Best $3 Scratchers in California Right Now
Every active $3 California scratch‑off, ranked by real value from the prizes still remaining — not the launch odds printed on the ticket. Tap any game for its full prize breakdown.
Updated July 13, 2026.
| # | Game | Price | Return | Typical (95th) | Any‑prize odds | Profit odds | % left | Top prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tripling Bonus Crossword | $3 | 64.7% | 33.9% | 1 in 3 | 1 in 4 | 65.9% | $20,000 |
| 2 | Fireball Bingo | $3 | 64.3% | 31.4% | 1 in 4 | 1 in 5 | 61.8% | $20,000 |
| 3 | LOTERIA™ | $3 | 65.7% | 31.2% | 1 in 4 | 1 in 6 | 79.7% | $30,000 |
| 4 | 15X | $3 | 61% | 28.6% | 1 in 4 | 1 in 6 | 17.4% | $30,000 |
| 5 | LOTERIA™ | $3 | 60.7% | 28.7% | 1 in 4 | 1 in 6 | 12.6% | $30,000 |
Other price points: best $1 scratchers · best $2 scratchers · best $5 scratchers · best $10 scratchers · best $20 scratchers — or the full California ranking.
How we rank $3 scratchers
The ranking uses each game's current numbers, recomputed daily from the official California Lottery feed: the prizes still unclaimed, the real odds of winning anything today, and the share of the ticket price the remaining prize pool returns on average. "#1" means the best real value at this price point right now — it changes as prizes get claimed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best $3 scratcher in California right now?
Tripling Bonus Crossword currently ranks #1 among active $3 California scratch-offs, based on the current odds and prizes still remaining — about 64.7% of the ticket price returned on average.
Are $3 scratchers worth it in California?
Active $3 California games currently average about 63.3% return — the state's best-returning price point right now is $20 at about 80%. All scratchers return less than they cost on average; higher price points usually return a larger share.
How current is this ranking?
Updated daily from the official California Lottery feed; last updated July 13, 2026. Rankings use the prizes still remaining, not the launch odds printed on the ticket.
Data from the official state lottery feed, refreshed ~daily. All scratchers are negative expected value — these rankings find the least-bad, not a winning strategy. 18+. Please play responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1‑800‑GAMBLER.