Best New Jersey Scratch Off Tickets: Odds, Remaining Prizes & More
Find the best scratch-off tickets to buy in New Jersey right now. We rank all 59 active New Jersey Lottery scratch-off games by ROI, odds, and remaining prizes — updated daily from official sources. Use the tabs below to filter by best value, best odds, newest releases, or games to avoid.
Best picks by budget
Highest overall grade
Highest overall grade among $5 tickets
Highest overall grade among $10 tickets
All games
Sorted by Best Grade
How We Calculate Value, ROI & Grades
Every game on this page shows the same four figures and a letter grade. Here’s what each one means.
- Top prize — the game’s largest advertised prize, as published by the New Jersey Lottery.
- Top prizes unclaimed — how many of those the New Jersey Lottery has not yet recorded as claimed. An unclaimed prize may already be sitting on a ticket someone has bought, so this doesn’t guarantee one is still on a shelf.
- Published odds — the New Jersey Lottery’s original “1 in X” chance of winning any prize, which includes winning back just the ticket price. These are the odds set when the game was printed, not a recalculation of the odds among unsold tickets.
- Est. ROI — the estimated average gain or loss against what you spend. −20% means roughly 80¢ back per $1. We work it out from the prize counts the lottery reports and an estimate of how many tickets remain, so it’s a model rather than a measurement, and any single ticket can land far from the average.
- Grade — our 0–100 score shown as a letter, A being 85 or above. The largest single factor is whether a game still has unclaimed top prizes. Among the games that do, the grade is driven mostly by estimated return and by how the top-prize odds have moved since launch.
We read official New Jersey Lottery prize reports daily. ROI and grades are our own calculations, not official lottery ratings. Read our full methodology for how we source data, estimate remaining tickets, and calculate expected value, ROI and the New Jersey game grades.
Prize Activity Summary
Over the past 31 days, scratch-off games in this state paid out approximately $100.3 million in prizes, averaging $3.2 million per day across 53 active games. The overall prize pool decreased by 16.9% during this period, with 7,018,624 individual prizes claimed across all tiers. Jersey Riches leads in prize activity with $8.2 million claimed ($30 ticket). 7 top prizes remain. $1 Million Premier Ca$h follows with $7.9 million in claims.
Cheaper combinations that beat a single ticket
For some New Jersey tickets, spending the same money on two or more cheaper tickets gives a higher total expected value. These are the ones where that is currently true.
Instead of
Crossword
$3
Buy instead
1× Big Money Spectacular $2 + 1× Loose Change $1
Both cost $3, but the pair carries about +41.3% more expected value than the single ticket.
$3 2 of 3 have a cheaper combination worth more +24.3% avg
-
Instead of Crossword #1953
Buy instead 1× Big Money Spectacular $2 + 1× Loose Change $1 +41.3%
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Instead of LOTERIA #1982
Buy instead 1× Big Money Spectacular $2 + 1× Loose Change $1 +7.4%
$5 7 of 20 have a cheaper combination worth more +8.1% avg
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Instead of Super Crossword #1954
Buy instead 1× Crossword $3 + 1× Big Money Spectacular $2 +28.8%
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Instead of Win For Life! #1948
Buy instead 1× Crossword $3 + 1× Big Money Spectacular $2 +16.9%
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Instead of UNO #1928
Buy instead 1× Crossword $3 + 1× Big Money Spectacular $2 +3.8%
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Instead of Cash 4-Ever #1924
Buy instead 1× Crossword $3 + 1× Big Money Spectacular $2 +3.3%
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Instead of Wild Side #1925
Buy instead 1× Crossword $3 + 1× Big Money Spectacular $2 +3.1%
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Instead of $500 Cash Craze #1963
Buy instead 1× Crossword $3 + 1× Big Money Spectacular $2 +0.7%
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Instead of LOTERIA Grande #1969
Buy instead 1× Crossword $3 + 1× Big Money Spectacular $2 +0.3%
$10 12 of 13 have a cheaper combination worth more +12.5% avg
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Instead of $1,000,000 Spectacular #1938
Buy instead 2× Golden Riches Bingo $5 +26.9%
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Instead of $250,000 Crossword #1965
Buy instead 2× Golden Riches Bingo $5 +22.8%
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Instead of 50X Cash Blitz #1873
Buy instead 2× Golden Riches Bingo $5 +20.9%
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Instead of The Shore Thing #1920
Buy instead 2× Golden Riches Bingo $5 +18.6%
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Instead of Super Hot 7's #1902
Buy instead 2× Golden Riches Bingo $5 +16.1%
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Instead of Disco Dollarfest #1951
Buy instead 2× Golden Riches Bingo $5 +11.9%
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Instead of $250,000 Crossword #1996
Buy instead 2× Golden Riches Bingo $5 +9.5%
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Instead of Cash Fever #1972
Buy instead 2× Golden Riches Bingo $5 +6.1%
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Instead of Cash In A Flash #1885
Buy instead 2× Golden Riches Bingo $5 +5.9%
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Instead of Ruby 7's #1990
Buy instead 2× Golden Riches Bingo $5 +5.8%
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Instead of $500,000 Lion's Share #1929
Buy instead 2× Golden Riches Bingo $5 +3.4%
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Instead of $50,000 Jumbo Bucks #1911
Buy instead 2× Golden Riches Bingo $5 +2.0%
$20 9 of 9 have a cheaper combination worth more +10.0% avg
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Instead of 100X Cash Blitz #1874
Buy instead 2× AC Night$ $10 +17.3%
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Instead of $100 Million Diamond Dazzler #1913
Buy instead 2× AC Night$ $10 +15.3%
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Instead of Mega Hot 7's #1903
Buy instead 2× AC Night$ $10 +14.8%
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Instead of Quarter Million Ca$h #1939
Buy instead 2× AC Night$ $10 +11.8%
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Instead of 100X #1960
Buy instead 2× AC Night$ $10 +8.6%
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Instead of Black Opal 7's #1991
Buy instead 2× AC Night$ $10 +8.0%
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Instead of $1 Million Premier Ca$h #1974
Buy instead 2× AC Night$ $10 +7.9%
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Instead of Crossword Bonanza #1976
Buy instead 2× AC Night$ $10 +5.9%
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Instead of $50,000,000 Fast Cash #1915
Buy instead 2× AC Night$ $10 +0.8%
$30 6 of 6 have a cheaper combination worth more +11.2% avg
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Instead of $5,000,000 Fortune #1908
Buy instead 1× First Class Fortunes $25 + 1× Golden Riches Bingo $5 +17.3%
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Instead of $1,000,000 Ultimate Spectacul #1877
Buy instead 1× First Class Fortunes $25 + 1× Golden Riches Bingo $5 +12.8%
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Instead of Jackpot Millions #1941
Buy instead 1× First Class Fortunes $25 + 1× Golden Riches Bingo $5 +11.5%
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Instead of Jersey Riches #1962
Buy instead 1× First Class Fortunes $25 + 1× Golden Riches Bingo $5 +10.5%
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Instead of Crossword Xtreme #1981
Buy instead 1× First Class Fortunes $25 + 1× Golden Riches Bingo $5 +9.2%
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Instead of $1,000,000 Payday #2001
Buy instead 1× First Class Fortunes $25 + 1× Golden Riches Bingo $5 +6.1%
Expected value is an average across many tickets, not a prediction for any single purchase, and every one of these games still returns less than it costs on average. Figures are recalculated daily from remaining prizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best New Jersey scratch-offs to buy right now?
Our three top-graded New Jersey scratch-offs today are First Class Fortunes ($25), Golden Riches Bingo ($5) and Jersey Dog ($5). Each still has at least one top prize left. Even these pay back less than they cost on average. Rankings change daily as prizes are claimed.
Which New Jersey scratch-off is most likely to win?
The New Jersey game with the best odds of winning any prize is Jackpot Millions ($30) at 1 in 3.40. It still has 3 top prizes of $50,000 left. Most of those wins are small, often just your ticket price back, so good odds are not the same as a good buy.
What's the best New Jersey scratch-off at each price?
Our top-graded pick at each price today: $1: Loose Change; $2: It Takes 2; $3: Crossword (#1980); $5: Golden Riches Bingo; $10: AC Night$; $20: Crossword Bonanza; $25: First Class Fortunes; $30: $1,000,000 Payday. The price filter on this page ranks every game at each price.
Which New Jersey scratch-offs should I avoid?
1 New Jersey game is still on sale even though every top prize has been claimed: Big Money Spectacular (#1964). You pay full price with no chance at the top prize. The Top Prizes Claimed (Avoid) filter on this page lists it.
How do I claim a winning New Jersey scratch-off?
Prizes under $600 can be cashed at any lottery retailer in New Jersey. Prizes of $600+ need a claim form, filed by mail, at the Trenton Claim Center drop box, or through a retailer; jackpots and other large prizes (approx. $25,000+) can be filed in person by appointment. You can also claim by mail for prizes of any amount; our guide to where to cash scratch-off tickets covers the forms and ID you need. Federal tax of 24% is withheld on prizes over $5,000, and New Jersey taxes lottery winnings as income at up to 10.75% (more on taxes on scratch-off winnings).
How long do I have to claim a New Jersey scratch-off?
You have 365 days from the date the lottery officially ends the game, not from the day you bought the ticket. Check a game's end date before you buy, especially if it is ending soon. Our guide to whether scratch-off tickets expire lists every state's deadline.
Can I buy New Jersey scratch-offs online or with a card?
Scratch-offs are not sold online in New Jersey, so you have to buy them in a store. You must be 18 or older to buy. More in our guides to buying scratch-offs online and with a debit card.
Do more expensive New Jersey scratch-offs have better odds?
Usually, yes. The typical (median) game at each price, with its odds of winning any prize and what it pays back per dollar: $1, 1 in 4.42 and about 49 cents; $2, 1 in 4.59 and about 55 cents; $3, 1 in 4.89 and about 53 cents; $5, 1 in 4.27 and about 62 cents; $10, 1 in 3.96 and about 62 cents; $20, 1 in 3.90 and about 64 cents; $25, 1 in 4.39 and about 71 cents; $30, 1 in 3.55 and about 63 cents. Payback tends to rise with price, but you still lose money on average at every price.
Are New Jersey scratch-offs worth it, or do any pay back more than they cost?
Not as an investment. Right now 0 of the 59 New Jersey games on sale are expected to pay back more than they cost. The best, First Class Fortunes ($25), still returns about 71 cents per dollar, and the typical game about 62 cents. A scratch-off that pays back more than it costs is rare and does not last long, so play for fun with money you can afford to lose. More on whether scratch-off tickets are worth it.
Should I buy New Jersey games that are ending soon?
Sometimes, when good prizes are still left. No New Jersey games are ending within the next 90 days, so there is no Ending Soon filter on this page right now. Bear in mind that scratch-off tickets do expire: in New Jersey you have 365 days from the date the lottery officially ends the game.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes only. All data is sourced from the official New Jersey lottery website and is updated regularly, but we cannot guarantee 100% accuracy. Lottery games are games of chance, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Please play responsibly and never spend more than you can afford to lose. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
