Lucky Bucks
State: Illinois
Last Updated: 08/18/2025 at 11:08AM EDT
Image Credit: Illinois State Lottery
Ticket Price: $1
Expected Value (EV): -$0.37
Starting Odds: 1 in 5.13
Current Odds to Win $100 or More: 1 in 8,281.21
Current Odds to Win $1,000 or More: 1 in 356,920.26
Current Odds to Win $10,000 or More: 1 in 1,784,601.32
Estimated Tickets Remaining: 3,569,202.63 (42.17%)
Total $20,000 Prizes Remaining: 2 out of 6
Total $1,000 Prizes Remaining: 8 out of 12
Total $500 Prizes Remaining: 22 out of 58
About "Lucky Bucks" Scratch-Off Game in Illinois
The "Lucky Bucks" scratch-off game is one of the lottery options available in Illinois. The price of a ticket is $1.
The Expected Value (EV) of a ticket in Lucky Bucks is -$0.37, which represents the average return based on current prizes remaining.
When this game was first released, the starting odds of winning were 1 in 5.13.
The odds of winning at least $100 in Lucky Bucks are 1 in 8,281.21.
The chances of securing $1,000 or more are 1 in 356,920.26.
For those dreaming of hitting a jackpot, the odds of winning $10,000 or more are 1 in 1,784,601.32.
As of the last update on 08/18/2025 at 11:08AM EDT, approximately 42.17% of tickets are still in circulation. This means there are still unclaimed prizes waiting to be won in Illinois's Lucky Bucks scratch-off game.
Prize Chart
| Prize | Total Prizes | Prizes Remaining | Starting Odds | Current Odds | Change in Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | 708,311 | 303,940 | 1 in 11.95 | 1 in 11.74 | 1.73% |
| $2 | 592,247 | 253,009 | 1 in 14.29 | 1 in 14.11 | 1.29% |
| $5 | 179,865 | 73,741 | 1 in 47.06 | 1 in 48.4 | -2.85% |
| $10 | 105,900 | 41,381 | 1 in 79.93 | 1 in 86.25 | -7.91% |
| $20 | 31,660 | 11,942 | 1 in 267.35 | 1 in 298.88 | -11.79% |
| $25 | 26,752 | 9,864 | 1 in 316.39 | 1 in 361.84 | -14.36% |
| $50 | 4,057 | 1,443 | 1 in 2,086.31 | 1 in 2,473.46 | -18.56% |
| $100 | 1,069 | 399 | 1 in 7,917.85 | 1 in 8,945.37 | -12.98% |
| $500 | 58 | 22 | 1 in 145,934.08 | 1 in 162,236.48 | -11.17% |
| $1,000 | 12 | 8 | 1 in 705,348.07 | 1 in 446,150.33 | 36.75% |
| $20,000 | 6 | 2 | 1 in 1,410,696.14 | 1 in 1,784,601.32 | -26.51% |
How Are the Odds Calculated for Illinois Scratch-Off Games?
The odds and statistics for Illinois's scratch-off games are based on official lottery data processed through statistical models. This is to help players understand their chances of winning in Illinois's scratch-off games. Here's how each metric is determined:
- Starting Odds: These are the official odds provided by the Illinois lottery at the scratch-off game's launch. They indicate the probability of winning any prize when all tickets are still in circulation.
- Estimated % Tickets Remaining: If not provided by the state, this is estimated based on the number of claimed prizes relative to the game's original prize structure. For example, if a game started with 1 million scratch-off tickets and half of the top prizes have been claimed, it is estimated that about 50% of the scratch-off tickets have been sold.
- Current Odds to Win $100/$1,000/$10,000 or More: These odds indicate the likelihood of winning higher-tier prizes in Illinois scratch-off games. They are determined by summing the probabilities of all applicable prize amounts using the current odds.
- Current Odds to Win the Grand Prize: This metric shows the probability of winning the game's largest prize, adjusted for the estimated remaining tickets and current odds.
- Expected Value (EV): EV represents the average return of a single scratch-off ticket based on the current prizes remaining. It is calculated by multiplying each prize amount by its probability of winning (prizes remaining ÷ estimated tickets remaining), summing these values, and subtracting the ticket price. A positive EV indicates an expected profit per ticket, while a negative EV indicates an expected loss.
Games, prizes, and odds for Illinois scratch-off games are sourced directly fromThe Official Illinois Lottery website.