ScratchCheck Blog

Jul 3, 2026, 6:24 PM EDT·

Oklahoma Launched 6 New Scratch-Offs

Oklahoma rolled out six new scratch-offs on July 2, 2026, from $1 to $10, led by two strong $10 games. Full ValueScore, odds, payout, and top-prize breakdown.

Jul 3, 2026, 10:52 AM EDT·

What a Powerball Ticket Is Really Worth Over a Jackpot Cycle

A $2 Powerball ticket's real value rises and falls with the jackpot. From March 6 to June 25, 2026, it ranged from about $0.86 to $0.35, so how much did you lose per $2 spent?

Jul 3, 2026, 10:37 AM EDT·

A Michigan Man Thought He Won $50,000 from a Lottery Scratch-Off. He Actually Won $500,000.

A 51-year-old Genesee County man scratched a $5 Triple Red 777s ticket, thought he had won $50,000, and later realized it was actually a $500,000 winner. The full story, plus what the game looks like on ScratchCheck.

Jul 2, 2026, 12:03 PM EDT·

A Powerball Ticket Worth $1 Million Is About to Expire

A $1 million Powerball ticket from the February 2 drawing, sold at an Austin Circle K, is still unclaimed and expires August 1. The winning numbers, the real deadline, and where the money goes if no one comes forward.

Jul 2, 2026, 10:46 AM EDT·

Florida and Texas Launched New Scratch-Offs on July 1

Florida launched a five-game "Bucks" family and Texas added two new scratch-offs on July 1, 2026. Full ValueScore, odds, payout, and top-prize breakdown for all seven.

Jul 2, 2026, 10:31 AM EDT·

Best Scratch-Off Odds by State in 2026

Overall odds are a per-game number, not a per-state one. Here is where the strongest overall-odds scratch-offs are available right now, and what that does and does not tell you.

Jul 1, 2026, 11:58 AM EDT·

Virginia Lottery Winners Can Now Stay Anonymous

A new Virginia law lowers the lottery anonymity threshold from $10 million to $1 million as of July 1, 2026. What it changes, what it does not, and what a winner still has to do.

Jul 1, 2026, 10:15 AM EDT·

Best Scratch-Off Tickets in Washington Right Now

The strongest Washington scratch-offs right now by ValueScore, overall odds, and prizes remaining, with honest notes on which top jackpots are already gone.

Jun 30, 2026, 2:32 PM EDT·

A Florida Store Worker Allegedly Stole 456 Scratch-Offs and Scanned Them for Winners

A Winn-Dixie employee in Palm Beach Gardens is charged with stealing 456 scratch-off tickets and scanning them with the Florida Lottery app to find winners. What the case reveals about how ticket validation actually works.

Jun 30, 2026, 2:20 PM EDT·

Winners

A North Carolina Man Trusted His Gut and Won $1 Million on Cashword King

Everett Cooper of Marston followed a hunch, bought one $10 Cashword King ticket in Laurinburg, and won a $1,000,000 top prize. The honest version of the story, plus how much he actually took home and how many top prizes are left.

Jun 30, 2026, 10:07 AM EDT·

The Scratch-Off Jackpots Disappearing Fastest Right Now

Nine live scratch-off games had top prizes claimed in the last 30 days, and two are down to their final jackpot. Here is what our daily snapshots show.

Jun 29, 2026, 1:25 PM EDT·

What's the Best Time of Day to Buy Scratch-Offs?

There is no best time of day, because the outcome of every ticket was decided at the printing factory long before the store opened. Morning, evening, weekday, or weekend changes nothing. But there is a timing question that does matter, and it has nothing to do with the clock. Here is the one that counts...

Jun 29, 2026, 10:12 AM EDT·

Best Scratch-Off Tickets in Colorado Right Now

The best overall odds on a Colorado scratch-off right now belong to...

Jun 28, 2026, 11:34 AM EDT·

How Fast Do Scratch-Off Jackpots Actually Get Claimed?

ScratchCheck's daily snapshots show real jackpots vanishing in roughly two months. Here is how fast top prizes empty, broken down by ticket price.

Jun 27, 2026, 11:31 AM EDT·

What the Codes on the Back of a Scratch-Off Ticket Mean

The numbers and codes printed on the back of a scratch-off ticket identify the pack, the ticket, and let the lottery verify a claim. None of them let you pick a winner off the rack.

Jun 26, 2026, 10:42 AM EDT·

Ohio Lottery Launches New June Scratch-Offs

The Ohio Lottery launched four new scratch-offs on June 23, 2026, spanning $1 to $50. One of them, Instant Jackpot, opens as the single best-rated active game in the entire state...

Jun 26, 2026, 10:18 AM EDT·

The Best Scratch-Off Buys in Florida Right Now

The best Florida scratch-off to buy is not always the one with the best printed odds...

Jun 25, 2026, 10:13 AM EDT·

What Expected Value Means for Powerball and Mega Millions

Expected value tells you what a lottery ticket is really worth on average. Here is how to calculate it for Powerball and Mega Millions, and why both stay negative.

Jun 24, 2026, 10:26 AM EDT·

California Scratchers With the Most Top Prizes Remaining

Sorting California scratchers by top prizes remaining puts low-prize games on top. Here is how to read that column correctly and find the real big-money plays.

Jun 23, 2026, 3:18 PM EDT·

California's New June Scratch-Offs

The California Lottery launched four new scratch-offs on June 22, 2026, spanning $2 to $20. Golden State Riches headlines the group with one of the best ValueScores of any active game in the state. Here's the full breakdown.

Jun 23, 2026, 10:06 AM EDT·

Best Scratch-Off Tickets in Arizona Right Now

Arizona's best scratch-off right now is Million Dollar Crossword, with a 98.9 ValueScore, 1 in 2.3 odds, and a 77.7% payout rate from official lottery data.

Jun 22, 2026, 11:32 AM EDT·

How to Play Millionaire for Life (And Is It Worth It?)

How for-life lottery games work: a set amount paid for life, a guaranteed minimum payout period, and a lump-sum option. The specifics vary by state, so check your own lottery's page.

Jun 21, 2026, 12:03 PM EDT·

Best Scratch-Off Tickets in Iowa Right Now

Iowa's strongest scratch-offs ranked by ValueScore, with unusually good overall odds near 1 in 2.8 and plenty of top prizes still on the board.

Jun 21, 2026, 12:03 PM EDT·

Best Scratch-Off Tickets in Ohio Right Now

Ohio's strongest scratch-offs right now are the $10 bingo and cashword games, led by Bingo X50, which pair good overall odds with high payout rates.

Jun 20, 2026, 11:18 AM EDT·

Best Scratch-Off Tickets in Tennessee Right Now

Tennessee's strongest scratch-offs ranked by ValueScore and overall odds, including the key difference between frequent small-prize games and the million-dollar tickets.

Jun 19, 2026, 10:47 AM EDT·

Can You Claim a Scratch-Off Prize in a Different State?

No. A scratch-off can only be claimed in the state that issued it, because each lottery is run by its own state and only honors its own tickets. That holds even for multi-state games like Powerball. Here is why, and what it means if you buy while traveling...

Jun 18, 2026, 11:25 AM EDT·

Can You Buy Scratch-Offs With a Credit or Debit Card?

Sometimes, and it depends on three things: your state’s law, the store’s own policy, and whether the card is credit or debit. Debit is widely accepted, credit is blocked in a lot of places, and even where credit works it can cost you more than the ticket. Here is how to tell what you can use...

Jun 17, 2026, 11:29 AM EDT·

Why Scratch-Off Games Keep Selling After the Top Prize Is Gone

A scratch-off does not get pulled from shelves the moment its last big prize is claimed. The game keeps selling, at the same price, with the same printed odds, while the jackpot you are picturing no longer exists in the pool. It is legal, it is common, and it is the single most avoidable mistake a player can make. Here is why it happens...

Jun 17, 2026, 11:26 AM EDT·

Texas Just Launched 3 New Scratch-Offs: Mega Cash! Leads

Texas launched three new scratch-offs on June 15, 2026, covering the $2, $5, and $10 tiers. Mega Cash! leads the group on value. Here's the breakdown of all three...

Jun 16, 2026, 4:56 PM EDT·

4 New Georgia Scratch-Offs Launched on June 16

Georgia launched four new scratch-offs today, June 16, 2026, covering the $3 to $20 range. DOUBLE Your LUCK leads the group with a strong opening ValueScore, and LUCKY 7s brings some of the tightest odds you'll find at the $5 tier. Here's the full breakdown...

Jun 16, 2026, 12:08 PM EDT·

Do Lottery Winnings Affect Social Security, SNAP, or Other Benefits?

It depends entirely on whether the benefit is means-tested. A scratch-off win can reduce or end SSI, SNAP, Medicaid, and housing assistance because those check your income and assets. But it does not touch Social Security retirement or SSDI, which you earned through work. Here is the line between the two...

Jun 15, 2026, 11:28 AM EDT·

What Is ValueScore? How ScratchCheck Ranks Scratch-Offs 0 to 100

ValueScore is a single 0-to-100 number that tells you how good a scratch-off is right now, combining four things players normally have to weigh by hand: expected value, prize quality, win frequency, and how much of the prize pool is left. Here is exactly what goes into it and how to read it...

by ScratchCheck Editorial Team

Jun 14, 2026, 12:23 PM EDT·

How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy a Scratch-Off Ticket?

In most states you have to be 18 to buy a scratch-off, but a handful set the minimum at 19 or 21, and the rule that matters is the one in the state where you actually buy the ticket. Here is how the age limits break down and what happens at the counter...

Jun 13, 2026, 11:24 AM EDT·

Can You Write Off Scratch-Off Losses on Your Taxes?

Sometimes, but the rules are stricter than most people hope. You can deduct scratch-off losses only up to the amount you won, only if you itemize, and only with records to back it up. For the typical player who takes the standard deduction, the answer is effectively no. Here is exactly how it works...

Jun 12, 2026, 10:50 AM EDT·

Can You Stay Anonymous If You Win a Scratch-Off?

It depends entirely on your state, and the answer ranges from "yes, automatically" to "no, your name and city become public record." About 20 states now let lottery winners keep their names private, either for any prize or above a certain dollar threshold. The rest require disclosure, though many of those allow a workaround through a trust or LLC. If staying anonymous matters to you, it's worth knowing your state's rule before you win, not after...

Jun 11, 2026, 11:06 AM EDT·

$30 vs $50 Scratch-Offs: Is the Premium Tier Worth It?

If you're spending at the premium end of the scratch-off shelf, the jump from $30 to $50 looks like it should buy you better everything. It mostly doesn't. Across 135 active premium games in 20 states, $50 tickets return...

Jun 10, 2026, 2:58 PM EDT·

7 New Scratch-Offs Launched in Massachusetts and Oregon

Two states launched new scratch-offs on June 9, 2026: Oregon rolled out three games and Massachusetts launched a four-game multiplier series. The Massachusetts games stand out, which is no surprise given the state runs one of the best-structured catalogs in the country. Here's the full rundown across all seven new games...

Jun 10, 2026, 10:54 AM EDT·

How Much Do Americans Spend on Scratch-Offs Per Year?

Americans spent $104.7 billion on lottery tickets in 2024, a record high, and scratch-offs made up the majority of it. With scratch games accounting for roughly 65 to 75% of total lottery revenue in most states, that puts annual scratch-off spending somewhere in...

Jun 9, 2026, 11:30 AM EDT·

Do You Have to Pay Taxes on a $1,000 Scratch-Off Win?

Yes. A $1,000 scratch-off win is taxable income, and it sits in a specific spot in the tax rules that catches a lot of people off guard. It's large enough that the lottery reports it to the IRS, but not large enough that...

Jun 8, 2026, 11:15 AM EDT·

Are Scratch Tickets Actually Random?

Mostly, but not in the way most people assume. Scratch-off outcomes are determined by a random process at the printing stage, but the result of any individual ticket is fixed the moment it's printed, not random at the moment you scratch it. The distinction matters, and understanding it clears up most of the myths people believe about how scratch-offs work...

Jun 7, 2026, 6:07 PM EDT·

A Hoosier Lottery Player Scratched a $100,000 "Winner." The Lottery Said No.

The Hoosier Lottery pulled one of its newest scratch-off games within hours of discovering a problem, and at least one player says he scratched what looked like a major win only to be told the ticket was worthless. The game, a $5 ticket called Space Invaders Cash Invasion, was halted on June 3, 2026 over what the lottery described as a technical issue. The episode is a useful, if painful, lesson in what actually makes a scratch-off win valid...

Jun 7, 2026, 12:50 PM EDT·

What Happens If You Damage a Winning Scratch-Off Ticket?

It went through the wash. It got torn in half. The dog got to it. You scratched too hard and took off part of the barcode. If you've got a scratch-off you think is a winner and it's damaged, the good news is that a damaged ticket is often still claimable. Lotteries want to pay legitimate winners, and most have a formal process for verifying tickets that can't be scanned normally. The bad news is that severely destroyed tickets can be rejected, and the process takes time and effort. Here's exactly what happens and what to do...

Jun 6, 2026, 12:02 PM EDT·

New Scratch-Offs Just Launched in DC, Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island

Four states rolled out new scratch-offs over the first week of June 2026: Washington DC on June 3, Maine on June 4, Vermont on June 5, and Rhode Island on June 6. That's 14 new games across four lotteries. Here's the full rundown, organized by state...

Jun 6, 2026, 11:00 AM EDT·

Best Scratch-Offs in New York Right Now

New York runs one of the largest scratch-off catalogs in the country, with 50 active games spanning $1 to $30. The top of the rankings right now is dominated by premium games, and a few of them stand out clearly on value. One thing worth knowing before you play: New York is a...

Jun 5, 2026, 11:50 AM EDT·

Can You Check Scratch-Offs Online?

Every major state lottery now has an official mobile app with a built-in ticket scanner. You point your phone camera at the barcode on your scratch-off, and the app tells you instantly whether it's a winner and how much you won. No more squinting at tiny numbers or second-guessing whether you read the prize legend correctly. Here's how it works and what your options are...

Jun 4, 2026, 11:45 AM EDT·

11 New Scratch-Offs Launched Across Michigan, Mississippi, and Arizona

Three states rolled out new scratch-offs on June 2, 2026, including a full four-game gemstone series in Michigan, a new Cashword and a couple of others in Mississippi, and a strong four-game batch in Arizona headlined by the highest-ValueScore game in the country. Here's the full rundown across all eleven new games.

Jun 3, 2026, 11:41 AM EDT·

Does Anybody Ever Win Big on Scratch Cards?

Yes. Real people win millions on scratch cards, and the lotteries publish their names, their stores, and their prizes. These aren't urban legends. A Massachusetts woman won $25 million on a single ticket in 2023. A Florida man won $25 million in 2025 and walked away with a $16 million lump sum. The wins are real, documented, and life-changing. They're also rare, and understanding both halves of that sentence is the key to thinking about scratch cards clearly...

Jun 2, 2026, 1:22 PM EDT·

This Week's New Scratch-Off Launches in Illinois, Minnesota, and Texas

Three states rolled out new scratch-offs this week, with strong launches in Illinois, Minnesota, and Texas. A few of them open near the top of their state catalogs. Here's the full rundown across all eight new games, organized by state.

Jun 2, 2026, 12:19 PM EDT·

What's the Trick to Winning Scratch-Offs?

While you can't change your odds of winning, you can absolutely make smarter buying decisions that improve how much you get back over time and how often you win something. The difference between an informed player and a random one is real. It's just not magic. Here's what actually works and...