Mega Bucks
State: Illinois
Last Updated: 08/18/2025 at 11:08AM EDT
Image Credit: Illinois State Lottery
Ticket Price: $20
Expected Value (EV): -$3.86
Starting Odds: 1 in 3.37
Current Odds to Win $100 or More: 1 in 24.08
Current Odds to Win $1,000 or More: 1 in 3,341.68
Current Odds to Win $10,000 or More: 1 in 171,261.29
Estimated Tickets Remaining: 1,370,090.35 (42.32%)
Total $1,200,000 Prizes Remaining: 2 out of 3
Total $100,000 Prizes Remaining: 1 out of 3
Total $50,000 Prizes Remaining: 5 out of 10
About "Mega Bucks" Scratch-Off Game in Illinois
The "Mega Bucks" scratch-off game is one of the lottery options available in Illinois. The price of a ticket is $20.
The Expected Value (EV) of a ticket in Mega Bucks is -$3.86, which represents the average return based on current prizes remaining.
When this game was first released, the starting odds of winning were 1 in 3.37.
The odds of winning at least $100 in Mega Bucks are 1 in 24.08.
The chances of securing $1,000 or more are 1 in 3,341.68.
For those dreaming of hitting a jackpot, the odds of winning $10,000 or more are 1 in 171,261.29.
As of the last update on 08/18/2025 at 11:08AM EDT, approximately 42.32% of tickets are still in circulation. This means there are still unclaimed prizes waiting to be won in Illinois's Mega Bucks scratch-off game.
Prize Chart
| Prize | Total Prizes | Prizes Remaining | Starting Odds | Current Odds | Change in Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | 431,176 | 183,847 | 1 in 7.51 | 1 in 7.45 | 0.74% |
| $40 | 215,588 | 91,039 | 1 in 15.02 | 1 in 15.05 | -0.23% |
| $50 | 107,794 | 45,265 | 1 in 30.03 | 1 in 30.27 | -0.79% |
| $60 | 70,636 | 29,500 | 1 in 45.83 | 1 in 46.44 | -1.34% |
| $100 | 113,618 | 47,696 | 1 in 28.49 | 1 in 28.73 | -0.82% |
| $200 | 12,940 | 5,463 | 1 in 250.16 | 1 in 250.79 | -0.25% |
| $500 | 7,973 | 3,335 | 1 in 406.01 | 1 in 410.82 | -1.19% |
| $1,000 | 783 | 382 | 1 in 4,134.21 | 1 in 3,586.62 | 13.25% |
| $5,000 | 36 | 20 | 1 in 89,919.09 | 1 in 68,504.52 | 23.82% |
| $50,000 | 10 | 5 | 1 in 323,708.72 | 1 in 274,018.07 | 15.35% |
| $100,000 | 3 | 1 | 1 in 1,079,029.07 | 1 in 1,370,090.35 | -26.97% |
| $1,200,000 | 3 | 2 | 1 in 1,079,029.07 | 1 in 685,045.18 | 36.51% |
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.