per $1 right now, based on the prizes the Lottery says are still out there.

Data as of Oct 7, 2026, 2:35 PM PT from California State Lottery. Estimates; may be delayed or wrong.

Every one of these loses money on average. The typical game on sale gives back about 69.0% of what you spend, so you lose roughly 31¢ per $1. 18+. Help: call 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537).

How to read this

Rank:: #1 is the least-bad buy right now among games with reliable numbers. Every ticket loses money on average; lower ranks lose more.
Back per $1:: 77% means that, on average, every $1 you spend comes back as about 77¢ in prizes, so you lose about 23¢. We count prizes at their cash value and only as many jackpots as sales suggest are still unsold.
Expected value (EV):: The average prize one ticket is worth right now, on that same cash basis. On a $10 ticket with an EV of $8.50, you lose $1.50 on average.
Net:: EV minus the ticket price: what you gain or (almost always) lose per ticket, on average.
Any prize:: 1 in 3.5 means about one in every 3.5 tickets wins something. Often that’s just your money back.
Top prize chance:: How many of the biggest prizes haven’t been claimed yet and the odds on your next ticket (“2 of 3 left · 1 in 1.55M”).
Up to X%:: The figure if every listed jackpot is truly unsold and paid at face value. It’s the optimistic ceiling, not what to expect.
Cash value:: Annuity top prizes count at half their headline. California prints each game’s exact cash option on the back of the ticket and doesn’t publish it in its data, so we use a conservative 50% (its winner’s handbook puts a $1 million, 20-year prize at about $500,000 cash). Free-ticket prizes count at the ticket price.
Ties:: Games within about 1 point of each other are basically tied; the estimates aren’t that precise.
Warnings:: Each card shows at most one warning chip, the most important. Tap it to see every caution for that game.
% sold:: Our estimate of how much of the game is already gone. Games 90% or more sold are hidden from the ranking by default because their numbers are unreliable; you can reveal them below the list.

Why some games are “over 100% on paper”. Counting every listed prize at face value can push a game past 100%, as if a ticket paid back more than it costs. It isn’t real: annuity prizes are worth about half as cash, and winning tickets people haven’t cashed yet (or lost) still count as “remaining”. “Remaining” is printed minus cashed: prizes not yet claimed. Our ranking counts cash value and caps jackpots at what sales suggest, so no ranked game comes out above 100%. Nearly sold-out games, where this is worst, are hidden by default.

Ticket price

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After tax withholding

Cash value before tax: prizes paid over time count at the Lottery’s cash option, and jackpots are capped at what sales suggest is still unsold.

Hiding 2 nearly sold-out games (90%+ sold): their numbers aren’t reliable.

#1 best value right now

$1 Million California Cash

Game #1749 · $40 ticket

81.9%back per $1

Expected value $32.77 per $40 ticket, counting cash value and only the jackpots sales suggest are still out there. The least bad ticket: you still lose about 18¢ per $1 on average.

Top prize chance: 39 of 40 $1M left · 1 in 363,808 · 5.2% sold

More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?

More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.

Every ticket on sale, best to worst

All 55 games with reliable numbers, ranked by conservative cash value per $1. Hiding 2 nearly sold-out games. Games within about 1 point of each other are basically tied.

Back per $1 = average cents returned per $1 spent · EV = average prize one ticket is worth · Net = EV − price · what these mean

#1
$1 Million California Cash
Game #1749 · $40 ticket
Back per $1
81.9%
you lose ~18¢ per $1
Expected value
$32.77
per $40 ticket · net −$7.23
Top prize chance: 39 of 40 $1M left · 1 in 363,808Any prize: 1 in 2.325.2% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#2
Instant Prize Crossword
Game #1739 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
78.6%
you lose ~21¢ per $1
Expected value
$15.72
per $20 ticket · net −$4.28
Top prize chance: 12 of 15 $2M left · 1 in 1.14MAny prize: 1 in 3.1123.6% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#3
Red Carpet Riches
Game #1714 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
77.5%
you lose ~22¢ per $1
Expected value
$15.50
per $20 ticket · net −$4.50
Top prize chance: 5 of 12 $2M left · 1 in 1.27MAny prize: 1 in 3.1256.4% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#4
Instant Prize Crossword
Game #1590 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
77.2%
you lose ~23¢ per $1
Expected value
$15.43
per $20 ticket · net −$4.57
Top prize chance: 9 of 27 $2M left · 1 in 1.31MAny prize: 1 in 3.1364.6% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#5
Crossword Xtreme
Game #1726 · $30 ticket
Back per $1
76.9%
you lose ~23¢ per $1
Expected value
$23.08
per $30 ticket · net −$6.92
Top prize chance: 2 of 4 $7M left · 1 in 5.23MAny prize: 1 in 2.7345.5% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; the exact cash option is printed on the back of the ticket).
#6
Mystery Crossword
Game #1743 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
76.7%
you lose ~23¢ per $1
Expected value
$7.67
per $10 ticket · net −$2.33
Top prize chance: 22 of 25 $750K left · 1 in 1.05MAny prize: 1 in 3.4822.9% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#7
Royal Jackpot
Game #1718 · $40 ticket
Back per $1
76.5%
you lose ~24¢ per $1
Expected value
$30.59
per $40 ticket · net −$9.41
Top prize chance: 3 of 5 $15M left · 1 in 2.76MAny prize: 1 in 2.4345.9% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; the exact cash option is printed on the back of the ticket).
#8
$100 or $200
Game #1687 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
76.1%
you lose ~24¢ per $1
Expected value
$15.23
per $20 ticket · net −$4.77
Top prize chance: 62019 of 424075 $200 left · 1 in 38.2Any prize: 1 in 7.9385.5% sold
#9
$100 or $200 Frenzy
Game #1731 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
75.9%
you lose ~24¢ per $1
Expected value
$15.19
per $20 ticket · net −$4.81
Top prize chance: 247184 of 467736 $200 left · 1 in 38.5Any prize: 1 in 7.9447.1% sold
#10
200X
Game #1740 · $30 ticket
Back per $1
74.3%
you lose ~26¢ per $1
Expected value
$22.28
per $30 ticket · net −$7.72
Top prize chance: 4 of 5 $10M left · 1 in 2.85MAny prize: 1 in 2.7124% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; the exact cash option is printed on the back of the ticket).
#11
7's
Game #1692 · $30 ticket
Back per $1
74.2%
you lose ~26¢ per $1
Expected value
$22.27
per $30 ticket · net −$7.73
Top prize chance: 2 of 5 $10M left · 1 in 2.29MAny prize: 1 in 2.7169.8% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy? (+2 more)
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
- One jackpot claim would drop this by about 7 points.
- Most of this number rides on a few jackpot tickets.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; the exact cash option is printed on the back of the ticket).
#12
Neon Jackpot
Game #1734 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
73.7%
you lose ~26¢ per $1
Expected value
$7.37
per $10 ticket · net −$2.63
Top prize chance: 5 of 8 $1M left · 1 in 1.67MAny prize: 1 in 3.4447.7% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#13
MONOPOLY
Game #1669 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
73.5%
you lose ~26¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.71
per $20 ticket · net −$5.29
Top prize chance: 4 of 6 $5M left · 1 in 2.01MAny prize: 1 in 3.3456% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; the exact cash option is printed on the back of the ticket).
#14
Set for Life
Game #1705 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
73.4%
you lose ~27¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.69
per $20 ticket · net −$5.31
Top prize chance: 5 of 6 $5M left · 1 in 1.6MAny prize: 1 in 3.3555.6% sold
Up to 84.9% if every listed jackpot is truly unsold.
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy? (+1 more)
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
- Most of this number rides on a few jackpot tickets.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; the exact cash option is printed on the back of the ticket).
#15
Show Me $5,000,000!
Game #1678 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
73.2%
you lose ~27¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.64
per $20 ticket · net −$5.36
Top prize chance: 2 of 5 $5M left · 1 in 2.83MAny prize: 1 in 3.3562.9% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; the exact cash option is printed on the back of the ticket).
#16
100X
Game #1696 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
73.1%
you lose ~27¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.62
per $20 ticket · net −$5.38
Top prize chance: 2 of 6 $5M left · 1 in 2.15MAny prize: 1 in 3.0076.5% sold
One jackpot claim: −6 ptsWhy?
- One jackpot claim would drop this by about 6 points.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; the exact cash option is printed on the back of the ticket).
#17
Golden State Riches
Game #1735 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
73.1%
you lose ~27¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.62
per $20 ticket · net −$5.38
Top prize chance: 6 of 7 $5M left · 1 in 2.29MAny prize: 1 in 2.8918.3% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; the exact cash option is printed on the back of the ticket).
#18
$5,000,000 Extreme Cash
Game #1744 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
73.1%
you lose ~27¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.61
per $20 ticket · net −$5.39
Top prize chance: 4 of 4 $5M left · 1 in 2.37MAny prize: 1 in 3.0020.9% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; the exact cash option is printed on the back of the ticket).
#19
$50 or $100
Game #1738 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
73.0%
you lose ~27¢ per $1
Expected value
$7.30
per $10 ticket · net −$2.70
Top prize chance: 150941 of 276255 $100 left · 1 in 43.5Any prize: 1 in 8.1345.3% sold
#20
$1,000,000 Poker
Game #1725 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
72.9%
you lose ~27¢ per $1
Expected value
$7.29
per $10 ticket · net −$2.71
Top prize chance: 9 of 18 $1M left · 1 in 1.36MAny prize: 1 in 3.5343.1% sold
#21
100X The Cash
Game #1722 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
72.6%
you lose ~27¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.52
per $20 ticket · net −$5.48
Top prize chance: 2 of 6 $5M left · 1 in 3.73MAny prize: 1 in 3.3658.6% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; the exact cash option is printed on the back of the ticket).
#22
California Jackpot
Game #1695 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
72.4%
you lose ~28¢ per $1
Expected value
$7.24
per $10 ticket · net −$2.76
Top prize chance: 3 of 8 $1M left · 1 in 2.27MAny prize: 1 in 3.4658.4% sold
#23
Cash King
Game #1664 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
72.1%
you lose ~28¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.42
per $20 ticket · net −$5.58
Top prize chance: 2 of 6 $5M left · 1 in 3.77MAny prize: 1 in 3.0058.9% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; the exact cash option is printed on the back of the ticket).
#24
California Color Pop
Game #1721 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
71.2%
you lose ~29¢ per $1
Expected value
$7.12
per $10 ticket · net −$2.88
Top prize chance: 1 of 6 $1M left · 1 in 3.17MAny prize: 1 in 3.5977.7% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#25
$1,000,000 Money Mania
Game #1713 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
70.2%
you lose ~30¢ per $1
Expected value
$7.02
per $10 ticket · net −$2.98
Top prize chance: 2 of 13 $1M left · 1 in 2.58MAny prize: 1 in 3.5379.6% sold
#26
LOTERIA™ Extra!
Game #1737 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
70.0%
you lose ~30¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.50
per $5 ticket · net −$1.50
Top prize chance: 11 of 13 $100K left · 1 in 1.68MAny prize: 1 in 3.5425.2% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#27
Poker Multiplier
Game #1747 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
69.9%
you lose ~30¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.49
per $5 ticket · net −$1.51
Top prize chance: 25 of 25 $75K left · 1 in 1.13MAny prize: 1 in 3.625.5% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#28
Full of 500's
Game #1742 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
69.0%
you lose ~31¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.45
per $5 ticket · net −$1.55
Top prize chance: 17631 of 26250 $500 left · 1 in 702Any prize: 1 in 4.4731.2% sold
#29
Set For Life
Game #1748 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
68.5%
you lose ~31¢ per $1
Expected value
$6.85
per $10 ticket · net −$3.15
Top prize chance: 5 of 5 $6M left · 1 in 2.69MAny prize: 1 in 3.7710.4% sold
Up to 80.8% if every listed jackpot is truly unsold.
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy? (+1 more)
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
- Most of this number rides on a few jackpot tickets.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; the exact cash option is printed on the back of the ticket).
#30
LOTERIA™ Grande
Game #1704 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
68.5%
you lose ~32¢ per $1
Expected value
$6.85
per $10 ticket · net −$3.15
Top prize chance: 3 of 6 $1M left · 1 in 908,000Any prize: 1 in 3.7281.4% sold
#31
JAWS
Game #1724 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
68.2%
you lose ~32¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.41
per $5 ticket · net −$1.59
Top prize chance: 10 of 20 $500K left · 1 in 1.14MAny prize: 1 in 3.8852.7% sold
#32
California Dreamin'
Game #1680 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
67.5%
you lose ~33¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.37
per $5 ticket · net −$1.63
Top prize chance: 5 of 12 $556K left · 1 in 785,370Any prize: 1 in 3.8478.4% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#33
MEGA Crossword
Game #1717 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
66.2%
you lose ~34¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.31
per $5 ticket · net −$1.69
Top prize chance: 16 of 35 $75K left · 1 in 1.25MAny prize: 1 in 3.9453% sold
#34
15X
Game #1746 · $3 ticket
Back per $1
65.6%
you lose ~34¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.97
per $3 ticket · net −$1.03
Top prize chance: 27 of 28 $30K left · 1 in 601,244Any prize: 1 in 3.795.9% sold
#35
Power 10's
Game #1686 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
65.5%
you lose ~34¢ per $1
Expected value
$6.55
per $10 ticket · net −$3.45
Top prize chance: 1 of 14 $1M left · 1 in 2.38MAny prize: 1 in 3.4786% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#36
Planetary Payout
Game #1741 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
65.1%
you lose ~35¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.30
per $2 ticket · net −$0.70
Top prize chance: 16 of 20 $20K left · 1 in 606,507Any prize: 1 in 4.1119.1% sold
#37
Boo Bucks
Game #1745 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
65.0%
you lose ~35¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.30
per $2 ticket · net −$0.70
Top prize chance: 9 of 10 $30K left · 1 in 757,898Any prize: 1 in 4.1214.7% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#38
Red, White & Blue 7's
Game #1730 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
64.9%
you lose ~35¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.24
per $5 ticket · net −$1.76
Top prize chance: 3 of 18 $250K left · 1 in 1.88MAny prize: 1 in 4.7973.8% sold
#39
LOTERIA™
Game #1729 · $3 ticket
Back per $1
64.6%
you lose ~35¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.94
per $3 ticket · net −$1.06
Top prize chance: 45 of 60 $30K left · 1 in 532,647Any prize: 1 in 3.7834.4% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#40
Dominoes
Game #1723 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
64.1%
you lose ~36¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.28
per $2 ticket · net −$0.72
Top prize chance: 10 of 16 $30K left · 1 in 689,938Any prize: 1 in 4.1546.1% sold
#41
MONOPOLY
Game #1665 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
64.0%
you lose ~36¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.28
per $2 ticket · net −$0.72
Top prize chance: 15 of 28 $30K left · 1 in 769,625Any prize: 1 in 4.1648.6% sold
#42
GOOOAAAL!
Game #1728 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
63.5%
you lose ~36¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.27
per $2 ticket · net −$0.73
Top prize chance: 11 of 20 $20K left · 1 in 578,322Any prize: 1 in 4.1547% sold
#43
Fireball Bingo
Game #1711 · $3 ticket
Back per $1
63.2%
you lose ~37¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.90
per $3 ticket · net −$1.10
Top prize chance: 25 of 50 $20K left · 1 in 591,964Any prize: 1 in 3.6551.2% sold
#44
Poker Nights
Game #1694 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
62.9%
you lose ~37¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.14
per $5 ticket · net −$1.86
Top prize chance: 4 of 40 $75K left · 1 in 1.92MAny prize: 1 in 3.8384% sold
#45
Cash Crush
Game #1712 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
62.5%
you lose ~38¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.12
per $5 ticket · net −$1.88
Top prize chance: 6 of 14 $250K left · 1 in 826,169Any prize: 1 in 4.7771% sold
#46
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner
Game #1632 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
62.5%
you lose ~38¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.12
per $5 ticket · net −$1.88
Top prize chance: 2 of 15 $250K left · 1 in 2.71MAny prize: 1 in 4.9970.6% sold
#47
Ca$h Doubler
Game #1732 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
61.9%
you lose ~38¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.24
per $2 ticket · net −$0.76
Top prize chance: 8 of 15 $20K left · 1 in 506,518Any prize: 1 in 4.3754.9% sold
#48
Tripling Bonus Crossword
Game #1720 · $3 ticket
Back per $1
60.4%
you lose ~40¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.81
per $3 ticket · net −$1.19
Top prize chance: 7 of 20 $20K left · 1 in 1.59MAny prize: 1 in 3.5453.6% sold
#49
Straight 8's
Game #1674 · $1 ticket
Back per $1
59.1%
you lose ~41¢ per $1
Expected value
$0.59
per $1 ticket · net −$0.41
Top prize chance: 22 of 90 $888 left · 1 in 556,031Any prize: 1 in 4.7972.4% sold
#50
Rockin' Riches
Game #1727 · $1 ticket
Back per $1
58.8%
you lose ~41¢ per $1
Expected value
$0.59
per $1 ticket · net −$0.41
Top prize chance: 25 of 105 $5,000 left · 1 in 331,545Any prize: 1 in 4.4867.1% sold
#51
Set for Life
Game #1736 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
58.8%
you lose ~41¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.18
per $2 ticket · net −$0.82
Top prize chance: 1 of 2 $1.2M left · 1 in 5.35MAny prize: 1 in 4.5555.4% sold
One jackpot claim: −11 ptsWhy?
- One jackpot claim would drop this by about 11 points.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; the exact cash option is printed on the back of the ticket).
#52
LOTERIA™ Extra!
Game #1688 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
57.6%
you lose ~42¢ per $1
Expected value
$2.88
per $5 ticket · net −$2.12
Top prize chance: 3 of 19 $100K left · 1 in 1.7MAny prize: 1 in 3.8686.5% sold
#53
10X The Cash
Game #1719 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
57.2%
you lose ~43¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.14
per $2 ticket · net −$0.86
Top prize chance: 3 of 20 $30K left · 1 in 825,557Any prize: 1 in 4.4179.4% sold
#54
The Lucky Spot!
Game #1555 · $1 ticket
Back per $1
56.2%
you lose ~44¢ per $1
Expected value
$0.56
per $1 ticket · net −$0.44
Top prize chance: 27 of 125 $1,000 left · 1 in 320,440Any prize: 1 in 5.0171.9% sold
#55
15X
Game #1684 · $3 ticket
Back per $1
52.3%
you lose ~48¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.57
per $3 ticket · net −$1.43
Top prize chance: 2 of 37 $30K left · 1 in 1.43MAny prize: 1 in 4.2187.1% sold

Games no longer on sale (20), not ranked

The Lottery has ended sales of these games. Winning tickets can still be claimed until the date shown.

Year of the Horse · #1706 · $1 · claim by 2026-12-13
Four Leaf Frenzy · #1715 · $1 · claim by 2027-02-13
Winter Double Match · #1701 · $2 · claim by 2026-12-13
Tic Tac Toe Craze · #1707 · $2 · claim by 2026-12-13
$pring Green · #1710 · $2 · claim by 2027-02-13
Your Lucky Stars · #1716 · $2 · claim by 2027-02-13
Bingo Extra · #1657 · $3 · claim by 2026-12-13
LOTERIA™ · #1666 · $3 · claim by 2027-02-13
MEGA Crossword · #1628 · $5 · claim by 2026-10-11
Tic Tac Toe Bonus · #1658 · $5 · claim by 2026-12-13
Feeling Lucky · #1685 · $5 · claim by 2026-12-12
Full of 500's · #1703 · $5 · claim by 2027-02-13
Mystery Crossword · #1659 · $10 · claim by 2027-02-13
$50 or $100! · #1681 · $10 · claim by 2026-12-13
Instant Prize Crossword · #1634 · $20 · claim by 2027-01-06
Double The Luck · #1672 · $20 · claim by 2027-02-13
Instant Prize Crossword · #1682 · $20 · claim by 2026-12-13
$5,000,000 Superstar · #1709 · $20 · claim by 2027-03-13
Celebrate 2026 · #1700 · $25 · claim by 2026-12-08
Crossword Xtreme · #1673 · $30 · claim by 2026-10-18

How it’s calculated

The California Lottery publishes, for every game, each prize amount with how many were printed and how many have been cashed, the odds of each prize and the overall odds (“1 in 3.79”). “Remaining” is printed minus cashed: prizes not yet claimed. The Lottery does not publish how many tickets are still unsold, so we estimate it:

Tickets printed ≈ overall odds × total prizes printed. This matches the California Lottery’s published per-prize odds within 0.7%.
Tickets remaining ≈ tickets printed × (small prizes still unclaimed ÷ small prizes printed). Small prizes, worth the ticket price or less, get cashed right away at any store, so they track sales. Games with no prize that small use their lowest prize.
Cash value. Annuity top prizes count at half their headline. California prints each game’s exact cash option on the back of the ticket and doesn’t publish it in its data, so we use a conservative 50% (its winner’s handbook puts a $1 million, 20-year prize at about $500,000 cash). Free-ticket prizes count at the ticket price.
Jackpots capped at what sales suggest. “Remaining” really means not yet claimed. For prizes with fewer than 100 printed, we count no more than the share sales say is still unsold: if a game is 76% sold, we expect about a quarter of its jackpots to be left, even if more are listed. One sold-but-uncashed or lost jackpot ticket can’t inflate the number.
Expected value = (each prize’s cash value × how many we count as left, added up) ÷ tickets remaining. Return per $1 = expected value ÷ ticket price. Net = expected value − price. Cards also show “Up to X%”: the figure if every listed jackpot is truly unsold, at face value.
Odds now: any prize = tickets remaining ÷ prizes remaining; top prize = tickets remaining ÷ top prizes remaining.

Where it goes wrong. People hold winning tickets before cashing them, and some winners are lost or never claimed, so “remaining” prizes include ones already sold. That makes big prizes look more available than they are, worst near the end of a game, so games an estimated 90% or more sold are left out of the ranking and hidden by default. You can reveal them below the list, flagged “Nearly sold out · N% sold”; treat their numbers as unreliable. Brand-new games look less sold than they are, because small prizes take a few days to come in. Estimates this rough can’t separate games within about 1 point of each other: treat them as tied. And a statewide average says nothing about the roll at your store.

Warnings on the cards. Each card shows at most one warning, the most important that applies: over 100% on paper only, more jackpots listed than sales suggest, one jackpot claim swinging the number by 5 points or more, most of the value riding on a few jackpots, just launched, or all top prizes won. Tap it to see every caution for that game.

We rank only games still on sale. Games the Lottery has ended (or no longer lists) are left out, and so are games with prizes that have no fixed cash value, like free plays of another game. Prize data is refreshed from the Lottery a few times a day at most.

Questions

Which California scratch ticket has the best odds right now?

By our estimate from California State Lottery prizes-remaining data as of Oct 7, 2026, 2:35 PM PT, $1 Million California Cash (Game #1749, $40) gives back the most per $1, about 81.9% at cash value, among games with reliable numbers. Games within about 1 point of each other are basically tied. The median ranked game returns about 69.0%. 2 nearly sold-out games are left out of the ranking because their numbers aren't reliable.

Do scratch tickets ever have positive expected value?

Almost never. Lotteries design instant games to pay back roughly 60% to 90% of sales. A figure above 100% comes from counting prizes paid over time at face value and every unclaimed jackpot as unsold. We count the cash option and cap jackpots at what sales suggest, so no ranked game comes out above 100%. Games an estimated 90% or more sold are hidden from the ranking by default because their numbers swing on a handful of tickets.

If a ticket shows over 100%, why not buy them all?

Take Set for Life (Game #1705). With every listed prize at face value it shows 84.9% on paper. About 8.0 million tickets are left, which would cost about $160.1M. Every prize still listed adds up to $135.9M at face value, but only about $123.4M as cash, because the biggest prizes are paid over many years or taken as a smaller lump sum. That's a loss of about $36.7M before tax, and tax makes it worse: big wins are taxed, and federal law now lets gamblers deduct only 90% of losses. You couldn't do it anyway: the tickets are spread across stores statewide, and some of the "remaining" jackpots may already be sold and sitting in someone's drawer. On our conservative basis it's 73.4%, ranked #14.

How do you estimate how many tickets are left?

Tickets printed are the overall odds times the total prizes printed. Small prizes (worth the ticket price or less) are cashed almost immediately, so the share of small prizes still unclaimed approximates the share of tickets still unsold. Expected value is the cash value of the remaining prizes, with jackpots capped at that same unsold share, divided by the estimated tickets remaining.

Does this include taxes?

By default prizes count at their cash value before tax. Annuity top prizes count at half their headline. California prints each game’s exact cash option on the back of the ticket and doesn’t publish it in its data, so we use a conservative 50% (its winner’s handbook puts a $1 million, 20-year prize at about $500,000 cash). Free-ticket prizes count at the ticket price. The after-tax toggle then subtracts withholding: California doesn’t tax lottery prizes, so only 24% federal withholding on wins over $5,000. Withholding isn't your final tax bill.

Is this the official California State Lottery site?

No. Jackpot Dreaming is independent and not affiliated with the California State Lottery. Prize data comes from the Lottery's public prize data; check calottery.com for official information.

Read this before you buy anything

Every scratch ticket is a losing bet on average. This page ranks them from least bad to worst. It cannot tell you which ticket will win.
The numbers are estimates built on assumptions (see “How it’s calculated”). The Lottery does not publish how many tickets are unsold, prize data can be delayed or wrong, and our math could be wrong too.
Jackpot Dreaming is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the California State Lottery. Game names and prize data belong to the Lottery; check calottery.com for official information.
For entertainment and information only. Not financial, tax or gambling advice.
California Lottery tickets are sold only to people 18 or older. Play only with money you can afford to lose.
Gambling a problem for you or someone you know? Free, confidential help: the California Problem Gambling Helpline, 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537).

55 games ranked · 2 nearly sold out (hidden) · 20 ended · median return 69% · source calottery.com/scratchers

How to read this

$1 Million California Cash

Every ticket on sale, best to worst

$1 Million California Cash

Instant Prize Crossword

Red Carpet Riches

Instant Prize Crossword

Crossword Xtreme

Mystery Crossword

Royal Jackpot

$100 or $200

$100 or $200 Frenzy

200X

7's

Neon Jackpot

MONOPOLY

Set for Life

Show Me $5,000,000!

100X

Golden State Riches

$5,000,000 Extreme Cash

$50 or $100

$1,000,000 Poker

100X The Cash

California Jackpot

Cash King

California Color Pop

$1,000,000 Money Mania

LOTERIA™ Extra!

Poker Multiplier

Full of 500's

Set For Life

LOTERIA™ Grande

JAWS

California Dreamin'

MEGA Crossword

15X

Power 10's

Planetary Payout

Boo Bucks

Red, White & Blue 7's

LOTERIA™

Dominoes

MONOPOLY

GOOOAAAL!

Fireball Bingo

Poker Nights

Cash Crush

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Ca$h Doubler

Tripling Bonus Crossword

Straight 8's

Rockin' Riches

Set for Life

LOTERIA™ Extra!

10X The Cash

The Lucky Spot!

15X

How it’s calculated

Questions