5 Tip Friday: Play Smarter Scratchers This Weekend

If you’re grabbing tickets this weekend, here are five quick ways to get better value for your money — and maybe better odds at that jackpot.

1️⃣ Check the Jackpot List First

Before you buy, see which games still have top prizes left. This is the heart of lottery jackpot hunting — and it only takes a minute on your state’s lottery website.

2️⃣ Watch the Jackpot Ratio

Two games might have started with the same odds, but if one still has all its jackpots while most tickets are sold, its jackpot odds are way better now.

3️⃣ Don’t Trust Printed Odds Alone

The “overall odds” on the back don’t tell you if the big money is gone. Smart lottery play means checking live updates, not just the launch-day numbers.

4️⃣ Have Your Game Picked Before the Counter

Nothing feels better than walking up knowing exactly which ticket has the best lottery odds today — and why. No guessing, no impulse buys.

5️⃣ Track What You Play and Win

Use a notebook, spreadsheet, or your phone notes. Even basic tracking helps you stick to a budget and spot trends in your own scratch-off ticket strategy.

Bottom line: Don’t just buy tickets — hunt for the ones worth playing. A few extra minutes of prep can make all the difference.