Ranked
Which California lottery game has the best odds?
Fantasy 5 has the best overall odds of any California draw game at 1 in 9, and the best jackpot odds at 1 in 575,757. Overall odds are the chance of winning any prize on one play; lower numbers mean better chances.
| Game | Price | Overall odds | Top prize odds | Current jackpot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fantasy 5 | $1 | 1 in 9 | 1 in 575,757 | $160,000 |
| SuperLotto Plus | $1 | 1 in 23 | 1 in 41,416,353 | $7 million |
Daily numbers
California daily number game odds
Digit games have no single overall odds number because each play type is a separate bet. A straight play (exact order) pays the most and is the hardest to win.
Compare
How do California games compare with Powerball and Mega Millions?
Powerball and Mega Millions are sold in California and every other lottery state. Their jackpots are far larger, and so are the odds against winning them.
| Game | Price | Overall odds | Jackpot odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerball | $2 | 1 in 24.87 | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| Mega Millions | $5 | 1 in 23.07 | 1 in 290,472,336 |
Compare every national game, including Millionaire for Life and Lotto America, in the lottery odds guide.
Method
How these California odds are calculated
Overall odds add up the chance of every prize tier in a game's published prize table, or use the lottery's stated overall odds when it publishes one. Top prize odds are the odds of matching every number. Draw-time versions of the same game (midday and evening) share the same odds, so each game appears once. Keno-style games are left out because their odds depend on how many spots you pick, and Double Play add-ons are covered under their main game.
Better odds do not mean better value. Smaller games pay smaller prizes, and every game returns less than it costs on average. To see what a prize is worth after tax, use the California lottery tax calculator.
California Lottery Odds FAQ
Short answers about which California games have the best odds and how they compare with national games.
Which California lottery game has the best odds?
Fantasy 5 has the best overall odds of the California draw games at 1 in 9, meaning about one play in 9 wins some prize. Most of those wins are the smallest prizes.
Which California game has the best jackpot odds?
Fantasy 5 has the best top-prize odds of the California draw games at 1 in 575,757. For comparison, the Powerball jackpot is 1 in 292,201,338.
What are the odds of winning Daily 3 in California?
A straight Daily 3 play (exact order) has odds of 1 in 1,000. Other play types, such as box plays, win more often but pay less; the easiest listed is Box (3 different numbers) at 1 in 167.
Are California games easier to win than Powerball?
Yes. California's own draw games use smaller number pools, so their jackpot odds are far better than Powerball's 1 in 292,201,338. Their top prizes are much smaller too.
Do Quick Picks change the odds?
No. Every valid combination has the same chance of being drawn. Choosing a game with smaller number pools is the only way to get better odds per play.
Next steps
What to check next
Keep going with California games, jackpots, and tax tools.
Every California game with draw times, prices, and latest results.
California JackpotsCurrent California jackpots and how they have moved this year.
California Lottery Tax CalculatorWhat a California prize is worth after federal and state taxes.
Lottery Odds GuideWhich U.S. lottery has the best odds, ranked side by side.
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