Methodology

ScratchOdds USA turns official lottery data into consistent game pages and comparison lists. This methodology explains which figures we use, how the ScratchOdds Score is calculated and—just as importantly—what the score cannot tell you.

The score is a comparison tool, not a prediction. Every scratch-off outcome is random, and no public dataset can identify which ticket in a store will win.

Our data sources

We use information published by the official state lottery for each supported game. Depending on the state, that may include the ticket price, game number, release date, overall odds, advertised top prize, original prize counts, remaining prize counts, game status and claim deadline. Individual game pages link to the official source and display the date of the latest successful update.

State lottery data can be corrected, delayed or presented in different formats. The issuing lottery's website, rules and claim records always control. ScratchOdds USA is an independent informational site and does not replace the official lottery.

The three scoring inputs

1. Top-prize availability — 60%

The largest part of the score compares the number of advertised top prizes remaining with the number available when the game began. A game with four of five top prizes listed has a higher availability factor than a game with one of five. If the official source does not provide a usable original count, we do not invent one.

2. Published overall odds — 30%

We use the overall odds published for the game by the state lottery. Lower “1 in X” figures receive a stronger factor because they represent more frequent winning tickets across the original game design. To stop unusually low figures from dominating the ranking, this factor is capped at odds of 1 in 2.5.

3. Ticket-price factor — 10%

Higher-priced games often have different prize structures, so ticket cost receives a small square-root adjustment. Using the square root limits the influence of price: a $50 ticket does not receive ten times the price factor of a $5 ticket. Price accounts for only 10% of the total score.

Score formula

The ScratchOdds Score combines the normalized inputs using these weights:

60% top-prize availability factor
30% overall-odds factor, capped at 1 in 2.5
10% square-root ticket-price factor

Scores are most useful for comparing active games within the same state at the same point in time. A score may change after an official data update, and similarly scored games can still have very different prize tables.

What the score does not measure

It does not predict the next winning ticket.
It does not reveal where prizes are located or whether a specific retailer has a winner.
It does not calculate exact current odds from tickets remaining, because lotteries generally do not publish a complete live count of unsold tickets.
It does not measure entertainment value, artwork or personal preference.
It does not guarantee profit, a prize or better results.
It does not replace the full prize table, game rules or official claim information.

Original odds versus current prize counts

Published overall odds usually describe the game when tickets were printed or launched. Remaining-prize counts are a later snapshot of prizes not yet claimed or reported as paid. Combining these two figures can help organize a comparison, but it does not produce exact live odds.

For example, a game may still list several top prizes while an unknown number of tickets remain for sale. Another game may show fewer top prizes but also have far fewer tickets in circulation. Without a verified count of all unsold and unclaimed tickets, nobody can determine the exact probability of the next ticket from remaining-prize counts alone.

Updates, failures and historical snapshots

Automated imports check supported official sources on a regular schedule. A successful update records the source and timestamp. If an import fails or a source changes format, the previous verified snapshot is retained rather than replacing it with empty or obviously incomplete information. We investigate the source before treating new values as current.

Prize counts may change between our update and your visit to the official lottery site. Tickets can also be closed for sale while claims remain open. Check the source link on the individual game page before making a decision based on time-sensitive information.

Editorial standards

We use factual, comparison-focused language. We avoid claims such as “guaranteed winner,” “secret strategy,” “sure win” or “easy money” because scratch-offs are games of chance. Labels such as “best” refer to the published comparison method on this page, not to a promise of winning.

Advertising does not change the score, game order or editorial interpretation. When monetization is enabled, advertisements will be visually distinguishable from game data and navigation.

Corrections

If a game page differs from the official source, please use our contact page and include the state, game name and the value that appears incorrect. We will verify the official source and correct confirmed errors.

Browse scratch-off games by state, learn more about ScratchOdds USA, or return to the homepage.