South Dakota Scratchers Report — May 2026: Best Games, Trends & Strategies
South Dakota scratch-off players have 34 active games to choose from this month. The standout news: 1 game has positive ROI — BIG MONEY. 4 games have lost all top prizes — avoid those.
Over the past 31 days, scratch-off games in this state paid out approximately $2.5 million in prizes, averaging $81,619 per day across 34 active games. The overall prize pool decreased by 7.1% during this period, with 129,730 individual prizes claimed across all tiers. MONEY MAKER leads in prize activity with $263,700 claimed ($30 ticket). 3 top prizes remain. $600,000 CASH SPECTACULAR follows with $259,680 in claims, with only 1 top prize remaining.
Data period: May 1–26, 2026 · 34 active games analyzed · Updated from official South Dakota Lottery data
At a Glance
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Games | 34 |
| Positive ROI Games | 1 |
| Average ROI (All Games) | -32.4% |
| Best Game | BIG MONEY ($20) at +6.6% ROI |
| Games to Avoid (All Top Prizes Gone) | 4 games |
| New Releases | 0 games |
Top 10 Best Value Games
These South Dakota 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 | BIG MONEY | $20 | +6.6% | $21.32 | $200,000 | 1 |
| 2 | $600,000 CASH SPECTACULAR | $30 | -16.5% | $25.05 | $600,000 | 1 |
| 3 | $200,000 WINNING 7S | $20 | -22.1% | $15.58 | $200,000 | 2 |
| 4 | MONEY MAKER | $30 | -22.6% | $23.21 | $350,000 | 3 |
| 5 | 100X EXTREME CASH! | $20 | -22.9% | $15.42 | $300,000 | 2 |
| 6 | PLATINUM PAYOUT | $20 | -23.0% | $15.40 | $200,000 | 1 |
| 7 | 50X EXTREME CASH! | $10 | -26.5% | $7.35 | $100,000 | 2 |
| 8 | $50, $150 OR $250! | $10 | -27.5% | $7.25 | $250 | 390 |
| 9 | CASHWORD SUPREME | $10 | -29.2% | $7.08 | $70,000 | 2 |
| 10 | $70,000 GOLD RUSH | $10 | -29.4% | $7.06 | $70,000 | 1 |
Positive ROI highlight: BIG MONEY at +6.6% ROI means every $20 ticket returns an average of $21.32 in expected value — a statistical profit of $1.32 per ticket. This is rare and temporary — as prizes are claimed, ROI will drop.
Games to Avoid: All Top Prizes Claimed
These 4 games have had all top prizes claimed. Their expected value has dropped significantly, making them the worst value options in South Dakota right now.
| Game | Price | ROI | Original Top Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50X THE CASH | $10 | -36.4% | $100,000 |
| MULTIPLIER BINGO | $3 | -40.4% | $20,000 |
| FAST CASH | $5 | -41.2% | $40,000 |
| CASHWORD GOLD | $10 | -43.0% | $70,000 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $600,000 CASH SPECTACULAR | $30 | $600,000 | 1 | -16.5% |
| MONEY MAKER | $30 | $350,000 | 3 | -22.6% |
| 100X EXTREME CASH! | $20 | $300,000 | 2 | -22.9% |
| BIG MONEY | $20 | $200,000 | 1 | +6.6% |
| $200,000 WINNING 7S | $20 | $200,000 | 2 | -22.1% |
| PLATINUM PAYOUT | $20 | $200,000 | 1 | -23.0% |
| 50X EXTREME CASH! | $10 | $100,000 | 2 | -26.5% |
| Instant Jackpot | $10 | $80,000 | 1 | -31.5% |
| CASHWORD SUPREME | $10 | $70,000 | 2 | -29.2% |
| $70,000 GOLD RUSH | $10 | $70,000 | 1 | -29.4% |
| JURASSIC PARK | $10 | $50,000 | 1 | -32.3% |
6 games are down to the last top prize. The largest unclaimed top prize in South Dakota is $600,000 on $600,000 CASH SPECTACULAR ($30 ticket).
Smart Strategy: Best Combos
Our alternative strategy analysis found that some South Dakota games can be beaten by buying a combination of cheaper tickets with higher total expected value.
Top recommendation: At the $30 price point, buy 1x BIG MONEY ($20) + 1x 50X EXTREME CASH! ($10) instead — that’s +23.5% more expected value for the same spend.
| Price Tier | Games Beaten | Best Combo | EV Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3 | 0/3 | 1x 10X EXTREME CASH! ($2) + 1x LUCKY 7 ($1) | +5.7% |
| $5 | 0/10 | 1x MONEY CASHWORD ($3) + 1x 10X EXTREME CASH! ($2) | +10.5% |
| $10 | 0/8 | 2x MONEY MADNESS ($5) | +9.3% |
| $20 | 0/5 | 2x 50X EXTREME CASH! ($10) | +10.4% |
| $30 | 0/2 | 1x BIG MONEY ($20) + 1x 50X EXTREME CASH! ($10) | +19% |
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 South Dakota price points?
| Price | Games | Avg ROI | Best Game | Best ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | 3 | -42.1% | LUCKY 7 | -40.5% |
| $2 | 3 | -38.2% | 10X EXTREME CASH! | -36.8% |
| $3 | 3 | -39.7% | MONEY CASHWORD | -36.3% |
| $5 | 10 | -35.3% | MONEY MADNESS | -30.2% |
| $10 | 8 | -32.0% | 50X EXTREME CASH! | -26.5% |
| $20 | 5 | -18.9% | BIG MONEY | +6.6% |
| $30 | 2 | -19.6% | $600,000 CASH SPECTACULAR | -16.5% |
The $20 tier offers the best average value at -18.9% ROI, while the $1 tier is the weakest at -42.1%. The gap between best and worst tiers is 23 percentage points.
How to Use This Data
- Check live rankings: This report is a snapshot. For real-time data, visit the South Dakota 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 South Dakota stacks up against other states in our National Scratchers Report.
South Dakota Lottery Quick Facts
- Official website: lottery.sd.gov
- State tax on winnings: No state income tax (plus 24% federal withholding on prizes over $5,000)
- Active scratch-off games: 34 (as of May 2026)
Related Resources
- South Dakota 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.