Scratch-Off ROI Calculator
Track your scratch-off ticket return on investment
Formula:
ROI = ((Won - Spent) / Spent) × 100%Your Scratch-Off Results
Enter your spending and winnings
How much you've spent on scratch-offs
Total winnings (including free tickets)
Total tickets purchased
Tickets that won any prize
Your ROI Results
How you're doing
Return on Investment
-45.0%
Loss: $45
Return Rate: 55.0% of spending
Net Profit/Loss
$-45
Win Rate
37.5%
Avg Ticket Cost
$2.50
vs Expected
+0.0%
Performance Breakdown
Tickets Played
40
Winners
15
Losers
25
Avg Win Amount
$3.67
Comparison to Expected
Your ROI-45.0%
Typical Expected ROI-45%
You're PerformingBetter (0.0% above average)
Tracking helps awareness. Your current ROI of -45.0% is better than average. Remember that scratch-offs are entertainment, not investment.
Example Scenarios
Load typical scratch-off results
Quick Answer
TL;DR summary
Scratch-off ROI = ((Total Won - Total Spent) / Total Spent) × 100%. If you spend $100 and win $55, your ROI is -45% (lost $45). Most scratch-off games have a return rate of 50-70%, meaning a typical ROI of -30% to -50%. Track your actual results to see your personal performance.
Key Facts About Scratch-Off ROI
Important things to know
- Typical scratch-off return rate: 50-70% (ROI of -30% to -50%)
- Higher denomination tickets often have better odds
- Track every purchase and win for accurate ROI calculation
- ROI formula: (Winnings - Spending) / Spending × 100%
- Positive ROI is rare and usually temporary
- State lottery commissions publish official odds and prize pools
- Remaining prizes change as games sell - check remaining prizes online
Frequently Asked Questions
Common scratch-off ROI questions
How do I calculate my scratch-off ROI?
ROI = ((Total Winnings - Total Spent) / Total Spent) × 100%. If you spent $50 and won $30, ROI = ((30-50)/50) × 100% = -40%. Track all purchases and wins over time for accurate results.
What is a typical scratch-off ROI?
Most players experience -30% to -50% ROI over time. State lotteries typically return 50-70% of ticket sales as prizes. The remaining 30-50% covers operations, retailer commissions, and state revenue.
Can you have a positive scratch-off ROI?
Yes, but it's uncommon and typically short-term. Variance allows for winning streaks, but over large sample sizes, ROI converges toward the game's expected return rate (negative). Professional advantage players sometimes find +EV situations with near-end games.
Which scratch-off tickets have the best ROI?
Generally, higher-priced tickets ($10-$30) have slightly better return rates than $1-$2 tickets. Games nearing their end date with remaining top prizes may offer better value. Check your state lottery's website for remaining prizes.
How many tickets should I track before calculating ROI?
For meaningful statistical data, track at least 50-100 tickets. Short-term results vary wildly due to variance. A 20-ticket sample could show +50% ROI or -80% ROI and neither would reflect your true expected return.
How this works
Calculations follow the published mathematics of the game — combinatorics for cards, probability theory for dice, and expected-value accounting for wagers. Results are verified against independent references (primarily Wizard of Odds). No calculation here is an opinion or recommendation; it is arithmetic applied to the rules of the game.
What this tool can’t do
When to consult a professional
This tool computes probability and expected value. It is not a betting system and cannot predict the outcome of any individual wager. If gambling is causing problems for you or someone you know, call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER.
Sources
- [1]Wizard of Odds — Michael Shackleford, ASAIndustrywizardofodds.comAccessed Apr 21, 2026
Actuary; widely cited casino-game probability reference. Used for house-edge and EV verification.
- [2]National Council on Problem GamblingOfficial sourcencpgambling.orgAccessed Apr 21, 2026
Responsible-gambling guidance and 1-800-GAMBLER helpline.
Joseph OrdunaFounder & Software Engineer
Full-stack software engineer specializing in embedded systems, web architecture, and AI/ML. Founder of Practical Web Tools. Built the gesture-controlled drone IP acquired by KD Interactive (Aura Drone, sold on Amazon).