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 Festive Wishes at $0.65 per $1. Updated Oct 31, 2026.
Across the 6 $1 California games with a calculable return, the strongest pays back $0.65 per $1 and the weakest $0.58 — a 7-cent gap on the dollar, averaging $0.61. The biggest prize still in play at this price is $5,000 on Festive Wishes (84 still unclaimed).
| # | Game | Price | Return / $1 | Odds to Win | Top Prize | Est. Tickets Left | Prize Tiers Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Festive Wishes#1750 | $1 | $0.65 / $1 | 1 in 4.34 | $5,000 | 19,248,968 | 9/9 |
| 2 |  Straight 8's#1674 | $1 | $0.61 / $1 | 1 in 4.59 | $888 | 11,247,786 | 10/10 |
| 3 |  Four Leaf Frenzy#1715 | $1 | $0.61 / $1 | 1 in 4.56 | $5,000 | 4,456,169 | 9/9 |
| 4 |  Rockin' Riches#1727 | $1 | $0.59 / $1 | 1 in 4.34 | $5,000 | 6,480,527 | 9/9 |
| 5 |  The Lucky Spot!#1555 | $1 | $0.59 / $1 | 1 in 4.78 | $1,000 | 8,253,210 | 11/11 |
| 6 |  Year of the Horse#1706 | $1 | $0.58 / $1 | 1 in 4.59 | $888 | 4,259,001 | 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.