What Are the Odds of Winning a Scratch Off Card?

Scratch off cards have been around for a long time and remain one of the more popular types of lottery games. While the average payout is smaller than you’d expect to get from a national lottery draw, the odds of winning something are much higher. On average, the odds of winning a smaller prize on a scratch off card varies between 1 and 3 or 1 in 5. This post takes a closer look at the odds of playing a scratch off as well as a few top ways to increase your odds of winning when you buy scratch off tickets online.

The Odds of Playing One Scratch Off Ticket

It’s true that the specific odds of winning on one scratch off ticket largely depend on the game you’re playing as well as whether it’s an old or new game. However, there is a strategy that some players use to calculate their own odds. Here’s how they do it.

• Choose a very basic scratch off game.
• There are ten tickets available at $1.
• There’s a single ticket in the pack of 10 that’s worth the grand prize of $5.
• Out of your 10 tickets, only one is a winner, which makes your chance of winning 1 in 10, or 10%.
• If you bought all 10, you would lose nine times ($9) and only win $5.
• This means this game has low odds, which aren’t beneficial at all.
• The next move would be to wait until all those 10 tickets have been sold, especially the $5 one.
• If the $5 ticket hasn’t been claimed, play again.
• Chances are, only a few $1 tickets remain, increasing your odds of winning the $5 ticket.
• This strategy is especially effective if you’re playing more than one ticket. Obviously, ticket costs will be more than $1 and winnings will be more than $5, but the principle is the same.

Ways to Increase Your Odds When Playing Scratch Off Tickets

New and existing players are always eager to find the best scratch off tickets for winning big. As with other lottery games, scratch off regulars live by a series of tips that have or will get them closer to the jackpot. Here are a few to consider.

• Playing expensive tickets with higher prices: You may be tempted to buy cheaper tickets so that you can buy more of them with the budget you’ve allocated to scratch offs. However, experts agree, it’s more effective to buy more expensive tickets. Cheaper tickets tend to have a lower prize pool which means your chances of winning big jackpots are minimal. It’s therefore a good idea to opt for fewer tickets at a higher price.
• Buy in bulk: Wherever possible, consider buying a few of the more expensive versions in bulk. Many previous winners have found that bulk lottery scratch cards often include a very lucky ticket somewhere in the pack.
• Try new games: New games often strike it big in the early phase of their lifecycle. This is because the biggest prizes of the game haven’t been won yet. Playing older games often means there are only many lower prizes left. Playing new games always increases your chances of winning any potential beginner bonuses.
• Research various games: Don’t just buy tickets for the sake of buying tickets. Take a few minutes to research the types of games, prizes and odds on offer. This information will also make it easier for you to create a responsible budget for spending on tickets.

Source: theLotter

What Are the Odds of Winning Scratch Off Tickets from Other Countries

Scratch offs are not only popular in the US, but around the globe as well. A few of the more common scratch offs from other countries are listed below.

Wrapping Up

If you’re new to scratch-off games, it’s good to start by checking the odds of the games that interest you. Remember to opt for strategies such as picking more expensive tickets that cost more. Additionally, look for tickets that haven’t had a lot of large winnings and remember to check your scratch-off tickets online and submit all of them regardless of whether you spotted a win or not. Not only can you win big on scratch cards, but you can also have a whole of fun doing it!

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