California · $20 tickets
Best $20 California Scratch-Off Tickets
There are 16 active $20 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 $0.87 per $1. Updated Aug 2, 2026.
Across the 16 $20 California games with a calculable return, the strongest pays back $0.87 per $1 and the weakest $0.67 — a 20-cent gap on the dollar, averaging $0.78. The biggest prize still in play at this price is $5,000,000 on Set for Life (6 still unclaimed).
| # | Game | Price | Return / $1 | Top Prize | Est. Tickets Left | Prize Tiers Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Set for Life#1705 | $20 | $0.87 / $1 | $5,000,000 | 8,665,804 | 10/10 |
| 2 | Double The Luck#1672 | $20 | $0.87 / $1 | $5,000,000 | 3,102,277 | 16/16 |
| 3 | 100X#1696 | $20 | $0.84 / $1 | $5,000,000 | 5,021,469 | 12/12 |
| 4 | MONOPOLY#1669 | $20 | $0.82 / $1 | $5,000,000 | 8,237,325 | 10/10 |
| 5 | 100X The Cash#1722 | $20 | $0.80 / $1 | $5,000,000 | 9,732,211 | 10/10 |
| 6 | Instant Prize Crossword#1739 | $20 | $0.79 / $1 | $2,000,000 | 17,610,502 | 13/13 |
| 7 | Show Me $5,000,000!#1678 | $20 | $0.78 / $1 | $5,000,000 | 5,829,336 | 10/10 |
| 8 | Red Carpet Riches#1714 | $20 | $0.78 / $1 | $2,000,000 | 7,384,907 | 13/13 |
| 9 | Golden State Riches#1735 | $20 | $0.78 / $1 | $5,000,000 | 15,050,733 | 11/11 |
| 10 | Instant Prize Crossword#1590 | $20 | $0.78 / $1 | $2,000,000 | 11,874,925 | 13/13 |
| 11 | $100 or $200#1687 | $20 | $0.76 / $1 | $200 | 2,756,125 | 2/2 |
| 12 | $100 or $200 Frenzy#1731 | $20 | $0.76 / $1 | $200 | 12,831,548 | 2/2 |
| 13 | Cash King#1664 | $20 | $0.75 / $1 | $5,000,000 | 7,755,399 | 12/12 |
| 14 | $5,000,000 Superstar#1709 | $20 | $0.74 / $1 | $5,000,000 | 6,349,366 | 10/10 |
| 15 | Instant Prize Crossword#1634 | $20 | $0.69 / $1 | $2,000,000 | 1,285,412 | 12/13 |
| 16 | Instant Prize Crossword#1682 | $20 | $0.67 / $1 | $2,000,000 | 583,711 | 12/13 |
Even the best $20 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.