If you enjoy playing the lottery with scratch off tickets, you may have wondered just how many tickets come in a full book. The number of scratch offs in a book can vary quite a bit based on factors like the price of the ticket, state regulations, and the specific game.
Typically, scratch off books contain anywhere from 10 tickets up to 50 tickets, depending on the cost of each ticket. Books of cheaper $1 and $2 tickets tend to have more tickets, while expensive $20, $30 or $50 ticket books have fewer.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down exactly how many scratch off lottery tickets you can expect to get in a full book based on price point. We’ll also look at why the ticket count varies so much, how state lotteries distribute and print scratchers, and tips to improve your chances if buying a whole book.
Table of Contents
The number of scratch offs in a book depends on several key factors:
The price of the scratch off ticket is the biggest determinant of how many come in a full book. Cheaper $1 and $2 tickets can be printed in higher volumes at lower costs. This allows for more tickets per book before the size becomes unmanageable. More expensive $10, $20 and $50 tickets have lower print runs due to production expenses.
Each state lottery has their own regulations and standards for how many tickets constitute a book based on the price point. There may be some variation between states in ticket counts per book.
Some scratch off games may have slightly more or less tickets per book than similar priced games based on the design, size of cards, and production considerations.
Lotteries want to keep the total value of a scratch off book at a reasonable amount for both players and retailers selling them. Too low value per book means constant hassle for retailers restocking. Too high value per book means tying up cashiers with large purchases.
While the exact number of tickets per scratch off book can vary slightly, here are the typical amounts you can expect based on the common price points:
For the $1 scratch-off tickets, books will typically contain around 250 tickets, for a total book value of $250. These games allow for the maximum number of tickets per book based on printing costs and size restrictions.
When moving up to $2 scratch offs, the average number of tickets per book drops to 100 tickets, making a $2 ticket book worth $200. The slightly bigger tickets and higher production expenses mean less per book.
For the popular $5 price point, you’ll generally find 80 tickets in a full book, for a total value of $400. As the price goes up, the total number in a book trends lower.
In a $10 scratch off ticket book, expect to find approximately 50 tickets, making these books worth $500.
As prices increases, the ticket count decreases. A $20 scratch off book will typically have 30 tickets, for a total book value of $600.
For the high end $30 scratchers, you’ll usually only find around 30 tickets in a full book. But that still adds up to an investment of $900 for the book.
At the highest price points like $50 a ticket, a scratch off book may only have 20 tickets total. But at a $50 price per ticket, that still means you’re looking at spending $1000 for a complete book.
As you can see, the overall trend is that as scratch off ticket prices increase, the number of tickets that come in a full book decreases. This helps keep the total investment cost to purchase an entire book relatively consistent across the various price points.
There are a few key reasons why scratch off books have more tickets for lower priced games versus fewer tickets for expensive games:
Lower priced scratch off tickets cost less to produce than higher price point tickets. Factors like cardstock, ink colors, and security features mean production expenses go up as ticket prices rises. This allows lotteries to print more $1 and $2 scratch offs before size and bulk becomes an issue.
Lower priced scratch offs also sell more quickly than expensive tickets. Lottery retailers don’t mind refilling $1 and $2 scratch offs frequently, but don’t want to be changing out books multiple times a day. Higher price point games may sit for days before selling out a book.
Keeping total book value in an optimal range benefits both players and retailers. Too low value per book creates hassle constantly getting new scratch offs. Too high means tying up the retailer’s cash reserves in lottery inventory.
To find out exactly how many scratch off tickets come in full book for a particular game, you can check your state lottery’s website. They should have a page that lists all current scratch off games available and the number of tickets that constitute a full book.
This allows you to calculate exactly how much it would cost to purchase an entire book for any game you are interested in playing. It also helps determine your overall odds if you plan on buying in volume.
As new scratch off games are introduced and old ones retired, the state lottery will update their website with the ticket counts per book so players always have accurate information. Don’t assume all similar priced games have the same number of tickets per book.
One strategy serious lottery players use is to buy entire books of scratch off tickets to improve their chances of winning. But does it really make a difference?
The main logic behind buying a full book is that prize winning tickets are typically spread out across the whole book as it’s printed. Lotteries guarantee a certain number of winners per book.
So if you purchase fewer than the full amount of tickets in a book, you decrease your chances of hitting some of those winning tickets spread across the entire print run.
However, while buying a full book can potentially increase your odds slightly, it’s still no guarantee you will win back the cost of the book, or even show a profit. Odds are you may just end up with more losing tickets than if you had only bought a few.
For most players, the cost of buying an entire 50 ticket book is prohibitive, especially as ticket prices rise. And chasing losses by buying more and more tickets rarely works out well financially.
See buying a full book as more of an entertainment expense and a way to extend playtime, rather than as a strict investment strategy to increase winnings. Set a gambling budget and stick to it, whether buying individual tickets or whole books.
Scratch off tickets aren’t randomly printed, but produced in sealed packs for distribution to retailers. Here is how the process works:
Knowing scratch offs follow fixed patterns and aren’t randomly distributed can help players make smarter choices. If your goal is maximizing wins, focus on newer games over older ones to increase your odds.
Here are some tips if you plan on purchasing entire scratch off ticket books:
When playing the lottery with scratch off tickets, you have the option to increase your chances slightly by purchasing entire books instead of just single tickets. But overall odds are still low, so manage your expectations. Use the data on your state lottery website to make informed decisions before buying. Weigh the costs versus potential prizes, make a budget, and gamble responsibly.
Scratch offs should be fun, not a financial drain. Check the details of any game first, and never buy more than you can afford to lose. While a full book could yield that big jackpot, it’s still a long shot. Play new games, consider going in with a group, and focus on enjoying the experience rather than strictly chasing a payday.
Hannah is a ticket service expert at The Ticket Lover. She studied hospitality and event management at Washington State University where she graduated top of her class in 2007. Hannah has worked for over a decade in customer service roles for major entertainment companies and ticket distributors. In her free time, Hannah loves photography, baking, and spending time with her husband Ryan and two kids. She provides ticket purchasing recommendations and advice at The Ticket Lover.
