California · $10 tickets
Best $10 California Scratch-Off Tickets
There are 14 active $10 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 Set For Life at $0.85 per $1. Updated Oct 31, 2026.
Across the 14 $10 California games with a calculable return, the strongest pays back $0.85 per $1 and the weakest $0.62 — a 23-cent gap on the dollar, averaging $0.74. The biggest prize still in play at this price is $6,000,000 on Set For Life (5 still unclaimed).
| # | Game | Price | Return / $1 | Odds to Win | Top Prize | Est. Tickets Left | Prize Tiers Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Set For Life#1748 | $10 | $0.85 / $1 | 1 in 3.76 | $6,000,000 | 11,356,102 | 12/12 |
| 2 | $10 | $0.80 / $1 | 1 in 3.5 | $1,000,000 | 2,543,405 | 12/13 | |
| 3 |  Mystery Crossword#1743 | $10 | $0.77 / $1 | 1 in 3.47 | $750,000 | 18,804,024 | 12/12 |
| 4 |  Neon Jackpot#1734 | $10 | $0.76 / $1 | 1 in 3.42 | $1,000,000 | 7,326,775 | 14/14 |
| 5 |  Mystery Crossword#1708 | $10 | $0.75 / $1 | 1 in 3.47 | $750,000 | 3,789,184 | 12/12 |
| 6 |  $1,000,000 Poker#1725 | $10 | $0.74 / $1 | 1 in 3.5 | $1,000,000 | 11,361,238 | 13/13 |
| 7 |  California Color Pop#1721 | $10 | $0.74 / $1 | 1 in 3.5 | $1,000,000 | 2,845,815 | 13/13 |
| 8 |  Polar Payout#1752 | $10 | $0.73 / $1 | 1 in 3.61 | $1,000,000 | 10,965,758 | 10/10 |
| 9 |  California Jackpot#1695 | $10 | $0.73 / $1 | 1 in 3.42 | $1,000,000 | 6,724,541 | 14/14 |
| 10 |  $50 or $100#1738 | $10 | $0.73 / $1 | 1 in 8.13 | $100 | 5,240,899 | 2/2 |
| 11 | $10 | $0.73 / $1 | 1 in 3.42 | $1,000,000 | 4,542,102 | 14/14 | |
| 12 |  $50 or $100!#1681 | $10 | $0.73 / $1 | 1 in 8.13 | $100 | 2,095,638 | 2/2 |
| 13 |  Power 10's#1686 | $10 | $0.69 / $1 | 1 in 3.3 | $1,000,000 | 2,260,087 | 12/12 |
| 14 |  Mystery Crossword#1659 | $10 | $0.62 / $1 | 1 in 3.47 | $750,000 | 2,360,273 | 12/12 |
Even the best $10 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.