Best $5 Scratchers in California Right Now
Every active $5 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 September 20, 2026.
| # | Game | Price | Return | Typical (95th) | Any‑prize odds | Profit odds | % left | Top prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MEGA Crossword | $5 | 68.2% | 37% | 1 in 4 | 1 in 6 | 49.0% | $75,000 |
| 2 | Red, White & Blue 7's | $5 | 67.6% | 34.5% | 1 in 5 | 1 in 5 | 31.1% | $250,000 |
| 3 | LOTERIA™ Extra! | $5 | 70.8% | 34.4% | 1 in 4 | 1 in 5 | 80.3% | $100,000 |
| 4 | JAWS | $5 | 71.2% | 31.6% | 1 in 4 | 1 in 5 | 48.9% | $500,000 |
| 5 | Cash Crush | $5 | 68.8% | 30.2% | 1 in 5 | 1 in 5 | 28.9% | $250,000 |
| 6 | Poker Nights | $5 | 66.6% | 32.9% | 1 in 4 | 1 in 5 | 16.7% | $75,000 |
| 7 | Full of 500's | $5 | 69.8% | 29.5% | 1 in 4 | 1 in 6 | 78.9% | $500 |
| 8 | LOTERIA™ Extra! | $5 | 63.6% | 31.7% | 1 in 4 | 1 in 6 | 12.5% | $100,000 |
| 9 | California Dreamin' | $5 | 76% | 31.3% | 1 in 4 | 1 in 8 | 21.2% | $555,555 |
| 10 | SuperLotto Plus® Multiplier | $5 | 60.2% | 24.3% | 1 in 4 | 1 in 5 | 63.1% | $500,000 |
| 11 | Winner Winner Chicken Dinner | $5 | 65.4% | 26.8% | 1 in 5 | 1 in 8 | 28.2% | $250,000 |
Other price points: best $1 scratchers · best $2 scratchers · best $3 scratchers · best $10 scratchers · best $20 scratchers · best $30 scratchers — or the full California ranking.
How we rank $5 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 $5 scratcher in California right now?
MEGA Crossword currently ranks #1 among active $5 California scratch-offs, based on the current odds and prizes still remaining — about 68.2% of the ticket price returned on average.
Are $5 scratchers worth it in California?
Active $5 California games currently average about 68.0% return — the state's best-returning price point right now is $30 at about 80.9%. 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 September 20, 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.