New York State Lottery: Your Odds of Winning on an Instant Win Scratch-Off

The New York Lottery raises billions of dollars a year - much of it going into the coffers for education purposes. Aside from knowing your well earned money you're spending is being spent for a great cause, another gratifying sensation is taking your coin (or whichever object you prefer), scratching off that instant win scratch-off, and actually making some money to fill your own pockets. But, in reality, what are your chances of even winning on a scratch-off to even pull even?

Truthfully the odds are stacked against you when it comes to even breaking even on a scratch-off. Anyone looking for a get-rich-quick scheme - keep looking, you'd have a better chance going to a casino and trying your hand at some card games.

There is an array of different instant win scratch-off games in which the New York State Lottery sells - each of them attractive in their own ways from advertising hefty jackpots to eye-catching colors that'll make any avid gambler tick inside - even moderately. In this array of scratch-off choices there are different amounts in which these games cost ranging from $1 to a promising-looking $30 scratch-off.

Here's a list of the scratch-off games (from cheapest to most expensive) and their overall odds of winning. Please note that this list's data comes directly from the New York Lottery's website located at http://www.nylottery.org/index.php:

($1) - Amazing 8's: 1 in 4.96
($1) - $500 A Week for Life: 1 in 4.84
($1) - Bonus Bucks: 1 in 4.94
($1) - Happy Birthday: 1 in 4.99
($1) - Loose Change: 1 in 4.71
($1) - Lucky 7's: 1 in 4.74
($1) - Instant Take 5: 1 in 4.64
($2) - Loose Change Doubler: 1 in 4.73
($2) - Money Ball Bingo: 1 in 4.81
($2) - $50,000 Cash Deposit: 1 in 4.76
($2) - Fast Money: 1 in 4.77
($2) - King Cash: 1 in 4.89
($2) - You In...: 1 in 4.82
($2) - Triple It: 1 in 4.7
($2) - Lemon Twist: 1 in 4.98
($2) - 10x Payout: 1 in 4.56
($2) - Find The 8's: 1 in 4.52
($2) - Bingo Boxes: 1 in 4.82
($2) - $30,000 Cash: 1 in 5.07
($2) - Bingo Doubler: 1 in 5.11
($2) - Cashword Doubler: 1 in 5.09
($2) - Win $1000 A Week For Life: 1 in 4.76
($2) - Make A Cashword: 1 in 5.08
($2) - Cashword: 1 in 5.04
($2) - A Gift For you: 1 in 4.64
($5) - Triple 7's: 1 in 4.39
($5) - Lots of Green: 1 in 4.68
($5) - New York Mega Millions: 1 in 4.57
($5) - Win A Million: 1 in 4.56
($5) - Black Series: 1 in 4.66
($5) - Millionaire Madness: 1 in 4.47
($5) - $500 For Dad: 1 in 4.82
($5) - Welcome Back to Fabulous Las Vegas: 1 in 4.64
($5) - Big Money: 1 in 4.65
($5) - $1,000,000 Bucks: 1 in 4.6
($5) - Harley-Davidson: 1 in 4.84
($5) - $500 Cash Bonus: 1 in 4.61
($5) - $1,000,000 Instant Jackpot: 1 in 4.6
($5) - Silver 6's: 1 in 4.6
($5) - Smooth 7's: 1 in 4.7
($5) - Emerald 8's: 1 in 4.66
($5) - Double Triple Cashword: 1 in 5.14
($5) - New York Poker: 1 in 4.3
($5) - Win $2,000 A Week For Life: 1 in 5.09
($10) - Magnificent Millions: 1 in 3.88
($10) - Platinum Payout: 1 in 3.73
($10) - Fat Wallet: 1 in 3.66
($10) - $1,000,000 Cashword: 1 in 3.75
($10) - Set For Life: 1 in 3.96
($20) - Win For Life Spectacular: 1 in 3.41
($20) - $500,000,000 Extravaganza: 1 in 3.56
($20) - Win $1,000,000 A Year For Life: 1 in 2.93

Please note that the New York Lottery discontinues games and adds games to their roster of scratch-offs as well.

As you can tell, the more you spend the higher chances you have of actually winning money back. And although the chances of you winning the jackpot are thin (very thin), dreams do come true. You can view the list of recent winners by clicking here.

Please play responsibly.