#1
VIP MILLIONS
Game #1546 · $30 ticket
Top prize chance: 1 of 4 $5M left · 1 in 5.79MAny prize: 1 in 3.6073.6% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
New York scratch tickets, ranked by expected value
Every New York 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, 5:35 PM ET from New York Lottery. Estimates; may be delayed or wrong.
Every one of these loses money on average. The typical game on sale gives back about 64.2% of what you spend, so you lose roughly 36¢ per $1. 18+. Help: call 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or text HOPENY to 467369; national helpline 1-800-GAMBLER.
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:
- Prizes paid yearly, or weekly for life, count at half their headline. New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed and doesn’t publish a fixed percentage, so we use a conservative 50%. “For life” prizes count only the 20 years of payments the Lottery guarantees.
- 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: prizes paid over 20 years or for life count at about half as cash, and winning tickets people haven’t cashed yet (or lost) still count as “remaining”. “Remaining” is the report’s “unpaid” count: 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
Sort
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 12 nearly sold-out games (90%+ sold): their numbers aren’t reliable.
#1 best value right now
VIP MILLIONS
Game #1546 · $30 ticket
73.6%back per $1
Expected value $22.08 per $30 ticket, counting cash value and only the jackpots sales suggest are still out there. The least bad ticket: you still lose about 26¢ per $1 on average.
Basically tied with #2 $10,000,000 CASH (73.0%): games within about 1 point of each other are too close to call.
Top prize chance: 1 of 4 $5M left · 1 in 5.79M · 73.6% 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 53 games with reliable numbers, ranked by conservative cash value per $1. Hiding 12 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
- #2
$10,000,000 CASH
Game #1606 · $30 ticket
Top prize chance: 1 of 3 $10M left · 1 in 5.11MAny prize: 1 in 3.6672.1% 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.
- One jackpot claim would drop this by about 7 points.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #3
300X THE MONEY
Game #1691 · $30 ticket
Top prize chance: 3 of 4 $10M left · 1 in 4.2MAny prize: 1 in 3.6129.4% 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; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #4
JACKPOT FORTUNE
Game #1585 · $30 ticket
Top prize chance: 1 of 3 $10M left · 1 in 2.71MAny prize: 1 in 3.6785% sold
One jackpot claim: −12 ptsWhy?
- One jackpot claim would drop this by about 12 points.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #5
ULTIMATE CASH
Game #1650 · $30 ticket
Top prize chance: 1 of 3 $10M left · 1 in 8.08MAny prize: 1 in 3.6456.4% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #6
BONUS 100X
Game #1643 · $20 ticket
Top prize chance: 2 of 4 $5M left · 1 in 2.4MAny prize: 1 in 3.7073.2% sold
One jackpot claim: −5 ptsWhy?
- One jackpot claim would drop this by about 5 points.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #7
$10,000 A WEEK FOR LIFE
Game #1686 · $20 ticket
Top prize chance: 2 of 3 $10.4M left · 1 in 7.46MAny prize: 1 in 3.7339% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #8
MYSTERY MULTIPLIER
Game #1663 · $20 ticket
Top prize chance: 2 of 4 $5M left · 1 in 3.43MAny prize: 1 in 3.6762.1% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #9
MILLIONAIRE RICHES
Game #1700 · $20 ticket
Top prize chance: 4 of 4 $5M left · 1 in 3.97MAny prize: 1 in 3.7613.5% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #10
$5,000,000 SPECTACULAR
Game #1709 · $20 ticket
Top prize chance: 4 of 4 $5M left · 1 in 4.34MAny prize: 1 in 3.856.3% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #11
$5,000,000 CASH ROYALE
Game #1579 · $20 ticket
Top prize chance: 1 of 4 $5M left · 1 in 4.65MAny prize: 1 in 3.9574.4% sold
One jackpot claim: −5 ptsWhy?
- One jackpot claim would drop this by about 5 points.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #12
$5,000,000 BLITZ
Game #1671 · $20 ticket
Top prize chance: 3 of 4 $5M left · 1 in 3.83MAny prize: 1 in 3.8136.5% 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 (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #13
$50 OR $100
Game #1704 · $10 ticket
Top prize chance: 125382 of 173062 $100 left · 1 in 66.8Any prize: 1 in 8.0027.4% sold
- #14
200Xtra
Game #1684 · $20 ticket
Top prize chance: 2 of 4 $5M left · 1 in 5.43MAny prize: 1 in 3.6840.5% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #15
MILLIONAIRE MAKER
Game #1540 · $20 ticket
Top prize chance: 2 of 20 $1M left · 1 in 1.54MAny prize: 1 in 4.0085.9% sold
- #16
BONUS BUCKS
Game #1660 · $10 ticket
Top prize chance: 2 of 3 $3M left · 1 in 5.53MAny prize: 1 in 3.8737.6% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #17
$3,000,000 MAX MULTIPLIER
Game #1697 · $10 ticket
Top prize chance: 2 of 3 $3M left · 1 in 6.95MAny prize: 1 in 4.2821.4% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #18
100Xtra
Game #1681 · $10 ticket
Top prize chance: 3 of 4 $3M left · 1 in 3.1MAny prize: 1 in 3.9557.8% 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; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #19
$3,000,000 200X CASHWORD
Game #1713 · $30 ticket
Top prize chance: 4 of 4 $3M left · 1 in 3.64MAny prize: 1 in 3.840.1% sold
Just launched · early estimateWhy?
- Just launched; estimates firm up after a few weeks of sales.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #20
BONUS 50X
Game #1640 · $10 ticket
Top prize chance: 1 of 4 $3M left · 1 in 4.79MAny prize: 1 in 4.0478.7% 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; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #21
$2,000,000 100X CASHWORD
Game #1694 · $20 ticket
Top prize chance: 3 of 4 $2M left · 1 in 4.81MAny prize: 1 in 3.8320.5% 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 (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #22
$3,000,000 BONUS STARS
Game #1688 · $10 ticket
Top prize chance: 1 of 3 $3M left · 1 in 9.22MAny prize: 1 in 4.0147.7% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #23
LADY LUCK 25X
Game #1705 · $5 ticket
Top prize chance: 3 of 4 $500K left · 1 in 2.36MAny prize: 1 in 4.2827.1% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
- #24
LUCKY NUMBERS
Game #1715 · $5 ticket
Top prize chance: 4 of 4 $300K left · 1 in 1.69MAny prize: 1 in 4.510.2% sold
Just launched · early estimateWhy?
- Just launched; estimates firm up after a few weeks of sales.
- #25
13
Game #1714 · $5 ticket
Top prize chance: 3 of 3 $500K left · 1 in 2.84MAny prize: 1 in 4.150.3% sold
Just launched · early estimateWhy?
- Just launched; estimates firm up after a few weeks of sales.
- #26
CASH LINES
Game #1728 · $5 ticket
Top prize chance: 3 of 3 $300K left · 1 in 2.23MAny prize: 1 in 4.093.5% 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.
- #27
BINGO TIMES 20
Game #1689 · $5 ticket
Top prize chance: 2 of 5 $300K left · 1 in 3.68MAny prize: 1 in 4.2851.7% sold
- #28
LOOSE CHANGE
Game #1707 · $1 ticket
Top prize chance: 1321 of 1548 $500 left · 1 in 48,993Any prize: 1 in 4.7113.7% sold
- #29
DOUBLE TRIPLE CASHWORD
Game #1708 · $5 ticket
Top prize chance: 9 of 10 $300K left · 1 in 4.68MAny prize: 1 in 5.168.1% sold
- #30
MONEY MATCH
Game #1654 · $10 ticket
Top prize chance: 1 of 3 $3M left · 1 in 4.78MAny prize: 1 in 4.1372.7% 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.
- One jackpot claim would drop this by about 6 points.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #31
$1,000,000 50X CASHWORD
Game #1703 · $10 ticket
Top prize chance: 3 of 4 $1M left · 1 in 5.04MAny prize: 1 in 4.3317.5% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #32
DOUBLE YOUR MONEY
Game #1698 · $5 ticket
Top prize chance: 1 of 3 $500K left · 1 in 2.28MAny prize: 1 in 5.2566.1% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
- #33
HOT DOG!
Game #1701 · $5 ticket
Top prize chance: 2 of 3 $500K left · 1 in 2.06MAny prize: 1 in 4.5140.5% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
- #34
MONEY VAULT MULTIPLIER
Game #1710 · $5 ticket
Top prize chance: 4 of 4 $1M left · 1 in 1.77MAny prize: 1 in 4.3017.7% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #35
MATCH 7s
Game #1696 · $3 ticket
Top prize chance: 3 of 6 $70K left · 1 in 2.18MAny prize: 1 in 4.0143.1% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
- #36
POT OF GOLD
Game #1695 · $5 ticket
Top prize chance: 1 of 3 $500K left · 1 in 2.34MAny prize: 1 in 4.4366.2% sold
- #37
DIAMOND CASHWORD
Game #1702 · $3 ticket
Top prize chance: 5 of 5 $60K left · 1 in 2.67MAny prize: 1 in 4.1122.3% sold
- #38
LUCKY 7s
Game #1699 · $1 ticket
Top prize chance: 15 of 20 $7,000 left · 1 in 1.15MAny prize: 1 in 5.0432.6% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
- #39
WIN IT ALL
Game #1706 · $2 ticket
Top prize chance: 6 of 10 $25K left · 1 in 1.08MAny prize: 1 in 4.9434.2% sold
- #40
MONEY BAGS
Game #1711 · $1 ticket
Top prize chance: 8 of 10 $5,000 left · 1 in 1.36MAny prize: 1 in 4.9120% sold
- #41
$1,000,000 MUST LOVE DOGS
Game #1692 · $5 ticket
Top prize chance: 1 of 3 $1M left · 1 in 3.11MAny prize: 1 in 4.3561.8% 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; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #42
BONUS BLACKJACK
Game #1693 · $2 ticket
Top prize chance: 5 of 10 $21K left · 1 in 909,109Any prize: 1 in 5.0053.2% sold
- #43
CASHWORD DOUBLER
Game #1670 · $2 ticket
Top prize chance: 14 of 30 $20K left · 1 in 3.11MAny prize: 1 in 5.3146.7% sold
- #44
WIN FOR LIFE
Game #1624 · $2 ticket
Top prize chance: 5 of 10 $1.0M left · 1 in 4.49MAny prize: 1 in 4.1553.4% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
- #45
WIN $60,000
Game #1673 · $3 ticket
Top prize chance: 1 of 4 $60K left · 1 in 2.54MAny prize: 1 in 4.0277.5% sold
- #46
30Xtra CASHWORD
Game #1687 · $3 ticket
Top prize chance: 1 of 4 $60K left · 1 in 4.08MAny prize: 1 in 4.3169.5% sold
- #47
$25,000 EXTRA CA$H
Game #1669 · $2 ticket
Top prize chance: 4 of 10 $25K left · 1 in 511,829Any prize: 1 in 5.0178.8% sold
- #48
7-11-21 TRIPLER
Game #1690 · $1 ticket
Top prize chance: 6 of 20 $2,100 left · 1 in 543,716Any prize: 1 in 4.7175.9% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
- #49
3-2-WON!
Game #1648 · $1 ticket
Top prize chance: 3 of 20 $3,000 left · 1 in 725,850Any prize: 1 in 4.6883.8% sold
- #50
TRIPLE MATCH
Game #1659 · $1 ticket
Top prize chance: 4 of 15 $3,000 left · 1 in 514,106Any prize: 1 in 5.4184.9% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
- #51
CASHWORD
Game #1649 · $2 ticket
Top prize chance: 6 of 24 $10K left · 1 in 2.24MAny prize: 1 in 5.6767.2% sold
- #52
LUCKY 7'S
Game #1653 · $1 ticket
Top prize chance: 2 of 20 $7,000 left · 1 in 1.75MAny prize: 1 in 6.1086.3% sold
- #53
WIN FOR LIFE
Game #1453 · $2 ticket
Top prize chance: 1 of 5 $1.0M left · 1 in 6.82MAny prize: 1 in 4.8885% sold
One jackpot claim: −8 ptsWhy?
- One jackpot claim would drop this by about 8 points.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (50%: our estimate; New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed).
Games no longer on sale (42), not ranked
The Lottery has closed these games, so stores no longer sell them. Winning tickets can still be claimed until the date shown.
- LOOSE CHANGE · #1552 · $1 · claim by 2027-08-07
- INSTANT TAKE 5 · #1574 · $1 · claim by 2027-01-16
- BONUS 5X · #1638 · $1 · claim by 2027-06-26
- 10Xtra · #1679 · $1 · claim by 2027-08-10
- CASHWORD DOUBLER · #1531 · $2 · claim by 2027-02-20
- XTREME BUCKS · #1597 · $2 · claim by 2027-07-24
- DOUBLE DEUCES · #1608 · $2 · claim by 2026-11-21
- TRIPLE 7-11-21 · #1617 · $2 · claim by 2026-11-07
- CASHWORD DOUBLER · #1619 · $2 · claim by 2027-01-15
- CASH DROP · #1627 · $2 · claim by 2027-01-23
- BONUS 10X · #1642 · $2 · claim by 2027-01-02
- BLACKJACK DOUBLER · #1652 · $2 · claim by 2026-12-10
- $100s FOR THE HOLIDAYS · #1676 · $2 · claim by 2027-07-24
- 20Xtra · #1683 · $2 · claim by 2027-07-09
- MULTIPLY YOUR NUMBERS · #1631 · $3 · claim by 2026-11-21
- UNLOCK IT! · #1656 · $3 · claim by 2027-03-09
- CASHWORD EXTRA! · #1662 · $3 · claim by 2027-07-28
- XTREME WINNINGS · #1596 · $5 · claim by 2026-10-29
- WIN $250 · #1604 · $5 · claim by 2027-02-06
- DOUBLE WIN · #1610 · $5 · claim by 2027-03-03
- DOUBLE TRIPLE CASHWORD · #1632 · $5 · claim by 2027-07-27
- BONUS 20X · #1641 · $5 · claim by 2027-02-04
- BINGO MULTIPLIER · #1647 · $5 · claim by 2026-12-09
- NEW YORK MILLIONAIRE · #1651 · $5 · claim by 2027-01-23
- $1,000,000 GOLD · #1655 · $5 · claim by 2027-02-06
- $500,000 MATCH TO WIN · #1658 · $5 · claim by 2027-04-07
- CASINO NIGHTS · #1661 · $5 · claim by 2027-06-26
- WINNING STREAK 25X · #1664 · $5 · claim by 2027-03-06
- MORE MONEY · #1668 · $5 · claim by 2026-12-31
- LUCKY 13 · #1672 · $5 · claim by 2027-05-01
- $500 HOLIDAY BONUS · #1675 · $5 · claim by 2027-05-01
- 2026 · #1678 · $5 · claim by 2027-04-10
- $500,000 YEAR OF THE HORSE · #1682 · $5 · claim by 2027-05-01
- 50Xtra · #1685 · $5 · claim by 2027-10-06
- SHOW ME $500 · #1603 · $10 · claim by 2027-02-20
- $3,000,000 MAX · #1612 · $10 · claim by 2027-03-06
- $50 OR $100 · #1646 · $10 · claim by 2027-01-16
- $3,000,000 CA$H · #1667 · $10 · claim by 2027-05-21
- $5,000 HOLIDAY FRENZY/$5,000 GOLD · #1674 · $10 · claim by 2027-08-07
- $2,000,000 CASHWORD · #1609 · $20 · claim by 2027-06-10
- $10,000,000 DELUXE · #1489 · $30 · claim by 2026-11-06
- $100, $200 0R $500 · #1629 · $30 · claim by 2026-11-07
How it’s calculated
New York publishes, for every game, each prize amount with how many were printed and how many are still unpaid (the Gaming Commission’s daily prize status report on data.ny.gov and each game’s page), plus the overall odds (“1 in 3.85”). “Remaining” is the report’s “unpaid” count: 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 per-prize odds on each New York game page within 0.2%, and the “tickets printed” on the Lottery’s prize sheets within 0.4% (one reprinted game’s sheet still shows its first print run).
- 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. Prizes paid yearly, or weekly for life, count at half their headline. New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed and doesn’t publish a fixed percentage, so we use a conservative 50%. “For life” prizes count only the 20 years of payments the Lottery guarantees.
- 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 New York scratch ticket has the best odds right now?
By our estimate from New York Lottery prizes-remaining data as of Oct 7, 2026, 5:35 PM ET, VIP MILLIONS (Game #1546, $30) gives back the most per $1, about 73.6% 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 64.2%. 12 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 JACKPOT FORTUNE (Game #1585). With every listed prize at face value it shows 82.1% on paper. About 2.7 million tickets are left, which would cost about $81.4M. Every prize still listed adds up to $66.8M at face value, but only about $61.8M as cash, because the biggest prizes are paid over many years or taken as a smaller lump sum. That's a loss of about $19.6M 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 72.5%, ranked #4.
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. Prizes paid yearly, or weekly for life, count at half their headline. New York sets the lump sum from interest rates when the prize is claimed and doesn’t publish a fixed percentage, so we use a conservative 50%. “For life” prizes count only the 20 years of payments the Lottery guarantees. The after-tax toggle then subtracts withholding: 10.9% New York State on wins over $5,000 (New York residents; New York City and Yonkers residents have more withheld), plus 24% federal on wins over $5,000. Withholding isn't your final tax bill.
Is this the official New York Lottery site?
No. Jackpot Dreaming is independent and not affiliated with the New York Lottery. Prize data comes from the Lottery's public prize data; check nylottery.ny.gov for official information.
53 games ranked · 12 nearly sold out (hidden) · 42 ended · median return 64% · source nylottery.ny.gov/scratch-off-games