North Carolina scratch tickets, ranked by expected value

Every North Carolina Education Lottery 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, 6:40 PM ET from North Carolina Education Lottery. Estimates; may be delayed or wrong.

Every one of these loses money on average. The typical game on sale gives back about 69.4% of what you spend, so you lose roughly 31¢ per $1. 18+. Help: call 1-877-718-5543 or text “morethanagamenc” to 53342; 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:: Prizes of $1 million or more are paid over 20 years, so they count at an estimated one-time cash option of 60% of the headline ($600,000 for $1 million, $6 million for $10 million). “Taxes Paid” games list their top prize at the Lottery’s pre-tax value (for “$2,000,000 Taxes Paid”, $2,777,392), paid at once.
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. North Carolina’s $1 million-and-up prizes are paid as 20-year annuities. We count them at an estimated 60% cash option, based on the NC Education Lottery’s winner announcements, because the Lottery doesn’t publish a fixed rate. If the real cash option on a game differs, its ranking could shift a little.

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 of $1 million or more are worth about 60% as cash, and winning tickets people haven’t cashed yet (or lost) still count as “remaining”. “Remaining” means not yet claimed, through the date the Lottery’s 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 2 nearly sold-out games (90%+ sold): their numbers aren’t reliable.

#1 best value right now

$8 Million Supreme

Game #62 · $50 ticket

79.9%back per $1

Expected value $39.95 per $50 ticket, counting cash value and only the jackpots sales suggest are still out there. The best-value ticket: you still lose about 20¢ per $1 on average.

Basically tied with #2 500X The Cash (79.7%): games within about 1 point of each other are too close to call.

Top prize chance: 3 of 3 $8M left · 1 in 3.41M · 1.3% 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 (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).

Every ticket on sale, best to worst

All 60 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
$8 Million Supreme
Game #62 · $50 ticket
Back per $1
79.9%
you lose ~20¢ per $1
Expected value
$39.95
per $50 ticket · net −$10.05
Top prize chance: 3 of 3 $8M left · 1 in 3.41MAny prize: 1 in 3.971.3% 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 (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#2
500X The Cash
Game #32 · $50 ticket
Back per $1
79.7%
you lose ~20¢ per $1
Expected value
$39.83
per $50 ticket · net −$10.17
Top prize chance: 4 of 5 $10M left · 1 in 2.88MAny prize: 1 in 3.3429.3% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#3
$8 Million Money Maker
Game #972 · $50 ticket
Back per $1
79.6%
you lose ~20¢ per $1
Expected value
$39.79
per $50 ticket · net −$10.21
Top prize chance: 1 of 5 $8M left · 1 in 3.19MAny prize: 1 in 4.1579% 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 (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#4
Massive Cash Blowout
Game #54 · $30 ticket
Back per $1
78.8%
you lose ~21¢ per $1
Expected value
$23.65
per $30 ticket · net −$6.35
Top prize chance: 2421 of 3879 $3,000 left · 1 in 763Any prize: 1 in 9.3440.2% sold
#5
$100,000 Cash Payday
Game #35 · $30 ticket
Back per $1
77.6%
you lose ~22¢ per $1
Expected value
$23.28
per $30 ticket · net −$6.72
Top prize chance: 54 of 80 $100K left · 1 in 75,480Any prize: 1 in 3.5133.6% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#6
Carolina Black Premier
Game #4 · $30 ticket
Back per $1
77.3%
you lose ~23¢ per $1
Expected value
$23.20
per $30 ticket · net −$6.80
Top prize chance: 2 of 3 $4M left · 1 in 1.48MAny prize: 1 in 4.2059.9% 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 (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#7
Millionaire Bucks
Game #952 · $30 ticket
Back per $1
77.1%
you lose ~23¢ per $1
Expected value
$23.13
per $30 ticket · net −$6.87
Top prize chance: 2 of 4 $5M left · 1 in 3.01MAny prize: 1 in 3.0645.9% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#8
200X The Cash
Game #24 · $30 ticket
Back per $1
76.9%
you lose ~23¢ per $1
Expected value
$23.07
per $30 ticket · net −$6.93
Top prize chance: 2 of 3 $5M left · 1 in 1.98MAny prize: 1 in 3.0449.1% 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 (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#9
Supreme 7s
Game #940 · $30 ticket
Back per $1
76.9%
you lose ~23¢ per $1
Expected value
$23.07
per $30 ticket · net −$6.93
Top prize chance: 1 of 4 $4M left · 1 in 2.49MAny prize: 1 in 4.2172.5% 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.
- One jackpot claim would drop this by about 5 points.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#10
MAX-A-MILLION
Game #985 · $30 ticket
Back per $1
76.9%
you lose ~23¢ per $1
Expected value
$23.07
per $30 ticket · net −$6.93
Top prize chance: 12 of 25 $1M left · 1 in 374,270Any prize: 1 in 2.9750.6% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#11
200X The Cash
Game #925 · $30 ticket
Back per $1
76.4%
you lose ~24¢ per $1
Expected value
$22.92
per $30 ticket · net −$7.08
Top prize chance: 3 of 5 $5M left · 1 in 2.09MAny prize: 1 in 2.9757.7% 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 (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#12
$5,000,000 Ultimate
Game #876 · $30 ticket
Back per $1
75.9%
you lose ~24¢ per $1
Expected value
$22.78
per $30 ticket · net −$7.22
Top prize chance: 3 of 5 $5M left · 1 in 1.42MAny prize: 1 in 3.0774.5% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#13
Extreme Money Blowout
Game #43 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
75.3%
you lose ~25¢ per $1
Expected value
$15.06
per $20 ticket · net −$4.94
Top prize chance: 3226 of 6166 $2,000 left · 1 in 776Any prize: 1 in 9.8849.2% sold
#14
$2,000,000 Taxes Paid
Game #58 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
74.4%
you lose ~26¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.89
per $20 ticket · net −$5.11
Top prize chance: 3 of 3 $2.8M left · 1 in 1.32MAny prize: 1 in 3.7917.9% sold
#15
Magnificent Millions
Game #14 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
74.4%
you lose ~26¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.88
per $20 ticket · net −$5.12
Top prize chance: 2 of 3 $1M left · 1 in 803,935Any prize: 1 in 4.7168.2% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#16
Stacks of Cash
Game #27 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
74.0%
you lose ~26¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.80
per $20 ticket · net −$5.20
Top prize chance: 2 of 3 $2M left · 1 in 1.04MAny prize: 1 in 3.3853% 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 (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#17
Jackpot Millions
Game #50 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
73.9%
you lose ~26¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.78
per $20 ticket · net −$5.22
Top prize chance: 2 of 3 $1M left · 1 in 1.45MAny prize: 1 in 4.6833.6% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#18
20 Years
Game #39 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
73.3%
you lose ~27¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.66
per $20 ticket · net −$5.34
Top prize chance: 1 of 3 $1M left · 1 in 1.41MAny prize: 1 in 3.4860.7% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#19
Instant Millions
Game #932 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
73.2%
you lose ~27¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.65
per $20 ticket · net −$5.35
Top prize chance: 2 of 4 $2M left · 1 in 1.05MAny prize: 1 in 3.4669.6% 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 (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#20
Big Cash Blowout
Game #38 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
72.5%
you lose ~27¢ per $1
Expected value
$7.25
per $10 ticket · net −$2.75
Top prize chance: 2905 of 9807 $500 left · 1 in 744Any prize: 1 in 9.9570.6% sold
#21
Moneybag Cashword
Game #61 · $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: 4 of 4 $1M left · 1 in 1.31MAny prize: 1 in 3.572.1% 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 (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#22
Win Big
Game #951 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
72.1%
you lose ~28¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.43
per $20 ticket · net −$5.57
Top prize chance: 2 of 3 $2M left · 1 in 564,705Any prize: 1 in 3.6578.2% sold
Up to 86.7% if every listed jackpot is truly unsold.
One jackpot claim: −9 ptsWhy? (+1 more)
- One jackpot claim would drop this by about 9 points.
- Most of this number rides on a few jackpot tickets.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#23
$2 MILLION VAULT
Game #992 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
71.8%
you lose ~28¢ per $1
Expected value
$14.37
per $20 ticket · net −$5.63
Top prize chance: 1 of 3 $2M left · 1 in 1.23MAny prize: 1 in 3.4476.2% 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.
- One jackpot claim would drop this by about 8 points.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#24
50X The Cash
Game #31 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
71.7%
you lose ~28¢ per $1
Expected value
$7.17
per $10 ticket · net −$2.83
Top prize chance: 10 of 12 $1M left · 1 in 1.51MAny prize: 1 in 3.8226.5% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#25
$1,000,000 Taxes Paid
Game #57 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
70.9%
you lose ~29¢ per $1
Expected value
$7.09
per $10 ticket · net −$2.91
Top prize chance: 2 of 3 $1.4M left · 1 in 2.02MAny prize: 1 in 3.9827.2% sold
#26
Jumbo Bucks
Game #46 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
70.6%
you lose ~29¢ per $1
Expected value
$7.06
per $10 ticket · net −$2.94
Top prize chance: 3 of 5 $1M left · 1 in 1.51MAny prize: 1 in 3.9043.3% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#27
$10 MONOPOLY®
Game #23 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
70.4%
you lose ~30¢ per $1
Expected value
$7.04
per $10 ticket · net −$2.96
Top prize chance: 2 of 4 $1M left · 1 in 1.06MAny prize: 1 in 3.9060.8% sold
ⓘ Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#28
Emerald 10's
Game #988 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
69.6%
you lose ~30¢ per $1
Expected value
$6.96
per $10 ticket · net −$3.04
Top prize chance: 2 of 5 $1M left · 1 in 1.07MAny prize: 1 in 3.9070.9% 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 (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#29
LOTERIA™ MULTIPLIER
Game #34 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
69.5%
you lose ~31¢ per $1
Expected value
$6.95
per $10 ticket · net −$3.05
Top prize chance: 1 of 4 $1M left · 1 in 1.58MAny prize: 1 in 3.6968% 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 (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#30
CASH
Game #53 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
69.4%
you lose ~31¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.47
per $5 ticket · net −$1.53
Top prize chance: 2 of 3 $200K left · 1 in 1.49MAny prize: 1 in 4.1937.8% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#31
Ruby Red 7's
Game #8 · $20 ticket
Back per $1
69.3%
you lose ~31¢ per $1
Expected value
$13.86
per $20 ticket · net −$6.14
Top prize chance: 2 of 3 $2M left · 1 in 496,109Any prize: 1 in 3.6480.6% sold
Up to 85.9% if every listed jackpot is truly unsold.
One jackpot claim: −10 ptsWhy? (+1 more)
- One jackpot claim would drop this by about 10 points.
- Most of this number rides on a few jackpot tickets.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#32
$1,000,000 Triple Play
Game #996 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
68.6%
you lose ~31¢ per $1
Expected value
$6.86
per $10 ticket · net −$3.14
Top prize chance: 4 of 5 $1M left · 1 in 734,662Any prize: 1 in 3.9560% 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 (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#33
Triple Red 777 Jackpot
Game #49 · $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: 1 of 3 $1M left · 1 in 1.57MAny prize: 1 in 3.9264.3% 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 (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).
#34
Loteria Grande
Game #52 · $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: 4 of 5 $150K left · 1 in 1.23MAny prize: 1 in 3.8920.4% sold
#35
Tar Heels®
Game #59 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
68.1%
you lose ~32¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.41
per $5 ticket · net −$1.59
Top prize chance: 2 of 2 $200K left · 1 in 1.2MAny prize: 1 in 4.2017.5% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#36
NC State®
Game #60 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
68.1%
you lose ~32¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.41
per $5 ticket · net −$1.59
Top prize chance: 2 of 2 $200K left · 1 in 1.26MAny prize: 1 in 4.1914.8% sold
#37
Hot $2,000
Game #3 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
67.8%
you lose ~32¢ per $1
Expected value
$6.78
per $10 ticket · net −$3.22
Top prize chance: 400 of 2048 $2,000 left · 1 in 3,174Any prize: 1 in 3.9779.3% sold
#38
Prize Link Connect
Game #37 · $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: 2 of 4 $200K left · 1 in 2.04MAny prize: 1 in 4.3136.3% sold
#39
20X The Cash
Game #30 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
67.7%
you lose ~32¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.39
per $5 ticket · net −$1.61
Top prize chance: 12 of 15 $250K left · 1 in 1.29MAny prize: 1 in 4.4227.8% sold
#40
Wheel of Fortune
Game #48 · $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: 4 of 5 $200K left · 1 in 808,621Any prize: 1 in 4.3841.8% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#41
$200,000 Taxes Paid
Game #56 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
67.5%
you lose ~32¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.38
per $5 ticket · net −$1.62
Top prize chance: 2 of 3 $278K left · 1 in 1.75MAny prize: 1 in 4.3531.3% sold
#42
$5 MONOPOLY®
Game #22 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
65.9%
you lose ~34¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.29
per $5 ticket · net −$1.71
Top prize chance: 2 of 5 $200K left · 1 in 1.14MAny prize: 1 in 4.4163% sold
#43
$500 Frenzy
Game #33 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
65.2%
you lose ~35¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.26
per $5 ticket · net −$1.74
Top prize chance: 5946 of 16465 $500 left · 1 in 652Any prize: 1 in 4.5160.8% sold
#44
Mega Bucks
Game #45 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
65.2%
you lose ~35¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.26
per $5 ticket · net −$1.74
Top prize chance: 2 of 5 $200K left · 1 in 1.71MAny prize: 1 in 4.6353.3% sold
#45
Jungle Cashword
Game #42 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
65.1%
you lose ~35¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.26
per $5 ticket · net −$1.74
Top prize chance: 2 of 5 $150K left · 1 in 1.61MAny prize: 1 in 3.9147.8% sold
#46
10X The Cash
Game #29 · $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: 9 of 12 $50K left · 1 in 1.52MAny prize: 1 in 4.7228.3% sold
#47
$20,000 Taxes Paid
Game #55 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
64.8%
you lose ~35¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.30
per $2 ticket · net −$0.70
Top prize chance: 3 of 4 $28K left · 1 in 1.14MAny prize: 1 in 4.5730.7% sold
#48
Diamonds and Dollars
Game #41 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
63.6%
you lose ~36¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.18
per $5 ticket · net −$1.82
Top prize chance: 2 of 4 $200K left · 1 in 823,232Any prize: 1 in 4.6167.8% sold
#49
Corner Payout
Game #47 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
63.6%
you lose ~36¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.27
per $2 ticket · net −$0.73
Top prize chance: 2 of 3 $20K left · 1 in 1.46MAny prize: 1 in 4.6534.2% sold
#50
Jr Big Ol Bucks
Game #44 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
63.3%
you lose ~37¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.27
per $2 ticket · net −$0.73
Top prize chance: 2 of 6 $50K left · 1 in 2.76MAny prize: 1 in 4.8239.5% sold
#51
Easy $100s
Game #36 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
62.5%
you lose ~38¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.25
per $2 ticket · net −$0.75
Top prize chance: 2 of 5 $20K left · 1 in 1.72MAny prize: 1 in 4.8253.7% sold
#52
Cash Drop
Game #12 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
62.4%
you lose ~38¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.25
per $2 ticket · net −$0.75
Top prize chance: 3 of 4 $20K left · 1 in 1.04MAny prize: 1 in 4.7854.7% sold
More jackpots listed than sales suggestWhy?
- More big prizes are listed than sales suggest; some may be sold but not yet claimed.
#53
Cash King
Game #26 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
60.6%
you lose ~39¢ per $1
Expected value
$3.03
per $5 ticket · net −$1.97
Top prize chance: 1 of 4 $200K left · 1 in 1.03MAny prize: 1 in 4.6880.8% sold
#54
Double Your Money
Game #10 · $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: 0 of 5 $200K leftAny prize: 1 in 5.2189.7% sold
All top prizes wonWhy?
- All top prizes have been won.
#55
5X The Cash
Game #28 · $1 ticket
Back per $1
59.3%
you lose ~41¢ per $1
Expected value
$0.59
per $1 ticket · net −$0.41
Top prize chance: 8 of 16 $10K left · 1 in 1.91MAny prize: 1 in 4.8735.2% sold
#56
Hit $50!
Game #51 · $1 ticket
Back per $1
58.5%
you lose ~41¢ per $1
Expected value
$0.59
per $1 ticket · net −$0.41
Top prize chance: 3 of 5 $5,000 left · 1 in 2.06MAny prize: 1 in 4.9928.4% sold
#57
Lucky 7s
Game #40 · $1 ticket
Back per $1
57.9%
you lose ~42¢ per $1
Expected value
$0.58
per $1 ticket · net −$0.42
Top prize chance: 5 of 8 $7,000 left · 1 in 1.48MAny prize: 1 in 4.9741.3% sold
#58
777
Game #25 · $2 ticket
Back per $1
57.8%
you lose ~42¢ per $1
Expected value
$1.16
per $2 ticket · net −$0.84
Top prize chance: 2 of 4 $20K left · 1 in 1.08MAny prize: 1 in 5.0568.8% sold
#59
LOTERIA® Fiesta
Game #2 · $5 ticket
Back per $1
56.2%
you lose ~44¢ per $1
Expected value
$2.81
per $5 ticket · net −$2.19
Top prize chance: 1 of 6 $150K left · 1 in 987,147Any prize: 1 in 4.3886.5% sold
#60
Cashword King
Game #7 · $10 ticket
Back per $1
50.5%
you lose ~50¢ per $1
Expected value
$5.05
per $10 ticket · net −$4.95
Top prize chance: 1 of 5 $1M left · 1 in 692,132Any prize: 1 in 4.6388.5% sold
One jackpot claim: −14 ptsWhy?
- One jackpot claim would drop this by about 14 points.
- Top prizes are paid over time; we count the cash option (60%: the NC Lottery’s one-time cash option (e.g. $600,000 for a $1 million prize paid over 20 years)).

Games no longer on sale (21), not ranked

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

$50 Frenzy · #5 · $1 · claim by 2026-12-03
$5,000 Triple Play · #993 · $1 · claim by 2026-12-03
Junior BIG OL' BUCKS® · #946 · $2 · claim by 2026-12-03
LADY LUCK · #990 · $2 · claim by 2026-12-03
$25,000 Triple Play · #994 · $2 · claim by 2026-12-03
LOTERIA® · #959 · $3 · claim by 2026-12-03
5 Times Lucky · #1 · $5 · claim by 2026-12-03
High Voltage Cash · #13 · $5 · claim by 2026-12-03
$400,000 Jackpot · #928 · $5 · claim by 2026-12-03
MEGA BUCKS · #947 · $5 · claim by 2026-12-03
Xtreme Cashword · #949 · $5 · claim by 2026-12-03
20X The Cash · #980 · $5 · claim by 2026-12-03
$200,000 Triple Play · #995 · $5 · claim by 2026-12-03
$80 Million Cash Blowout · #939 · $10 · claim by 2026-12-03
JUMBO BUCKS · #948 · $10 · claim by 2026-12-03
$1,000,000 Money Rush · #975 · $10 · claim by 2026-12-03
50X The Cash · #981 · $10 · claim by 2026-12-03
$2,000,000 Diamond Deluxe · #917 · $20 · claim by 2026-12-03
$50,000 Payout · #944 · $20 · claim by 2026-12-03
Black Titanium · #892 · $30 · claim by 2026-12-03
Ultimate Blowout · #15 · $50 · claim by 2026-12-03

How it’s calculated

The NC Education Lottery publishes, for every game, each prize amount with how many were printed, how many are still unclaimed and the odds of each prize, plus each game’s overall odds (“1 in 3.45”) on its game page. “Remaining” means not yet claimed, through the date the Lottery’s 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. Every prize level’s odds × count gives the same print run (within the rounding of the odds), and it matches the overall odds on the Lottery’s game pages within 0.5%.
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 of $1 million or more are paid over 20 years, so they count at an estimated one-time cash option of 60% of the headline ($600,000 for $1 million, $6 million for $10 million). “Taxes Paid” games list their top prize at the Lottery’s pre-tax value (for “$2,000,000 Taxes Paid”, $2,777,392), paid at once.
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 North Carolina scratch ticket has the best odds right now?

By our estimate from North Carolina Education Lottery prizes-remaining data as of Oct 10, 2026, 6:40 PM ET, $8 Million Supreme (Game #62, $50) gives back the most per $1, about 79.9% 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 69.4%. 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 Win Big (Game #951). With every listed prize at face value it shows 86.7% on paper. About 1.1 million tickets are left, which would cost about $22.6M. Every prize still listed adds up to $19.6M at face value, but only about $18.0M as cash, because the biggest prizes are paid over many years or taken as a smaller lump sum. That's a loss of about $4.6M 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 72.1%, ranked #22.

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 of $1 million or more are paid over 20 years, so they count at an estimated one-time cash option of 60% of the headline ($600,000 for $1 million, $6 million for $10 million). “Taxes Paid” games list their top prize at the Lottery’s pre-tax value (for “$2,000,000 Taxes Paid”, $2,777,392), paid at once. The after-tax toggle then subtracts withholding: 3.99% North Carolina on prizes of $600 or more, plus 24% federal on wins over $5,000. Withholding isn't your final tax bill.

Is this the official North Carolina Education Lottery site?

No. Jackpot Dreaming is independent and not affiliated with the North Carolina Education Lottery. Prize data comes from the Lottery's public prize data; check nclottery.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 North Carolina Education Lottery. Game names and prize data belong to the Lottery; check nclottery.com for official information.
For entertainment and information only. Not financial, tax or gambling advice.
You must be 18 or older to play the North Carolina Education Lottery. Play only with money you can afford to lose.
Gambling a problem for you or someone you know? Free, confidential help: the North Carolina Problem Gambling Helpline, 1-877-718-5543 (call, or text “morethanagamenc” to 53342) or morethanagame.nc.gov, or the national helpline 1-800-GAMBLER.

60 games ranked · 2 nearly sold out (hidden) · 21 ended · median return 69% · source nclottery.com/scratch-off-prizes-remaining

How to read this

$8 Million Supreme

Every ticket on sale, best to worst

$8 Million Supreme

500X The Cash

$8 Million Money Maker

Massive Cash Blowout

$100,000 Cash Payday

Carolina Black Premier

Millionaire Bucks

200X The Cash

Supreme 7s

MAX-A-MILLION

200X The Cash

$5,000,000 Ultimate

Extreme Money Blowout

$2,000,000 Taxes Paid

Magnificent Millions

Stacks of Cash

Jackpot Millions

20 Years

Instant Millions

Big Cash Blowout

Moneybag Cashword

Win Big

$2 MILLION VAULT

50X The Cash

$1,000,000 Taxes Paid

Jumbo Bucks

$10 MONOPOLY®

Emerald 10's

LOTERIA™ MULTIPLIER

CASH

Ruby Red 7's

$1,000,000 Triple Play

Triple Red 777 Jackpot

Loteria Grande

Tar Heels®

NC State®

Hot $2,000

Prize Link Connect

20X The Cash

Wheel of Fortune

$200,000 Taxes Paid

$5 MONOPOLY®

$500 Frenzy

Mega Bucks

Jungle Cashword

10X The Cash

$20,000 Taxes Paid

Diamonds and Dollars

Corner Payout

Jr Big Ol Bucks

Easy $100s

Cash Drop

Cash King

Double Your Money

5X The Cash

Hit $50!

Lucky 7s

777

LOTERIA® Fiesta

Cashword King

How it’s calculated

Questions