Lottery scratch-off ticket winner in Missouri makes you wonder if scratch-offs have better odds

Examples of lottery scratchers.Photo byJonathan Cutrer, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Recently, local media reported about a woman who had a winning Scratcher ticket from St. Charles, Missouri. The interesting part of her story was that she thought she only won $5,000 and it turned out she won $50,000.

When it comes to playing the lottery, purchasers might weigh their options between buying a Missouri Lottery Scratcher versus a Powerball ticket. Even though both might offer a chance at a big win, there might be some compelling reasons to start considering Scratchers a better choice.

When you purchase a Scratcher and win, you have immediate joy. With Powerball, you wait for the draw and usually, a win by you isn't seen because the odds are so great.

The odds of winning on a Scratcher are likely more favorable than choosing a Powerball quick pick. Scratch-off games have better odds of winning even smaller prizes compared to the bigger odds associated with hitting the Powerball jackpot.

Players who buy Scratchers and win even with small amounts might be more prone to purchasing more Scratcher cards.

Missouri has several Scratchers with a top prize of $100,000. On May 28, 2024, Missouri started selling the $5,000,000 Fortune Scratcher which sells for $50. While the MoLottery site indicates there's a 1 in 3.30 chance of winning, it reminds us that average chances vary. Also, it states "Overall, Scratchers games generally have average chances of winning of 1 in 4. However, this does not mean that every fourth ticket will be a winner, as winning tickets are printed at random."

Visit here to see all available Scratchers. As far as where the money goes in Jackson County, Missouri, visit here to see the list of schools listed in the Jackson County FY2024 Lottery Proceeds Expenditure Summary.

Of the 700 prizes of $1 million or more claimed by Missouri Lottery players to date, 237 have been Scratchers prizes. Together, they total over $478 million. Overall, Missouri Lottery millionaire winners have won over $3.8 billion in prizes … and counting. (Source.)

Some people find Scratchers as a fun gift for a stocking stuffer for the holidays. If your entertainment money is spent on the lottery, you might be better off getting Scratchers.

Thanks for reading.