Pennsylvania Scratchers Report — May 2026: Best Games, Trends & Strategies
Pennsylvania has 50 active scratch-off games this month. The best current value is $50, $100 or $500 at -26.5% ROI. 1 game has lost all top prizes — avoid those.
Over the past 31 days, scratch-off games in this state paid out approximately $63.2 million in prizes, averaging $2.0 million per day across 60 active games. The overall prize pool decreased by 14.0% during this period, with 1,371,640 individual prizes claimed across all tiers. $500 Blowout leads in prize activity with $10.3 million claimed ($20 ticket). 43070 top prizes remain. $250 Blowout follows with $6.6 million in claims.
Data period: May 1–26, 2026 · 50 active games analyzed · Updated from official Pennsylvania Lottery data
At a Glance
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Games | 50 |
| Positive ROI Games | 0 |
| Average ROI (All Games) | -74.7% |
| Best Game | $50, $100 or $500 ($10) at -26.5% ROI |
| Games to Avoid (All Top Prizes Gone) | 1 games |
| New Releases | 0 games |
Top 10 Best Value Games
These Pennsylvania 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 | $50, $100 or $500 | $10 | -26.5% | $7.35 | $500 | 906 |
| 2 | $2,500 Festive Frenzy | $10 | -39.1% | $6.09 | $2,500 | 249 |
| 3 | Fro$ted Fortune | $20 | -49.5% | $10.11 | $500,000 | 1 |
| 4 | $20,000 a Month for Life | $10 | -51.0% | $4.90 | $3,200,000 | 5 |
| 5 | 100X the Cash | $5 | -56.1% | $2.19 | $100,000 | 3 |
| 6 | Fast $1,000 | $10 | -57.7% | $4.23 | $100,000 | 20 |
| 7 | $1,000,000 a Year for Life | $50 | -57.8% | $21.11 | $14,500,000 | 4 |
| 8 | LOVE IS BLIND | $2 | -59.3% | $0.81 | $20,000 | 2 |
| 9 | All Cash | $20 | -61.6% | $7.69 | $1,000,000 | 1 |
| 10 | $500,000 a Year for Life | $20 | -63.3% | $7.34 | $7,250,000 | 4 |
No Pennsylvania games currently have positive ROI, but the top performers in the -18% to -22% range represent significantly better value than the state average of -74.7%. For context, a -20% ROI means you get back $0.80 for every $1.00 spent on average.
Games to Avoid: All Top Prizes Claimed
These 1 games have had all top prizes claimed. Their expected value has dropped significantly, making them the worst value options in Pennsylvania right now.
| Game | Price | ROI | Original Top Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keys and Cash | $5 | -87.5% | $100,000 |
When a game’s top prize is claimed, its expected value drops — often by 5–15 percentage points of ROI. These games are still playable, but you’re paying for a prize pool that no longer includes the biggest payouts. Learn more about how top prize claims affect value →
Top Prize Watch List
These games have 3 or fewer top prizes remaining. When claimed, expect a measurable drop in value.
| Game | Price | Top Prize | Remaining | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000,000 Lion’s Share | $50 | $5,000,000 | 1 | -88.9% |
| The Hunt for $3,000,000 | $30 | $3,000,000 | 2 | -70.5% |
| $3,000,000 Golden Ticket | $30 | $3,000,000 | 1 | -74.1% |
| Mega Bucks | $30 | $3,000,000 | 2 | -79.3% |
| $3 Million Mega Moolah Multiplier | $30 | $3,000,000 | 2 | -80.2% |
| $160 Million Cash Blowout | $30 | $3,000,000 | 1 | -86.8% |
| 3s a Charm | $30 | $3,000,000 | 1 | -87.3% |
| $120,000,000 Payout | $30 | $2,500,000 | 3 | -87.0% |
| $10,000 a Month for Life | $5 | $1,600,000 | 2 | -64.6% |
| All Cash | $20 | $1,000,000 | 1 | -61.6% |
| Jackpot | $20 | $1,000,000 | 1 | -78.2% |
| Millionaire Loading | $20 | $1,000,000 | 1 | -78.8% |
10 games are down to the last top prize. The largest unclaimed top prize in Pennsylvania is $5,000,000 on $5,000,000 Lion’s Share ($50 ticket).
Smart Strategy: Best Combos
Our alternative strategy analysis found that some Pennsylvania games can be beaten by buying a combination of cheaper tickets with higher total expected value.
Top recommendation: At the $50 price point, buy 5x $50, $100 or $500 ($10) instead — that’s +563.4% more expected value for the same spend.
| Price Tier | Games Beaten | Best Combo | EV Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2 | 0/4 | 2x Ho Ho Ho ($1) | +59.9% |
| $3 | 0/4 | 1x LOVE IS BLIND ($2) + 1x Ho Ho Ho ($1) | +282.7% |
| $5 | 0/16 | 2x LOVE IS BLIND ($2) + 1x Ho Ho Ho ($1) | +160.2% |
| $10 | 0/12 | 2x 100X the Cash ($5) | +130.4% |
| $20 | 0/6 | 2x $50, $100 or $500 ($10) | +143.9% |
| $30 | 0/10 | 3x $50, $100 or $500 ($10) | +320.9% |
| $50 | 0/2 | 5x $50, $100 or $500 ($10) | +318.7% |
Combo strategies work best when there’s a significant value gap between price tiers. Learn more about why splitting your budget often wins →
Price Tier Breakdown
How does value distribute across Pennsylvania price points?
| Price | Games | Avg ROI | Best Game | Best ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | 4 | -71.7% | Ho Ho Ho | -64.2% |
| $2 | 3 | -71.0% | LOVE IS BLIND | -59.3% |
| $3 | 4 | -89.2% | Crossword Bonus Cash | -85.8% |
| $5 | 13 | -78.6% | 100X the Cash | -56.1% |
| $10 | 10 | -64.7% | $50, $100 or $500 | -26.5% |
| $20 | 5 | -66.3% | Fro$ted Fortune | -49.5% |
| $30 | 9 | -81.1% | The Hunt for $3,000,000 | -70.5% |
| $50 | 2 | -73.3% | $1,000,000 a Year for Life | -57.8% |
The $10 tier offers the best average value at -64.7% ROI, while the $3 tier is the weakest at -89.2%. The gap between best and worst tiers is 25 percentage points.
How to Use This Data
- Check live rankings: This report is a snapshot. For real-time data, visit the Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania stacks up against other states in our National Scratchers Report.
Pennsylvania Lottery Quick Facts
- Official website: palottery.state.pa.us
- State tax on winnings: 3.07% state tax (plus 24% federal withholding on prizes over $5,000)
- Active scratch-off games: 50 (as of May 2026)
Related Resources
- Pennsylvania 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.