Scratch-offs with 10X and 100X in the name win more often, but do not pay back more
A number followed by a multiplier (an X) is one of the most common things printed on the title of an American scratch-off. Splitting games by whether the name carries one shows what the label buys. Figures cover active US scratch-off games in our database as of September 16, 2026.
| Price | Group | Games | Payout | Overall odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5 | Multiplier name | 52 | 69.9% | 1 in 4.00 |
| $5 | Everything else | 590 | 69.3% | 1 in 4.03 |
| $10 | Multiplier name | 51 | 73.4% | 1 in 3.63 |
| $10 | Everything else | 463 | 73.1% | 1 in 4.01 |
| $20 | Multiplier name | 48 | 75.6% | 1 in 3.36 |
| $20 | Everything else | 250 | 75.0% | 1 in 3.84 |
| $30 | Multiplier name | 10 | 76.7% | 1 in 3.23 |
| $30 | Everything else | 119 | 77.5% | 1 in 3.40 |
The payout column barely moves and the widest gap at any price is 0.8 points, running in favor of ordinary games at $30.
The odds column is different though. At $10 a multiplier game wins on one ticket in 3.63 against one in 4.01, and at $20 it is 1 in 3.36 against 1 in 3.84. Both gaps are about a tenth of a win per ticket, and both hold across roughly 50 games in each group.
Why more wins and the same money
A multiplier spot takes a prize the ticket already won and increases it. The game is designed around that mechanic from the start, so the overall amount paid back does not necessarily change. Instead, the prize mix changes, often with more small wins that can be multiplied by 2x, 5x, or another amount. That can improve how often a ticket wins without increasing the payout percentage.
How the feature works on the ticket is covered in our multipliers explainer. The name alone does not tell you much either, since games with the same name can pay very differently from one state to another.
There are also a couple of reasons not to treat multiplier games as automatically better buys. Overall odds count every prize, including the ones that only return the ticket price, so a game can produce winners more often without actually returning more money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do 10X and 50X scratch-offs pay better?
No. Across active US games, tickets with a multiplier in the name return about the same share of sales as everything else at the same price, within a point at $5, $10, and $20. What they do differently is win more often.
Do multiplier scratch-offs win more often?
Yes, at the higher prices. At $10 the multiplier-named games hit on one ticket in 3.63 against one in 4.01 for the rest. At $20 it is 1 in 3.36 against 1 in 3.84. At $5 the two groups are even.
What does the multiplier on a scratch-off actually do?
It multiplies a prize you have already won, usually through a separate multiplier spot on the ticket. It does not add money to the game overall. The prize table is built around it, which is why payout stays flat while the shape of the wins changes.
Jessie Jurado is a news writer who covers new scratch-off launches, state lottery guides, taxes on winnings, news, and much more. She joined ScratchCheck in 2026 and writes the site's state-by-state coverage.
