Best States to Buy Lottery Tickets If You're Traveling
Most people buy scratch-off tickets wherever they happen to be. But if you play regularly and you're about to travel, knowing which states have the best games right now is genuinely useful. Not every state lottery is created equal, and the difference between a strong state and a weak one can be significant in terms of odds, payout rates, and available prize depth.
We pulled the current national rankings from ScratchCheck's best odds data to see which states are showing up most consistently at the top right now. Here's what the data says.
Georgia: The Clearest Winner Right Now
Georgia has 12 games in the national top 50 by overall odds right now. No other state comes close. The next closest is Arizona with 8. Georgia's dominance isn't a fluke. The state lottery consistently designs games with tighter odds than almost anywhere else in the country, and right now the lineup is particularly strong.
The highlights: Super-Sized Bucks Power 25x at $25 with 1 in 2.34 overall odds, Jumbo Jumbo Bucks at $10 with 1 in 2.47 (best odds on any $10 ticket nationally), and Millionaire Maker at $30 with 14 top prizes of $1 million still available. If your travels take you through Atlanta or anywhere in Georgia, stock up. You're playing in the best odds state in the country right now.
Browse all Georgia games at ScratchCheck's Georgia page.
Arizona: Best Premium Odds
Arizona has 8 games in the national top 50, most of them at the $30 and $50 tier. The headline game is SET FOR LIFE at $50, which currently has the best overall odds of any purchasable game in the US at 1 in 2.18. Arizona also has an 83.4% payout rate on that game, one of the highest in the country. Million Dollar Crossword ($30, 1 in 2.30) is another strong option still available.
Arizona is the pick if you're comfortable spending $30 to $50 per ticket and want the best odds available anywhere. Browse Arizona's current lineup at ScratchCheck's Arizona page.
Oklahoma: Strong at Every Price Point
Oklahoma has 5 games in the national top 50 and they're spread across price points in a way most states can't match. The $5 Million Jackpot ($100) sits at 1 in 2.37 odds with an 81% payout and a 99.5 ValueScore, but Oklahoma also has strong $10 and $30 options. Holiday Frenzy at $10 comes in at 1 in 2.44, and Million Dollar Payday at $30 has a 92.2 ValueScore.
Oklahoma rarely gets attention in the lottery world but consistently runs some of the better games in the country. Worth a stop if you're driving through. See all Oklahoma games at ScratchCheck's Oklahoma page.
Iowa: Crossword Capital of the US
Iowa has 4 games in the national top 50 and all of them are consistently strong performers. Ruby Red Crossword ($30, 1 in 2.29) is the second-best odds game in the country right now. Premiere ($30, 1 in 2.39) and Gem 7s ($20, 1 in 2.52) round out a lineup that punches well above Iowa's population size.
Iowa also just launched 200X THE WIN ($20) with a 92.5 ValueScore and 10 top prizes remaining, one of the strongest new game launches in the country this month. If you're driving through the Midwest, Iowa is a worthwhile detour for serious scratch-off players. Browse at ScratchCheck's Iowa page.
California: Big State, Competitive Odds
For a state with tens of millions of players and one of the highest-volume lottery programs in the world, California holds up surprisingly well. Four games in the national top 50 including Royal Jackpot ($40, 1 in 2.43, 97.9 ValueScore) which has been one of the best-rated games in the country for several weeks running. The $30 tier in California is also strong with 7's and Crossword Xtreme both placing nationally.
California players get 80+ cent payout rates on most premium games, which is above the national average. See current California games at ScratchCheck's California page.
Maryland: Consistent High Value
Maryland has 4 games in the top 50 and consistently returns 78 to 79 cents per dollar across its entire premium lineup. $5,000,000 LUXE ($50, 1 in 2.50, 95.9 ValueScore) is one of the strongest $50 games in the country right now. Ace of Spades ($30, 1 in 2.73, 90.1 ValueScore) and $5,000 Large ($30, 1 in 2.64) round out one of the more complete state lineups available. Maryland's full rankings here.
New Jersey: Best ValueScore State in the Country Right Now
New Jersey doesn't dominate the overall odds rankings the way Georgia does, but on ValueScore it's leading the country right now. Jersey Riches ($30) and Jackpot Millions ($30) are both sitting at 99+ ValueScore nationally. All 50 New Jersey games currently have active top prizes, which is unusual for a state this size. If you care more about overall value than raw odds, New Jersey is the play right now. New Jersey's full rankings here.
States to Skip If You Have a Choice
New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas are three of the largest lottery markets in the country but none of them appear prominently in the current national top 50. That doesn't mean there are no good games in those states, but it does mean you're working with a thinner field of strong options compared to Georgia, Arizona, or Iowa.
If you're in one of those states and can't easily cross a border, check the state page on ScratchCheck to find the best available options. There are usually a few decent games even in states that don't dominate the national rankings. You just have to look harder and be more selective.
One Practical Note
These rankings shift daily as prizes are claimed and new games launch. A state that leads today might slip next week, and a state that's quiet now might have a strong new launch tomorrow. Check ScratchCheck's national best odds rankings right before you travel rather than relying on data from a week ago. The difference between a fresh check and a stale one can be the difference between a game with 10 top prizes remaining and one with zero.
Compare scratch-off odds and ValueScores for every state at ScratchCheck.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the Best State to Buy Lottery Tickets If You're Traveling?
Georgia: The Clearest Winner Right Now. Georgia has 12 games in the national top 50 by overall odds right now. No other state comes close. The next closest is Arizona with 8. Georgia's dominance isn't a fluke — the state lottery consistently designs games with tighter odds than almost anywhere else in the country, and right now the lineup is particularly strong.
What's Another Good State to Buy Lottery Tickets If You're Traveling?
Arizona: Best Premium Odds. Arizona has 8 games in the national top 50, most of them at the $30 and $50 tier. The headline game is SET FOR LIFE at $50, which currently has the best overall odds of any purchasable game in the US at 1 in 2.18. Arizona also has an 83.4% payout rate on that game, one of the highest in the country. Million Dollar Crossword ($30, 1 in 2.30) is another strong option still available.
Jessie Jurado covers consumer lottery topics with a focus on odds, value, and the math most players never see. She believes nobody should buy a scratch ticket without knowing what they're actually getting for their money.
