LotteryExpected Return Rate Calculator
Every prize tier's probability, multiplied by its dollar value, added up and compared to the ticket price — the real math behind "how much is a lottery ticket actually worth, on average." The honest answer is almost always well under 100%, which is exactly what makes this a business rather than a fair bet.
This is a number you choose, not real-time data — the jackpot changes every drawing and we don't have a live feed of it. Plug in whatever the advertised jackpot is right now to get an accurate answer.
Expected value per ticket
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Return rate
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This adds up every prize tier's contribution (probability × dollar value). Tiers priced as "$X/year for life" (Millionaire for Life's top two tiers) are excluded from the total, the same way they're excluded from the ticket tracker's winnings total — an annuity stream isn't a single dollar figure that can be added to lump-sum prizes without misrepresenting it. A return rate under 100% doesn't mean the lottery is "rigged" — it means a portion of every dollar wagered funds prizes, and the rest funds state programs, retailer commissions, and administration, which is exactly how every lottery is designed to work. See how lottery odds actually work.