Best North Carolina Scratch Off Tickets: Odds, Remaining Prizes & More
Find the best scratch-off tickets to buy in North Carolina right now. We rank all 82 active North Carolina 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 North Carolina Lottery.
- Top prizes unclaimed — how many of those the North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina game grades.
Prize Activity Summary
Over the past 30 days, scratch-off games in this state paid out approximately $149.4 million in prizes, averaging $5.0 million per day across 76 active games. 500X The Cash leads in prize activity with $22.0 million claimed ($50 ticket). 5 top prizes remain. $8 Million Money Maker follows with $15.6 million in claims, with only 1 top prize remaining.
Cheaper combinations that beat a single ticket
For some North Carolina 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
Junior BIG OL' BUCKS®
$2
Buy instead
2× 5X The Cash $1
Both cost $2, but the pair carries about +19.6% more expected value than the single ticket.
$2 2 of 9 have a cheaper combination worth more +17.4% avg
-
Instead of Junior BIG OL' BUCKS® #946
Buy instead 2× 5X The Cash $1 +19.6%
-
Instead of $25,000 Triple Play #994
Buy instead 2× 5X The Cash $1 +15.1%
$3 1 of 1 have a cheaper combination worth more +2.3% avg
-
Instead of LOTERIA® #959
Buy instead 1× 10X The Cash $2 + 1× 5X The Cash $1 +2.3%
$5 2 of 23 have a cheaper combination worth more +1.6% avg
-
Instead of Xtreme Cashword #949
Buy instead 2× 10X The Cash $2 + 1× 5X The Cash $1 +3.0%
-
Instead of LOTERIA® Fiesta #2
Buy instead 2× 10X The Cash $2 + 1× 5X The Cash $1 +0.3%
$10 3 of 17 have a cheaper combination worth more +1.0% avg
-
Instead of Hot $2,000 #3
Buy instead
2× $400,000 Jackpot $5
+1.7%
-
Instead of $1,000,000 Taxes Paid #57
Buy instead
2× $400,000 Jackpot $5
+0.8%
-
Instead of 50X The Cash #981
Buy instead
2× $400,000 Jackpot $5
+0.3%
$20 9 of 13 have a cheaper combination worth more +5.4% avg
-
Instead of $50,000 Payout #944
Buy instead
2× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+9.0%
-
Instead of Extreme Money Blowout #43
Buy instead
2× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+8.1%
-
Instead of Jackpot Millions #50
Buy instead
2× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+8.1%
-
Instead of 20 Years #39
Buy instead
2× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+8.0%
-
Instead of $2,000,000 Taxes Paid #58
Buy instead
2× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+6.4%
-
Instead of $2 MILLION VAULT #992
Buy instead
2× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+3.7%
-
Instead of Magnificent Millions #14
Buy instead
2× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+2.8%
-
Instead of Stacks of Cash #27
Buy instead
2× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+1.4%
-
Instead of Instant Millions #932
Buy instead
2× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+1.2%
$30 10 of 10 have a cheaper combination worth more +10.0% avg
-
Instead of $100,000 Cash Payday #35
Buy instead
1× $2,000,000 Diamond Deluxe $20 + 1× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+15.1%
-
Instead of Massive Cash Blowout #54
Buy instead
1× $2,000,000 Diamond Deluxe $20 + 1× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+14.2%
-
Instead of Millionaire Bucks #952
Buy instead
1× $2,000,000 Diamond Deluxe $20 + 1× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+12.6%
-
Instead of Supreme 7s #940
Buy instead
1× $2,000,000 Diamond Deluxe $20 + 1× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+12.4%
-
Instead of MAX-A-MILLION #985
Buy instead
1× $2,000,000 Diamond Deluxe $20 + 1× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+10.7%
-
Instead of 200X The Cash #925
Buy instead
1× $2,000,000 Diamond Deluxe $20 + 1× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+9.2%
-
Instead of 200X The Cash #24
Buy instead
1× $2,000,000 Diamond Deluxe $20 + 1× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+9.1%
-
Instead of Carolina Black Premier #4
Buy instead
1× $2,000,000 Diamond Deluxe $20 + 1× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+7.5%
-
Instead of Black Titanium #892
Buy instead
1× $2,000,000 Diamond Deluxe $20 + 1× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+5.1%
-
Instead of
$5,000,000 Ultimate
#876
Buy instead
1× $2,000,000 Diamond Deluxe $20 + 1× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+4.1%
$50 4 of 4 have a cheaper combination worth more +12.2% avg
-
Instead of Ultimate Blowout #15
Buy instead
2× $2,000,000 Diamond Deluxe $20 + 1× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+15.1%
-
Instead of $8 Million Money Maker #972
Buy instead
2× $2,000,000 Diamond Deluxe $20 + 1× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+12.0%
-
Instead of $8 Million Supreme #62
Buy instead
2× $2,000,000 Diamond Deluxe $20 + 1× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+11.7%
-
Instead of 500X The Cash #32
Buy instead
2× $2,000,000 Diamond Deluxe $20 + 1× $1,000,000 Bonus Match $10
+10.1%
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 North Carolina scratch-offs to buy right now?
Our three top-graded North Carolina scratch-offs today are $2,000,000 Diamond Deluxe ($20), Ruby Red 7's ($20) and Win Big ($20). 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 North Carolina scratch-off is most likely to win?
The North Carolina game with the best odds of winning any prize is 200X The Cash (#925, $30) at 1 in 2.93. It still has 3 top prizes of $5,000,000 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 North Carolina scratch-off at each price?
Our top-graded pick at each price today: $1: $5,000 Triple Play; $2: LADY LUCK; $3: LOTERIA®; $5: $400,000 Jackpot; $10: $1,000,000 Bonus Match; $20: $2,000,000 Diamond Deluxe; $30: $5,000,000 Ultimate; $50: 500X The Cash. The price filter on this page ranks every game at each price.
Which North Carolina scratch-offs should I avoid?
3 North Carolina games are still on sale even though every top prize has been claimed: 100X The Cash, JUMBO BUCKS (#948) and Double Your Money. You pay full price with no chance at the top prize. The Top Prizes Claimed (Avoid) filter on this page lists them.
How do I claim a winning North Carolina scratch-off?
Prizes under $600 can be cashed at any lottery retailer in North Carolina, and prizes under $100,000 at a Regional Office & Claim Center. Prizes of $100,000 or more must be claimed in person at NC Lottery headquarters in Raleigh. You can also claim by mail for prizes under $100,000; 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 North Carolina taxes lottery winnings as income at up to 3.99% (more on taxes on scratch-off winnings).
How long do I have to claim a North Carolina scratch-off?
You have 90 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 North Carolina scratch-offs online or with a card?
Yes, online: NC Lottery Online Play (Digital Instants) sells digital instant games in North Carolina, though those are separate games from the paper tickets sold in stores. In stores, debit cards are accepted if the store chooses and credit cards are not allowed. 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 North Carolina scratch-offs have better odds?
Mostly, up to $30. The typical (median) game at each price, with its odds of winning any prize and what it pays back per dollar: $1, 1 in 4.85 and about 59 cents; $2, 1 in 4.63 and about 64 cents; $3, 1 in 3.99 and about 62 cents; $5, 1 in 4.30 and about 68 cents; $10, 1 in 3.80 and about 75 cents; $20, 1 in 3.45 and about 79 cents; $30, 1 in 3.27 and about 82 cents; $50, 1 in 4.06 and about 82 cents. Payback tends to rise with price, but you still lose money on average at every price.
Are North Carolina scratch-offs worth it, or do any pay back more than they cost?
Not as an investment. Right now 0 of the 82 North Carolina games on sale are expected to pay back more than they cost. The best, $2,000,000 Diamond Deluxe ($20), still returns about 94 cents per dollar, and the typical game about 72 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 North Carolina games that are ending soon?
Sometimes, when good prizes are still left. No North Carolina 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 North Carolina you have 90 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 North Carolina 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.
