California · $1 tickets
Best $1 California Scratch-Off Tickets
There are 6 active $1 scratch-off games in the California Lottery right now. Ranked by expected return — how much, on average, comes back for every $1 spent — the best is Rockin' Riches at $0.64 per $1. Updated Aug 2, 2026.
Across the 6 $1 California games with a calculable return, the strongest pays back $0.64 per $1 and the weakest $0.58 — a 6-cent gap on the dollar, averaging $0.61. The biggest prize still in play at this price is $5,000 on Rockin' Riches (65 still unclaimed).
| # | Game | Price | Return / $1 | Top Prize | Est. Tickets Left | Prize Tiers Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rockin' Riches#1727 | $1 | $0.64 / $1 | $5,000 | 15,344,435 | 9/9 |
| 2 | Straight 8's#1674 | $1 | $0.62 / $1 | $888 | 12,426,617 | 10/10 |
| 3 | Four Leaf Frenzy#1715 | $1 | $0.60 / $1 | $5,000 | 4,678,168 | 9/9 |
| 4 | Season's Greetings#1697 | $1 | $0.60 / $1 | $5,000 | 5,886,329 | 9/9 |
| 5 | The Lucky Spot!#1555 | $1 | $0.59 / $1 | $1,000 | 8,296,713 | 11/11 |
| 6 | Year of the Horse#1706 | $1 | $0.58 / $1 | $888 | 4,384,207 | 10/10 |
Even the best $1 ticket almost always returns less than $1 per $1 played. These rankings tell you which games are less bad, not which are profitable. Play for fun, not for income.