Connecticut scratch tickets, ranked by expected value

Every Connecticut Lottery Corporation scratch ticket still on sale, from best value 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 10, 2026, 11:48 AM ET from Connecticut Lottery Corporation. Estimates; may be delayed or wrong.

Every one of these loses money on average. The typical game on sale gives back about 67.5% of what you spend, so you lose roughly 32¢ per $1. 18+. Help: call 1-888-789-7777; national helpline 1-800-GAMBLER.

How to read this

Rank:: #1 is the best-value 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:: Top prizes paid over 20 years count at the one-time gross cash option the Lottery lists for each game ($2.4 million for a $3 million prize, $825,000 or $750,000 for $1 million). “For life” prizes count at the cash option in the game’s rules.
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.

About the cash value. For “$20,000 a Year for Life” (game 1725), the Lottery’s prize table lists the top prize as $575,000, but the game’s rules give a one-time cash option of $440,000. We count the lower $440,000.

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: 20-year top prizes count at the Lottery’s listed cash option (75–82.5%), and winning tickets people haven’t cashed yet (or lost) still count as “remaining”. “Remaining” means not yet claimed, as of the date the Lottery’s game page shows (it updates daily). 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 6 nearly sold-out games (90%+ sold): their numbers aren’t reliable.

#1 best value right now

Best Chance To Be A Millionaire

Game #1850 · $50 ticket

78.7%back per $1

Expected value $39.34 per $50 ticket, counting cash value and only the jackpots sales suggest are still out there. The best-value ticket: you still lose about 21¢ per $1 on average.

Top prize chance: 1 of 5 $1M left · 1 in 609,913 · 70.5% 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 (75%: the Lottery’s one-time gross cash option ($750,000 for the $1,000,000 prize paid over 20 years)).

Every ticket on sale, best to worst

All 43 games with reliable numbers, ranked by conservative cash value per $1. Hiding 6 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
Best Chance To Be A Millionaire
Game #1850 · $50 ticket
Back per $1
78.7%
you lose ~21¢ per $1
Expected value
$39.34
per $50 ticket · net −$10.66
Top prize chance: 1 of 5 $1M left · 1 in 609,913Any prize: 1 in 3.1470.5% 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 (75%: the Lottery’s one-time gross cash option ($750,000 for the $1,000,000 prize paid over 20 years)).
#2
Millionaire Maker
Game #1774 · $30 ticket
Back per $1
74.6%
you lose ~25¢ per $1
Expected value
$22.38
per $30 ticket · net −$7.62
Top prize chance: 2 of 3 $1M left · 1 in 811,956Any prize: 1 in 2.7242.6% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#3
WIN BIG
Game #1816 · $30 ticket
Back per $1
74.4%
you lose ~26¢ per $1
Expected value
$22.33
per $30 ticket · net −$7.67
Top prize chance: 2 of 3 $3M left · 1 in 712,249Any prize: 1 in 3.0146.7% sold
One jackpot claim: −7 ptsWhy?
- One jackpot claim would drop this by about 7 points.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (80%: the Lottery’s one-time gross cash option ($2,400,000 for the $3,000,000 prize paid over 20 years)).
#4
$1,000,000 Extreme Cash
Game #1699 · $30 ticket
Back per $1
73.9%
you lose ~26¢ per $1
Expected value
$22.18
per $30 ticket · net −$7.82
Top prize chance: 1 of 3 $1M left · 1 in 861,402Any prize: 1 in 2.9572.3% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (83%: the Lottery’s one-time gross cash option ($825,000 for the $1,000,000 prize paid over 20 years)).
#5
Fabulous Fortune
Game #1860 · $30 ticket
Back per $1
73.9%
you lose ~26¢ per $1
Expected value
$22.17
per $30 ticket · net −$7.83
Top prize chance: 2 of 3 $2M left · 1 in 769,323Any prize: 1 in 3.5526.3% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (75%: the Lottery’s one-time gross cash option ($1,500,000 for the $2,000,000 prize paid over 20 years)).
#6
Lucky 7 Tripler
Game #1887 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
72.9%
you lose ~27¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.58
per $20 ticket · net −$5.42
Top prize chance: 3 of 4 $778K left · 1 in 619,870Any prize: 1 in 3.1215.6% sold
#7
$10 Million Cash Blowout 2nd Edition
Game #1916 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
72.7%
you lose ~27¢ per $1
Expected value
$7.27
per $10 ticket · net −$2.73
Top prize chance: 1242 of 1958 $500 left · 1 in 788Any prize: 1 in 9.2936.8% sold
#8
$1,000,000 Titanium
Game #1711 · $30 ticket
Back per $1
72.4%
you lose ~28¢ per $1
Expected value
$21.73
per $30 ticket · net −$8.27
Top prize chance: 1 of 3 $1M left · 1 in 577,651Any prize: 1 in 2.8877.1% 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 (83%: the Lottery’s one-time gross cash option ($825,000 for the $1,000,000 prize paid over 20 years)).
#9
$2,000,000 Jackpot
Game #1796 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
72.4%
you lose ~28¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.47
per $20 ticket · net −$5.53
Top prize chance: 1 of 3 $2M left · 1 in 606,735Any prize: 1 in 3.1075.7% 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 16 points.
- Most of this number rides on a few jackpot tickets.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (75%: the Lottery’s one-time gross cash option ($1,500,000 for the $2,000,000 prize paid over 20 years)).
#10
X THE MONEY
Game #1894 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
71.5%
you lose ~29¢ per $1
Expected value
$7.15
per $10 ticket · net −$2.85
Top prize chance: 4 of 4 $200K left · 1 in 440,964Any prize: 1 in 3.133.4% sold
Just launched · early estimateWhy?
- Just launched; estimates firm up after a few weeks of sales.
#11
200X 4th Edition
Game #1856 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
71.4%
you lose ~29¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.28
per $20 ticket · net −$5.72
Top prize chance: 1 of 3 $1M left · 1 in 798,254Any prize: 1 in 3.2768.2% 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 (75%: the Lottery’s one-time gross cash option ($750,000 for the $1,000,000 prize paid over 20 years)).
#12
20X Cash 10th Edition
Game #1813 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
70.0%
you lose ~30¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.00
per $20 ticket · net −$6.00
Top prize chance: 112 of 147 $20K left · 1 in 18,882Any prize: 1 in 4.0925.3% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#13
$100,000 CA$HWORD 2nd Edition
Game #1878 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
69.4%
you lose ~31¢ per $1
Expected value
$6.94
per $10 ticket · net −$3.06
Top prize chance: 19 of 21 $100K left · 1 in 253,411Any prize: 1 in 3.137.8% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#14
$30,000 CA$HWORD 2nd Edition
Game #1853 · $3 ticket
Back per $1
69.3%
you lose ~31¢ per $1
Expected value
$2.08
per $3 ticket · net −$0.92
Top prize chance: 20 of 21 $30K left · 1 in 525,236Any prize: 1 in 3.758% sold
#15
Pinball Wizard 2nd Edition
Game #1857 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
69.0%
you lose ~31¢ per $1
Expected value
$6.90
per $10 ticket · net −$3.10
Top prize chance: 2 of 4 $100K left · 1 in 599,159Any prize: 1 in 3.5761.9% sold
#16
$10 MONOPOLY
Game #1891 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
69.0%
you lose ~31¢ per $1
Expected value
$6.90
per $10 ticket · net −$3.10
Top prize chance: 3 of 4 $100K left · 1 in 584,787Any prize: 1 in 3.5615.3% sold
#17
CONNECTICUT APIZZA
Game #1904 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
68.4%
you lose ~32¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.42
per $5 ticket · net −$1.58
Top prize chance: 4 of 4 $50K left · 1 in 498,699Any prize: 1 in 4.163.2% sold
Just launched · early estimateWhy?
- Just launched; estimates firm up after a few weeks of sales.
#18
Red Hot 10s
Game #1886 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
68.0%
you lose ~32¢ per $1
Expected value
$6.80
per $10 ticket · net −$3.20
Top prize chance: 2 of 4 $100K left · 1 in 677,485Any prize: 1 in 3.2334.1% sold
#19
50X the cash
Game #1865 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
67.8%
you lose ~32¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.39
per $5 ticket · net −$1.61
Top prize chance: 1 of 4 $100K left · 1 in 1.14MAny prize: 1 in 3.8072% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#20
Pay Raise
Game #1770 · $3 ticket
Back per $1
67.6%
you lose ~32¢ per $1
Expected value
$2.03
per $3 ticket · net −$0.97
Top prize chance: 1 of 3 $25K left · 1 in 659,805Any prize: 1 in 3.4567.5% sold
#21
$50,000 Cashword 2nd Edition
Game #1830 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
67.6%
you lose ~32¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.38
per $5 ticket · net −$1.62
Top prize chance: 10 of 20 $50K left · 1 in 468,122Any prize: 1 in 3.6453.1% sold
#22
$500 Loaded!
Game #1873 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
67.5%
you lose ~32¢ per $1
Expected value
$6.75
per $10 ticket · net −$3.25
Top prize chance: 3936 of 11326 $500 left · 1 in 173Any prize: 1 in 4.4464.1% sold
#23
10X ™ CASH 18TH EDITION
Game #1805 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
67.4%
you lose ~33¢ per $1
Expected value
$6.74
per $10 ticket · net −$3.26
Top prize chance: 87 of 225 $10K left · 1 in 23,183Any prize: 1 in 3.9861.8% sold
#24
$5 MONOPOLY
Game #1890 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
67.3%
you lose ~33¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.37
per $5 ticket · net −$1.63
Top prize chance: 3 of 4 $50K left · 1 in 453,378Any prize: 1 in 3.7522.3% sold
#25
Fireball 7s
Game #1885 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
67.0%
you lose ~33¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.35
per $5 ticket · net −$1.65
Top prize chance: 3 of 4 $78K left · 1 in 547,012Any prize: 1 in 4.0937.3% sold
#26
EXTREME GREEN
Game #1877 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
66.9%
you lose ~33¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.35
per $5 ticket · net −$1.65
Top prize chance: 2 of 4 $50K left · 1 in 496,907Any prize: 1 in 4.2251.2% sold
#27
$250 Loaded!
Game #1872 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
66.3%
you lose ~34¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.32
per $5 ticket · net −$1.68
Top prize chance: 7316 of 14381 $250 left · 1 in 185Any prize: 1 in 4.8847.1% sold
#28
LOTERIA ™ 2nd Edition
Game #1895 · $3 ticket
Back per $1
65.1%
you lose ~35¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.95
per $3 ticket · net −$1.05
Top prize chance: 2 of 3 $30K left · 1 in 389,809Any prize: 1 in 3.8025.5% sold
#29
TREASURE HUNT
Game #1906 · $3 ticket
Back per $1
64.9%
you lose ~35¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.95
per $3 ticket · net −$1.05
Top prize chance: 4 of 4 $30K left · 1 in 320,809Any prize: 1 in 3.971.9% sold
Just launched · early estimateWhy?
- Just launched; estimates firm up after a few weeks of sales.
#30
WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER
Game #1920 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
64.4%
you lose ~36¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.29
per $2 ticket · net −$0.71
Top prize chance: 4 of 4 $20K left · 1 in 383,628Any prize: 1 in 4.722.2% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy? (+1 more)
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
- Just launched; estimates firm up after a few weeks of sales.
#31
$2 MONOPOLY
Game #1889 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
63.8%
you lose ~36¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.28
per $2 ticket · net −$0.72
Top prize chance: 4 of 4 $10K left · 1 in 456,566Any prize: 1 in 4.0612.8% sold
#32
Lady Luck
Game #1869 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
63.8%
you lose ~36¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.19
per $5 ticket · net −$1.81
Top prize chance: 1 of 4 $50K left · 1 in 527,277Any prize: 1 in 4.1574.8% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#33
DIAMOND BINGO
Game #1868 · $3 ticket
Back per $1
63.7%
you lose ~36¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.91
per $3 ticket · net −$1.09
Top prize chance: 1 of 4 $30K left · 1 in 791,500Any prize: 1 in 4.0249.6% sold
#34
TIC TAC MULTIPLIER
Game #1901 · $1 ticket
Back per $1
63.2%
you lose ~37¢ per $1
Expected value
$0.63
per $1 ticket · net −$0.37
Top prize chance: 4 of 4 $5,000 left · 1 in 553,189Any prize: 1 in 4.762.2% sold
Just launched · early estimateWhy?
- Just launched; estimates firm up after a few weeks of sales.
#35
7-11-21 ® 10X ®
Game #1892 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
62.9%
you lose ~37¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.26
per $2 ticket · net −$0.74
Top prize chance: 2 of 4 $10K left · 1 in 514,910Any prize: 1 in 4.2432.1% sold
#36
Hot 7s
Game #1884 · $1 ticket
Back per $1
62.6%
you lose ~37¢ per $1
Expected value
$0.63
per $1 ticket · net −$0.37
Top prize chance: 3 of 6 $1,777 left · 1 in 477,631Any prize: 1 in 4.4636.5% sold
#37
$1 MONOPOLY
Game #1888 · $1 ticket
Back per $1
62.4%
you lose ~38¢ per $1
Expected value
$0.62
per $1 ticket · net −$0.38
Top prize chance: 3 of 4 $5,000 left · 1 in 578,301Any prize: 1 in 4.2117.1% sold
#38
$100 Loaded!
Game #1871 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
61.7%
you lose ~38¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.23
per $2 ticket · net −$0.77
Top prize chance: 4618 of 9621 $100 left · 1 in 195Any prize: 1 in 5.4049.5% sold
#39
Twisted Treasure
Game #1881 · $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: 1 of 4 $30K left · 1 in 220,000Any prize: 1 in 4.1379% sold
#40
Green & Gold
Game #1867 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
60.3%
you lose ~40¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.21
per $2 ticket · net −$0.79
Top prize chance: 4 of 6 $10K left · 1 in 105,109Any prize: 1 in 4.1772.3% sold
#41
America 250 Connecticut
Game #1893 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
59.8%
you lose ~40¢ per $1
Expected value
$2.99
per $5 ticket · net −$2.01
Top prize chance: 1 of 4 $25K left · 1 in 183,295Any prize: 1 in 4.3782.1% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#42
$20,000 A YEAR FOR LIFE 2ND ED.
Game #1725 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
59.6%
you lose ~40¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.19
per $2 ticket · net −$0.81
Top prize chance: 1 of 3 $575K left · 1 in 2.51MAny prize: 1 in 3.9774.8% 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 (77%: the one-time gross cash option in the Lottery’s game rules ($440,000; its prize table lists $575,000)).
#43
$50 Loaded!
Game #1870 · $1 ticket
Back per $1
59.0%
you lose ~41¢ per $1
Expected value
$0.59
per $1 ticket · net −$0.41
Top prize chance: 5428 of 12732 $50 left · 1 in 209Any prize: 1 in 5.6153.1% sold

Games no longer on sale (26), not ranked

Sales of these games have ended. Winning tickets can still be claimed until the date shown.

Hit $50 · #1831 · $1 · claim by 2027-02-01
10X ® THE CASH · #1863 · $1 · claim by 2027-02-21
Mega Money 28th Edition · #1717 · $2 · claim by 2027-02-01
Bonus Bingo Multiplier · #1734 · $2 · claim by 2027-02-01
Pharaoh's Gold · #1794 · $2 · claim by 2027-02-01
Hit $100 · #1832 · $2 · claim by 2027-02-01
777 · #1859 · $2 · claim by 2026-11-25
20X the cash · #1864 · $2 · claim by 2027-02-28
Blackjack Tripler · #1763 · $5 · claim by 2027-02-01
5X The Money 18th Edition · #1767 · $5 · claim by 2027-02-01
Hit $250 · #1833 · $5 · claim by 2027-02-01
Emerald 8s Extra Play · #1849 · $5 · claim by 2026-10-18
Full of $250s · #1854 · $5 · claim by 2027-02-01
UCONN ® · #1862 · $5 · claim by 2026-12-06
10X ™ Cash 17th Edition · #1738 · $10 · claim by 2027-02-01
Hit $500 · #1834 · $10 · claim by 2027-02-01
Jumbo Bucks · #1843 · $10 · claim by 2026-11-01
$10 Million Cash Blowout · #1844 · $10 · claim by 2027-02-01
100X 2nd Edition · #1851 · $10 · claim by 2026-10-10
Triple Red 777s · #1852 · $10 · claim by 2027-02-01
100X the cash · #1866 · $10 · claim by 2027-03-03
$2,000,000 MEGA MULTIPLIER · #1739 · $20 · claim by 2026-11-25
Cash Royale · #1779 · $20 · claim by 2027-03-14
$250,000 CA$HWORD · #1780 · $20 · claim by 2026-12-12
$1,000,000 Gold · #1804 · $20 · claim by 2027-01-09
$500,000 CASHWORD 2nd EDITION · #1800 · $30 · claim by 2027-04-05

How it’s calculated

The CT Lottery publishes, on every game’s page, each prize amount with how many were printed and how many remain, plus the total tickets printed and the overall odds (“1 in 3.00”). “Remaining” means not yet claimed, as of the date the Lottery’s game page shows (it updates daily). The Lottery does not publish how many tickets are still unsold, so we estimate it:

Tickets printed ≈ overall odds × total prizes printed. We use the Lottery’s own total-tickets figure; dividing it by the prizes printed matches the published overall odds within 1%.
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. Top prizes paid over 20 years count at the one-time gross cash option the Lottery lists for each game ($2.4 million for a $3 million prize, $825,000 or $750,000 for $1 million). “For life” prizes count at the cash option in the game’s rules.
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 Connecticut scratch ticket has the best odds right now?

By our estimate from Connecticut Lottery Corporation prizes-remaining data as of Oct 10, 2026, 11:48 AM ET, Best Chance To Be A Millionaire (Game #1850, $50) gives back the most per $1, about 78.7% 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 67.5%. 6 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 DIAMONDS & GOLD (Game #1677). With every listed prize at face value it shows 117.8% on paper. About 0.1 million tickets are left, which would cost about $1.6M. Every prize still listed adds up to $1.9M at face value, but only about $1.7M as cash, because the biggest prizes are paid over many years or taken as a smaller lump sum. That's a loss of about $-0.1M 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 54.4%, ranked #3.

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. Top prizes paid over 20 years count at the one-time gross cash option the Lottery lists for each game ($2.4 million for a $3 million prize, $825,000 or $750,000 for $1 million). “For life” prizes count at the cash option in the game’s rules. The after-tax toggle then subtracts withholding: 6.99% Connecticut on wins over $5,000, and on wins of $600 or more that pay at least 300 times the ticket price, plus 24% federal on wins over $5,000. Withholding isn't your final tax bill.

Is this the official Connecticut Lottery Corporation site?

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

Read this before you buy anything

Every scratch ticket is a losing bet on average. This page ranks them from best value 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. See our accuracy disclaimer.
Jackpot Dreaming is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Connecticut Lottery Corporation. Game names and prize data belong to the Lottery; check ctlottery.com for official information.
For entertainment and information only. Not financial, tax or gambling advice.
You must be 18 or older to buy Connecticut Lottery tickets. Play only with money you can afford to lose.
Gambling a problem for you or someone you know? Free, confidential help: the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling Helpline, 1-888-789-7777 or ccpg.org, or the national helpline 1-800-GAMBLER.

43 games ranked · 6 nearly sold out (hidden) · 26 ended · median return 68% · source ctlottery.com/games/scratch-games

How to read this

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How it’s calculated

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