Best California Scratch-Offs
by EV/Dollar
As of , Scratch IQ ranks 53 active California scratch-off games by EV/Dollar using public California Lottery data, updated daily.
EV/Dollar is the statistical return per $1 spent given the prizes still left in circulation. Prize Ratio tracks how fast top prizes are depleting versus tickets overall — a ratio above 1.0 means top prizes are depleting more slowly. See the methodology for the formula and per-state data sources.
Price
$30
EV/Dollar
$0.80
Top Prize
$7M
Price
$20
EV/Dollar
$0.79
Top Prize
$5M
Price
$20
EV/Dollar
$0.78
Top Prize
$5M
Price
$20
EV/Dollar
$0.78
Top Prize
$5M
Price
$20
EV/Dollar
$0.78
Top Prize
$2M
Price
$10
EV/Dollar
$0.78
Top Prize
$750,000
Price
$10
EV/Dollar
$0.77
Top Prize
$1M
Price
$10
EV/Dollar
$0.77
Top Prize
$1M
Price
$20
EV/Dollar
$0.76
Top Prize
$200
Price
$20
EV/Dollar
$0.76
Top Prize
$200
Price
$5
EV/Dollar
$0.76
Top Prize
$555,555
Price
$20
EV/Dollar
$0.75
Top Prize
$5M
Price
$10
EV/Dollar
$0.75
Top Prize
$1M
Price
$10
EV/Dollar
$0.74
Top Prize
$1M
Price
$10
EV/Dollar
$0.74
Top Prize
$1M
Price
$10
EV/Dollar
$0.73
Top Prize
$1M
Price
$5
EV/Dollar
$0.71
Top Prize
$500,000
Price
$5
EV/Dollar
$0.70
Top Prize
$500,000
Price
$5
EV/Dollar
$0.70
Top Prize
$250,000
Price
$5
EV/Dollar
$0.69
Top Prize
$75,000
Price
$10
EV/Dollar
$0.69
Top Prize
$1M
Price
$5
EV/Dollar
$0.69
Top Prize
$75,000
Price
$5
EV/Dollar
$0.68
Top Prize
$250,000
Price
$5
EV/Dollar
$0.67
Top Prize
$100,000
Price
$2
EV/Dollar
$0.66
Top Prize
$20,000
Price
$3
EV/Dollar
$0.66
Top Prize
$30,000
Price
$2
EV/Dollar
$0.66
Top Prize
$20,000
Price
$5
EV/Dollar
$0.65
Top Prize
$250,000
Price
$2
EV/Dollar
$0.65
Top Prize
$30,000
Price
$2
EV/Dollar
$0.65
Top Prize
$20,000
Price
$2
EV/Dollar
$0.65
Top Prize
$30,000
Price
$3
EV/Dollar
$0.65
Top Prize
$20,000
Price
$1
EV/Dollar
$0.65
Top Prize
$5,000
Price
$3
EV/Dollar
$0.64
Top Prize
$20,000
Price
$5
EV/Dollar
$0.64
Top Prize
$500
Price
$2
EV/Dollar
$0.64
Top Prize
$20,000
Price
$2
EV/Dollar
$0.64
Top Prize
$30,000
Price
$10
EV/Dollar
$0.62
Top Prize
$750,000
Price
$1
EV/Dollar
$0.62
Top Prize
$888
Price
$3
EV/Dollar
$0.62
Top Prize
$30,000
Price
$3
EV/Dollar
$0.61
Top Prize
$30,000
Price
$1
EV/Dollar
$0.61
Top Prize
$5,000
Price
$1
EV/Dollar
$0.59
Top Prize
$1,000
| Rank | Game Name | Price | EV/Dollar | Top Prize | Prize Ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upgrade to Pro to unlock Top 10 game data | ||||||
| #11 | CROSSWORD XTREME | $30 | $0.80 | $7M | 0.93 | GOOD |
| #12 | 100X THE CASH | $20 | $0.79 | $5M | 1.04 | GOOD |
| #13 | GOLDEN STATE RICHES | $20 | $0.78 | $5M | 1.01 | GOOD |
| #14 | SHOW ME $5,000,000! | $20 | $0.78 | $5M | 1.01 | GOOD |
| #15 | INSTANT PRIZE CROSSWORD | $20 | $0.78 | $2M | 0.92 | GOOD |
| #16 | MYSTERY CROSSWORD | $10 | $0.78 | $750,000 | 1.22 | GOOD |
| #17 | LOTERIA™ GRANDE | $10 | $0.77 | $1M | 1.89 | GOOD |
| #18 | CALIFORNIA COLOR POP | $10 | $0.77 | $1M | 1.47 | GOOD |
| #19 | $100 OR $200 | $20 | $0.76 | $200 | 1.01 | GOOD |
| #20 | $100 OR $200 FRENZY | $20 | $0.76 | $200 | 1.00 | GOOD |
| #21 | CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' | $5 | $0.76 | $555,555 | 1.92 | GOOD |
| #22 | CASH KING | $20 | $0.75 | $5M | 0.77 | GOOD |
| #23 | $1,000,000 POKER | $10 | $0.75 | $1M | 1.02 | GOOD |
| #24 | $1,000,000 MONEY MANIA | $10 | $0.74 | $1M | 0.98 | GOOD |
| #25 | NEON JACKPOT | $10 | $0.74 | $1M | 1.01 | GOOD |
| #26 | CALIFORNIA JACKPOT | $10 | $0.73 | $1M | 0.87 | GOOD |
| #27 | JAWS | $5 | $0.71 | $500,000 | 1.12 | GOOD |
| #28 | SUPERLOTTO PLUS® MULTIPLIER | $5 | $0.70 | $500,000 | 1.01 | GOOD |
| #29 | RED, WHITE & BLUE 7'S | $5 | $0.70 | $250,000 | 1.48 | GOOD |
| #30 | POKER NIGHTS | $5 | $0.69 | $75,000 | 1.10 | GOOD |
| #31 | POWER 10'S | $10 | $0.69 | $1M | 0.39 | GOOD |
| #32 | MEGA CROSSWORD | $5 | $0.69 | $75,000 | 1.26 | GOOD |
| #33 | CASH CRUSH | $5 | $0.68 | $250,000 | 1.42 | GOOD |
| #34 | LOTERIA™ EXTRA! | $5 | $0.67 | $100,000 | 0.95 | GOOD |
| #35 | CA$H DOUBLER | $2 | $0.66 | $20,000 | 1.01 | GOOD |
| #36 | LOTERIA™ | $3 | $0.66 | $30,000 | 1.07 | GOOD |
| #37 | GOOOAAAL! | $2 | $0.66 | $20,000 | 1.29 | GOOD |
| #38 | WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER | $5 | $0.65 | $250,000 | 0.45 | GOOD |
| #39 | DOMINOES | $2 | $0.65 | $30,000 | 1.10 | GOOD |
| #40 | $PRING GREEN | $2 | $0.65 | $20,000 | 1.35 | GOOD |
| #41 | MONOPOLY | $2 | $0.65 | $30,000 | 1.03 | AVERAGE |
| #42 | TRIPLING BONUS CROSSWORD | $3 | $0.65 | $20,000 | 1.06 | AVERAGE |
| #43 | ROCKIN' RICHES | $1 | $0.65 | $5,000 | 1.14 | AVERAGE |
| #44 | FIREBALL BINGO | $3 | $0.64 | $20,000 | 1.08 | AVERAGE |
| #45 | FULL OF 500'S | $5 | $0.64 | $500 | 0.83 | AVERAGE |
| #46 | YOUR LUCKY STARS | $2 | $0.64 | $20,000 | 1.01 | AVERAGE |
| #47 | 10X THE CASH | $2 | $0.64 | $30,000 | 1.51 | AVERAGE |
| #48 | MYSTERY CROSSWORD | $10 | $0.62 | $750,000 | 0.51 | AVERAGE |
| #49 | STRAIGHT 8'S | $1 | $0.62 | $888 | 0.91 | AVERAGE |
| #50 | 15X | $3 | $0.62 | $30,000 | 0.97 | AVERAGE |
| #51 | LOTERIA™ | $3 | $0.61 | $30,000 | 1.55 | AVERAGE |
| #52 | FOUR LEAF FRENZY | $1 | $0.61 | $5,000 | 0.76 | AVERAGE |
| #53 | THE LUCKY SPOT! | $1 | $0.59 | $1,000 | 0.82 | AVERAGE |
Source: California Lottery
Common questions about California scratch-offs
Are scratch-off odds the same when fewer prizes remain?
Not exactly. The probability of winning any prize on a single ticket stays close to the published overall odds, but the remaining prize pool shifts as winners are claimed. When the headline top prize on a California game has already been won, the remaining tickets still pay smaller prizes, so the expected return per dollar drops. Scratch IQ tracks remaining prize counts daily and recomputes EV/Dollar so you see the current value, not the launch-day value.
How does Scratch IQ rank California scratch-offs?
Every active California scratch-off is ranked by EV/Dollar, the statistical return per $1 spent, using the prizes still left in circulation. The formula and per-tier inputs are documented on the methodology page. Rankings update once daily as new California Lottery data is published. Top Prize Ratio adds context: when it exceeds 1.0, top prizes are depleting more slowly than tickets overall.
Where does California lottery prize data come from?
Public data published by the California Lottery on calottery.com. The lottery posts each game's overall odds, prize tiers, total prizes printed, and prizes remaining. Scratch IQ collects those public numbers daily and applies the same EV formula to every state it covers. Scratch IQ does not receive private data from the California Lottery and is not affiliated with the California Lottery.
Does California lottery prohibit scratch-off EV calculation?
EV calculation uses publicly published prize counts, the same numbers anyone can read on the California Lottery's website. Calculating expected value from public data is a long-standing practice in lottery analysis taught in university statistics courses and used in retail player communities. Scratch IQ's analysis is informational, is not gambling advice, does not modify lottery outcomes, and does not interfere with California Lottery operations.
Scratch IQ is not affiliated with the California Lottery. Analytics are for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Play responsibly. 18+. See responsible gaming.