Illinois Scratchers Report — May 2026: Best Games, Trends & Strategies
Illinois scratch-off players saw approximately $113 million in prizes claimed through the first 26 days of May, averaging $4.3 million per day across 53 active games. The headline: Cash is King remains the state’s only positive-ROI game at +6.9%, now in its 117th week on shelves — making it one of the longest-running profitable games we’ve tracked anywhere in the country. Meanwhile, two new “Emeralds” family games launched, and the $10,000,000 Bankroll is down to its last top prize.
Data period: May 1–26, 2026 · 53 active games analyzed · Updated from official Illinois Lottery data
At a Glance
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Games | 53 |
| Total Prizes Claimed (May 1–26) | $113.0 Million |
| Average Daily Prize Activity | $4.3 Million/day |
| Positive ROI Games | 1 |
| Average ROI (All Games) | -27.1% |
| Best Game | Cash is King ($30) at +6.9% ROI |
| Games to Avoid (All Top Prizes Gone) | 5 games |
| New Releases This Month | 2 games |
Key Takeaway: Illinois ranks as one of the best-value states nationally with a -27.1% average ROI (tied for #1 with Missouri in our April national report). The state’s $20–$50 tier is particularly strong, with 8 games better than -20% ROI.
Top 10 Best Value Games
These Illinois scratch-off games currently offer the highest Return on Investment (ROI) — meaning they return the most money per dollar spent based on remaining prizes.
| # | Game | Price | ROI | EV | Top Prize | Top Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cash is King | $30 | +6.9% | $32.08 | $1,800,000 | 1 |
| 2 | Millionaire Club | $50 | -18.0% | $41.00 | $600,000 | 28 |
| 3 | $10,000,000 Bankroll | $50 | -19.0% | $40.51 | $6,000,000 | 1 |
| 4 | Blowout X | $30 | -19.1% | $24.28 | $3,000 | 320 |
| 5 | Maximum Money Blowout | $20 | -19.3% | $16.14 | $2,000 | 165 |
| 6 | $2,000,000 Celebration | $20 | -19.6% | $16.07 | $1,200,000 | 1 |
| 7 | $1,000,000 Holiday Gold | $30 | -19.9% | $24.03 | $1,800,000 | 2 |
| 8 | $2,000,000 Maximum Multiplier | $20 | -20.2% | $15.96 | $1,200,000 | 2 |
| 9 | Emeralds ($20) | $20 | -20.3% | $15.93 | $1,800,000 | 3 |
| 10 | Emeralds ($30) | $30 | -20.3% | $23.90 | $3,000 | 1,326 |
Why Cash is King Stands Out
Cash is King has been on shelves for over two years (117 weeks) and still maintains a positive +6.9% ROI — meaning every $30 ticket returns an average of $32.08 in expected value. This is extraordinary longevity for a positive-EV game. The reason: it has 1 remaining top prize of $1,800,000, and the lower-tier prizes have depleted faster than the high-value ones, concentrating value in the remaining ticket pool.
However, this game is living on borrowed time. With only 1 top prize left, a single claim event would drop the ROI significantly. If you’re going to play it, sooner is better than later.
The $10,000,000 Bankroll (#3) is also notable — it’s the only active Illinois game with a top prize above $2 million, and there’s only 1 left. At -19.0% ROI on a $50 ticket, it’s not positive-EV, but it’s one of the better jackpot-chasing options in the state.
Games to Avoid: All Top Prizes Claimed
These 5 games have had all of their top prizes claimed. Their expected value has dropped significantly as a result, and they represent the worst value in the Illinois lineup right now.
| Game | Price | ROI | Original Top Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiplier Madness | $20 | -26.2% | $1,200,000 |
| $2,000,000 Cashfall | $20 | -29.4% | $1,200,000 |
| Ultimate Bonus Payout | $10 | -31.6% | $600,000 |
| Diamond Slingo | $3 | -35.0% | $80,000 |
| Triple Dynamite 777 | $2 | -38.4% | $25,000 |
Multiplier Madness and $2,000,000 Cashfall are particularly notable — both are $20 tickets that once had $1.2 million top prizes. With those gone, their ROI dropped to -26% and -29% respectively. Compare that to the $20 games in our top 10 (around -19% to -20%) and you can see the impact: a single top prize claim can cost you 7–10 percentage points of ROI.
For more on why this matters, see our guide: How ROI Changes Over a Game’s Lifetime.
Top Prize Watch List
These games have 3 or fewer top prizes remaining worth $100,000 or more. When these prizes are claimed, expect a measurable drop in the game’s expected value.
| Game | Price | Top Prize | Remaining | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash is King | $30 | $1,800,000 | 1 | +6.9% |
| $10,000,000 Bankroll | $50 | $6,000,000 | 1 | -19.0% |
| $2,000,000 Celebration | $20 | $1,200,000 | 1 | -19.6% |
| 200X the Cash | $30 | $1,800,000 | 1 | -20.9% |
| $1,000,000 Ca$h Cha$er | $10 | $600,000 | 1 | -20.7% |
| $2,000,000 Diamond Deluxe | $20 | $1,200,000 | 1 | -22.7% |
| $40 Million Mega Bucks | $10 | $600,000 | 1 | -22.9% |
| Golden Casino | $10 | $600,000 | 1 | -23.5% |
| $100,000,000 Ca$h Spectacular! | $10 | $500,000 | 1 | -32.4% |
9 games are down to their last top prize. This is an unusually high number — it means nearly 1 in 6 Illinois games could see a significant value drop at any time. Cash is King is the most critical to watch: if its $1.8M prize is claimed, the state will lose its only positive-ROI game.
The $10,000,000 Bankroll deserves special attention — its single remaining $6,000,000 prize is the largest unclaimed top prize in Illinois right now. At 82 weeks old, this game has been running for over a year and a half.
New Releases This Month
Illinois launched 2 new games in May, both from the “Emeralds” family:
| Game | Price | ROI | Top Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Money Match | $10 | -25.9% | $600,000 | 1 in 3.65 |
| Loteria™ | $3 | -30.8% | $80,000 | 1 in 3.85 |
Money Match launched at -25.9% ROI, which is middle-of-the-pack for Illinois $10 tickets. It’s not a standout, but all prizes are intact — making it a reasonable choice if you prefer fresh games. Loteria™ at $3 is below average for its price tier.
Illinois Lottery also made news in May: On May 15, Cynthia of Granite City won the $1,000,000 top prize on a Money Match ticket — one of the new releases. This means the game already lost one of its top prizes within weeks of launch.
Smart Strategy: Best Combos This Month
Our alternative strategy analysis found that many Illinois games can be beaten by buying a combination of cheaper tickets with higher total expected value.
Top Recommendation
At the $50 price point: Instead of buying 1× $10,000,000 Bankroll ($50, EV: $40.51) or 1× Millionaire Club ($50, EV: $41.00), buy 1× Cash is King ($30) + 1× Maximum Money Blowout ($20) for a combined EV of $48.22 — that’s 19% more expected value for the same $50 spent.
| Price Tier | Games Beaten | Best Combo | EV Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50 | 2 of 2 (100%) | 1× Cash is King ($30) + 1× Maximum Money Blowout ($20) | +19.0% |
| $30 | 3 of 5 (60%) | 1× Maximum Money Blowout ($20) + 1× $1,000,000 Ca$h Cha$er ($10) | +0.8% |
| $25 | 1 of 1 (100%) | 1× Maximum Money Blowout ($20) + 1× Emerald 7s ($5) | +1.7% |
| $20 | 4 of 8 (50%) | 2× $1,000,000 Ca$h Cha$er ($10) | +5.9% |
| $10 | 2 of 11 (18%) | 2× Emerald 7s ($5) | +7.9% |
| $3 | 3 of 4 (75%) | 1× 10X Xtra ($2) + 1× Emeralds ($1) | +3.1% |
| $2 | 3 of 5 (60%) | 2× Emeralds ($1) | +3.5% |
The $50 tier is the clear winner for combo strategies this month. Both $50 games are beaten by the Cash is King + Maximum Money Blowout combination — largely because Cash is King’s positive ROI pulls the combo above any single expensive ticket.
Price Tier Breakdown
How does value distribute across Illinois price points?
| Price | Games | Avg ROI | Best Game | Best ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | 4 | -38.7% | Emeralds | -33.5% |
| $2 | 5 | -34.7% | 10X Xtra | -33.0% |
| $3 | 4 | -34.1% | Loteria™ | -30.8% |
| $5 | 14 | -29.2% | Emerald 7s | -26.6% |
| $10 | 11 | -26.2% | $1,000,000 Ca$h Cha$er | -20.7% |
| $20 | 8 | -22.8% | Maximum Money Blowout | -19.3% |
| $25 | 1 | -22.0% | $1,000,000 Crossword 50X | -22.0% |
| $30 | 5 | -19.9% | Cash is King | +6.9% |
| $50 | 2 | -18.5% | Millionaire Club | -18.0% |
The pattern is clear: higher-priced tickets consistently offer better ROI in Illinois. The $30 and $50 tiers average around -19% to -20% ROI, while $1–$3 tickets average -34% to -39%. This is a 15+ percentage point gap — meaning you lose roughly twice as much per dollar on cheap tickets compared to expensive ones.
However, the $5 tier offers a sweet spot for budget-conscious players: 14 games to choose from with an average ROI of -29.2%, and Emerald 7s at -26.6% is competitive with some $10 games.
Monthly Prize Activity
Through May 26, Illinois scratch-off games paid out approximately $113 million in prizes, averaging $4.3 million per day. If this pace holds through month-end, May will finish around $135 million — consistent with April’s $132.9 million.
Most Active Games (by total prizes claimed)
| # | Game | Price | Total Claimed (May) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $250,000 Crossword | $10 | $11.2M |
| 2 | $10,000,000 Bankroll | $50 | $10.0M |
| 3 | Millionaire Club | $50 | $9.5M |
| 4 | Emeralds ($30) | $30 | $6.4M |
| 5 | $1,000,000 Crossword 50X | $25 | $6.0M |
The $250,000 Crossword leads in prize activity despite being a $10 ticket — suggesting extremely high sales volume. Crossword-style games tend to be popular with repeat players who enjoy the gameplay format. The two $50 games ($10,000,000 Bankroll and Millionaire Club) round out the top 3, which makes sense given their higher ticket prices generate larger individual prize claims.
How to Use This Data
- Check live rankings: This report is a snapshot. For real-time data, visit the Illinois scratch-off rankings page — updated daily.
- Understand the math: If ROI and EV are new concepts, start with The Math of Scratchers guide.
- Compare nationally: See how Illinois stacks up against other states in our National Scratchers Report.
Illinois Lottery Quick Facts
- Official website: illinoislottery.com
- Prize claim deadline: 1 year from the game’s official end date
- State tax on winnings: 4.95% flat rate on prizes over $1,000 (plus 24% federal withholding on prizes over $5,000)
- Where to claim: Prizes up to $600 at any retailer; $601–$999 by mail or claim center; $1,000+ at a claim center or by mail
- Number of active scratch-off games: 53 (as of May 2026)
Related Resources
- Illinois Scratch-Off Games — Live Rankings
- The Math of Scratchers: Odds vs. EV vs. ROI Explained
- Why Buying 2× $5 Tickets Often Beats One $10 Ticket
- Fastest Selling Scratchers in America
- April 2026 National Scratchers Report
- Our Full Methodology
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes only. All data is sourced from official state lottery websites 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.