The thinking behind the scratch.
Plain-English writing on scratch-off odds, expected value, and how the lottery really works — a new piece every week.
Latest
New every weekScratch-Off Value Report: We Analyzed 2,641 Lottery Tickets Across 40 States
The average U.S. scratch-off returns about 68 cents on the dollar, pricier tickets pay back more, and just 15 games currently beat the house. A data study of every ticket we track.
Where Your Scratch-Off Dollar Actually Goes: Prizes, Schools, and the House's Cut
You hand over a dollar. Roughly two-thirds comes back to players as prizes — eventually, to someone. We traced the rest.
How to Read a Scratch-Off's Odds Before You Buy: A 60-Second Field Guide
The odds are printed right on the ticket — but the number they show you is the least useful one. Here's what to actually look at before you hand over your money.
What “Expected Value” Really Means for Scratch-Off Tickets
It is the one number the marketing never prints — and the only one that tells you whether a ticket is a fair deal. Here is how to read it without a math degree.
Who writes The Scratch Ledger
The Scratch Ledger is written and fact-checked by the Top Lottery Games editorial team — the same people who build and maintain our daily expected-return data. Every piece is grounded in official state lottery numbers, not marketing or hype.