Scratch off lottery tickets, also known as instant win games, are a popular form of gambling in many states across the U.S. With prizes ranging from small amounts to millions of dollars, scratchers provide an exciting opportunity for players to win big with just a few scratches. But not all states offer the same chances of winning. Some states have much better overall odds for their scratch off games than others. So which states give you the best shot at winning scratch off lotteries?
States with the Best Overall Scratcher Odds
When looking at which states have the best odds for winning scratch off lotteries, it helps to look at two key factors – the overall percentage of prizes awarded for instant games in each state, and the number of top tier prizes available. States where scratchers payout a higher percentage back to players in prizes, and offer more large jackpot prizes, usually provide better odds for players.
According to lottery data, these states generally have the best scratch off game odds:
- South Dakota – This state tops the list with a payout percentage of around 80% for instant games. South Dakota also provides players with excellent odds for winning six-figure and million dollar top prizes.
- New Hampshire – Scratchers in New Hampshire payout approximately 75% back to players. The state also has a high number of six-figure and million dollar scratcher jackpots available.
- North Dakota – North Dakota scratch off games payout about 73% in prizes on average. The state provides plenty of possibilities for big ticket jackpots as well.
- Wyoming – Wyoming instant games payout roughly 72% in prizes. The state offers better odds for million dollar scratcher prizes compared to other states.
- Washington – In Washington, scratchers average a payout around 72%. The state also provides a healthy number of top tier scratcher prizes.
The payout percentages and prize data in these states give lottery players the best overall odds for winning money on scratch off tickets. But several other states like Florida, Arizona, and others also provide relatively strong odds.
States with the Worst Scratcher Odds
On the other hand, some states have instant game odds that are far less favorable for players. These states generally have much lower payout percentages for scratchers, and fewer large jackpot prizes available. Based on lottery data, the worst states for scratch off odds include:
- Tennessee – Tennessee only pays out around 62% of scratch off ticket sales back to players as prizes. The state also has relatively few top tier prizes available.
- Arkansas – Arkansas instant games only payout approximately 63% back in prizes. There are also fewer opportunities for large jackpots compared to other states.
- Idaho – In Idaho, payouts for scratchers average around 63%. There are typically not as many six-figure and million dollar prizes offered either.
- Minnesota – Scratchers in Minnesota have an average payout of only 65%. The state also provides fewer chances at million dollar jackpots.
- West Virginia – West Virginia instant games payout about 65% back to players. The number of top tier scratcher prizes is lower as well.
The combination of low prize payout percentages and fewer mega jackpot scratchers puts these states at the bottom for game odds. However, keep in mind these states still award many smaller instant prizes to players.
Factors Affecting Scratcher Odds by State
Several key factors can influence the odds of winning scratch off lotteries in different states across the country:
- Household Income – States with lower average household incomes, like Arkansas and Tennessee, tend to have worse scratcher odds. States with higher household incomes often have better odds.
- Education Levels – Similarly, states with lower education levels on average tend to have lower scratcher payouts. More educated states like Washington and New Hampshire offer better odds.
- Lottery Proceeds – States that allocate more lottery proceeds to education and other public programs need more revenue, so may decrease scratcher payouts.
- Population Size – States with smaller populations like Wyoming and North Dakota can offer better scratcher odds with less revenue risk.
- Game Selection – States that offer a larger variety of unique, entertaining scratch games tend to see better sales, allowing increased payouts.
- Jackpot Amounts – States that advertise large scratcher jackpots and payouts can leverage increased ticket sales to fund bigger prizes.
Demographic factors definitely impact scratcher odds the most. But how each state manages and promotes their instant games also affects the payouts and prizes they offer.
Strategies for Winning Scratch Off Games
While lottery odds are ultimately outside of players’ control, using certain strategies can help increase your chances of winning scratch off games:
- Play games with better overall odds – Focus on scratchers in states like South Dakota and New Hampshire that payout more in prizes.
- Target higher price point games – $10-$30 scratchers often have better odds than $1-$5 tickets.
- Buy multiple tickets – Increase your odds by buying 10, 20, or more tickets for one game.
- Scan losing tickets – Review losing scratchers to make sure no prizes were missed.
- Play seasonal games – Holiday and special event games sometimes have increased odds.
- Try new games – Brand new scratcher games can have better odds before sales increase.
- Sign up for lottery promos – Take advantage of second chance contests and lottery loyalty programs.
Following these tips can help provide a slight edge. But in reality, a lot of luck is still required to win those huge scratcher jackpots.
5 Tips for Winning Scratch Off Tickets
Here are 5 top tips to increase your chances at winning on scratch off lottery tickets:
- Go for the $30 tickets – The most expensive scratchers often have some of the best built-in odds for big prizes. While costlier, $20, $25, and $30 scratchers can give you a better shot at winning compared to $1 or $2 tickets.
- Pick less popular games – Avoid hugely popular scratch off games that get a lot of media buzz and have giant jackpots. Lower profile games with decent prizes frequently get overlooked and can have better odds.
- Scratch gently – Use a coin or screwdriver to carefully remove the covering on scratch tickets, exposing symbols gradually. Scratching aggressively can accidentally remove prizes underneath.
- Scan for second chance drawings – Even if you don’t win, enter your tickets into second chance promotions for another shot. Many scratchers now come with codes for online drawings.
- Know the remaining prizes – Check lottery reports to see how many top prizes are left on different scratchers. Newer games with more grand prizes remaining can be a smart pick.
While nothing guarantees success, these tips can help tilt the odds slightly more in your favor. Just be sure to gamble responsibly and avoid spending more than you can afford while playing.
Which scratch off games have the best odds?
These scratch off games tend to provide the best odds for players looking to win big prizes:
- Black Pearls – This $30 game provides excellent odds at 1 in 2.91 for breaking even or winning. The top prize is $3 million.
- 50X The Cash – With maximum odds of 1 in 3.20 and a $5 million top prize, this $20 game offers strong payouts.
- Gold Rush – This $20 instant game carries maximum odds of 1 in 3.50 and has multiple $2 million prizes available.
- $5,000,000 Fortune – Offering 1 in 3.38 overall odds and a $5 million top prize, this $20 scratcher is a solid choice.
- Super 7 Riches – With a 1 in 4.27 chance to win and a $777,777 top prize, this $10 game provides excellent value.
Checking the overall prize payout percentages and top jackpot odds on different scratchers can help identify the best games to play for big payouts.
Should you buy holiday scratch off tickets?
Special holiday themed scratch off games offered by many lotteries provide mixed chances of winning. Here are some pros and cons to buying holiday scratchers:
Pros
- Special prizes – Holiday games often come with unique prizes like cars, gift cards, and luxury vacations that can’t be won on regular tickets.
- Increased sales – Holiday spirit drives more casual and seasonal players to buy tickets, increasing overall tickets sold.
- Newer games – Holiday scratchers are freshly launched, so more top prizes remain unclaimed during peak holiday seasons.
- Better inventory – Retailers are more likely to carry sufficient supplies of holiday games to meet seasonal demand.
- Festive playing – Holiday graphics and cash prizes make playing more entertaining during special seasons.
Cons
- Smaller prizes – While holiday games offer unique prizes, the cash jackpots are often smaller than regular scratchers.
- Poorer odds – With more players drawn to holiday tickets, the overall odds are decreased as more get purchased.
- Reduced availability – Popular holiday scratchers can still sell out quickly with high seasonal demand from gift buyers.
- Short run – Holiday scratchers have a much shorter duration, often just 6-8 weeks, limiting play time.
- Lower payouts – Lotteries sometimes reduce holiday scratcher payouts slightly knowing enthusiastic buyers will purchase.
Weighing these advantages and disadvantages can help players make better decisions when holiday scratcher games launch.
Do stores with more winners sell more winning tickets?
The idea that retail locations with past big lottery winners will have more future winning tickets is mostly a myth. Here’s why:
- Random distribution – Scratch off tickets are truly randomly distributed to retailers by lottery systems.
- Even allocation – State lotteries evenly allocate packs of scratchers to all retailers in a fair manner.
- Numerous factors – Winning tickets are sold everywhere for countless statistical reasons beyond that store’s control.
- More traffic – Past winners generate media attention driving more customers, increasing chances of future wins.
- Retailer promotions – Advertising big past wins is good marketing to sell more tickets.
- Regressing odds – Previous wins lower odds of repeats, as scratcher game progress.
- Small sample – Apparent hot spots are usually just random small clusters of multiple wins.
With scratchers randomly distributed everywhere statewide, stores advertising big past jackpots don’t inherently have better odds. Focus more on choosing the best games.
Do scratch off odds change as more get sold?
Scratch off games are produced with fixed winning percentages for top prizes. But odds for players can change as more tickets get purchased. Here’s how it works:
- Fixed distribution – Lotteries decide how many top prizes a certain scratch game will have.
- Increasing sales – As a scratch game gets more popular, overall ticket sales numbers go up.
- Shrinking inventory – With more tickets sold, fewer total scratchers remain on the market over time.
- Changing odds – Your chances of winning fall as top prizes get claimed by earlier players.
- Unclaimed Prizes – Odds go back up slightly for any jackpots that end up not getting awarded.
- End of game – Over a game’s entire lifetime, the odds even out as intended.
Player odds definitely fluctuate over the course of a scratch ticket game. New games just launched can offer the best odds before sales ramp up.
How do scratch off games work?
Scratch off lottery games involve the following basics of how they work:
- Instant games are produced by lottery systems with predetermined number of winners and loser tickets for each prize tier created at random.
- Winners are distributed randomly and evenly in packs shipped to all retailers across the state.
- Players pay for and receive a cardstock ticket covered with latex coating that conceals symbols.
- Using a coin or other object, players scratch off the coating to reveal symbols indicating if the ticket is a winner.
- Matching or unveiling certain symbols in specific patterns dictates the prize won, with amounts listed on back.
- Players redeem winning scratchers at retailers or lottery claims centers to receive prize money.
- Top prizes are pari-mutuel, meaning if multiple tickets win the jackpot it gets split evenly.
Modern lotteries use sophisticated algorithms to ensure an even distribution of winning and losing scratch off tickets statewide.
Conclusion
Scratch off lotteries provide exciting, accessible games with chances for huge payouts across the country. But your odds of scoring life-changing jackpots are better in states where statistics and smart strategies align in your favor. Focusing on games in states with higher payout percentages, plenty of remaining top prizes, and better player demographics can help increase your chances. But at the end of the day, a bit of luck is still required to beat the odds and come out a big scratch off winner.