Happy Holidays

Game #1698 • CA

Happy Holidays - California Lottery Scratch-Off Ticket

Image source: California Lottery

Key Statistics

Ticket Price
$5
Top Prize
$250,000
Top Prizes Left
1
Overall Odds
1 in 3.76
Expected ROI
-44.3%
Expected Value
$2.79

Top Prize Status

Original Top Prize
$250,000
Current Top Prize
$250,000
Top Prizes Remaining
1

Top prizes are still available! There are 1 top prize ticket(s) remaining.

Prize Pool Analysis

Total Payout at Launch
$38,690,020
Current Prize Pool
$6,633,994
Payout Percentage
17.1%
Total Prizes at Launch
3,272,609
Total Prizes Remaining
633,396

Ticket Statistics

Total Tickets Printed
12,305,009
Estimated Tickets Remaining
2,381,568
% Tickets Remaining
19.4%

Should You Play Happy Holidays Right Now?

Happy Holidays is a $5 scratch-off. The ROI is -44.3%, so this one is best played for entertainment rather than value. Each ticket returns an expected $2.79 in prize value. Only 1 of the original 10 top prizes remains — act fast if you're chasing the big one. Top prize odds are holding steady with a -48.3% change since launch. Among the 13 active $5 games in California, Happy Holidays ranks #12 by expected value. If you're looking for the best value at this price point, also consider Cash Crush ($3.40 EV) and California Dreamin' ($3.34 EV).

Alternative Strategy

Instead of buying one Happy Holidays ($5) ticket, consider buying 2x Set for Life ($2) + 1x Four Leaf Frenzy ($1). This combination delivers $3.27 in expected value compared to $2.79 for the single ticket — a 17.2% improvement. It also gives you a 53.1% chance of winning at least one prize versus 26.6% with the single ticket.

Analysis based on current remaining prizes and our ROI model. Updated April 9, 2026.

Prize Breakdown

Prize Amount Total Prizes Remaining Claimed % Left Original Odds Estimated Odds Change
$250,000 10 1 9 10.0% 1 in 1,230,501 1 in 2,381,568 ↓ 48%
$10,000 21 2 19 9.5% 1 in 585,953 1 in 1,190,784 ↓ 51%
$1,000 935 158 777 16.9% 1 in 13,160 1 in 15,073 ↓ 13%
$500 4,113 579 3,534 14.1% 1 in 2,992 1 in 4,113 ↓ 27%
$100 30,869 5,016 25,853 16.2% 1 in 399 1 in 475 ↓ 16%
$50 56,365 9,206 47,159 16.3% 1 in 218 1 in 259 ↓ 16%
$30 133,334 23,446 109,888 17.6% 1 in 92 1 in 102 ↓ 9%
$20 307,778 54,449 253,329 17.7% 1 in 40 1 in 44 ↓ 9%
$15 369,414 65,528 303,886 17.7% 1 in 33 1 in 36 ↓ 8%
$10 676,991 126,186 550,805 18.6% 1 in 18 1 in 19 ↓ 4%
$6 769,445 152,909 616,536 19.9% 1 in 16 1 in 16 ↑ 3%
Ticket 923,334 195,916 727,418 21.2% 1 in 13 1 in 12 ↑ 10%

* Original odds based on total tickets printed. Estimated odds calculated from remaining tickets and prizes. Positive change (↑) means better odds now than at launch.

Additional Information

Last Updated: April 9, 2026

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for informational purposes only and represents our best effort to accurately reflect the current state of lottery games based on publicly available data. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of this information. Prize availability, odds, and game details may change without notice. Always verify information with the official California lottery website before making any purchasing decisions. We are not responsible for any losses or damages resulting from reliance on this information.