Answers
Pull tab FAQ
Everything people actually ask about pull tabs, answered in plain English. New to the game? The pillar guide covers the whole thing start to finish.
- Can you win money on pull tabs?
- Yes. Winning tickets pay a fixed cash prize, collected from the seller on the spot. But most tickets lose, and over a full deal players come out behind on average, so pull tabs are for fun and a good cause, not a way to make money.
- How old do you have to be to buy pull tabs?
- In most states you must be 18 or older, though a few set it at 21. The exact age depends on your state. See your state's rules.
- Are pull tabs gambling?
- Yes. Pull tabs have the three elements of gambling: you pay to play, chance decides the outcome, and you can win a prize. They are legal where they run because a state specifically authorizes them as charitable gaming.
- What is the payout on pull tabs?
- Most pull-tab deals pay back roughly 60 to 80 percent of total sales as prizes. The exact figure for any deal is printed on its flare, and the rest, after expenses, goes to the charity running the game. Calculate any deal's payout.
- How do you know if a pull tab is a winner?
- You peel open the perforated tabs and compare the symbols underneath to the winning combinations shown on the flare. If they match, you win the listed prize. If not, it is a loser.
- What happens to unsold pull tab tickets?
- Because a deal has a fixed set of winners, unsold tickets can include unclaimed prizes. Licensed operators follow state rules for closing out and reporting a deal, and the prize money in unsold tickets is not simply pocketed by the seller.
- How much do pull tabs cost?
- Usually between 25 cents and 2 dollars per ticket, depending on the deal. The price is printed on the flare, along with the prizes and the number of tickets.
- Who runs pull tabs?
- In states where they are legal as charitable gaming, only licensed nonprofit organizations may run them, often a bar hosting a charity, a VFW or American Legion post, or a fraternal club. The rules vary by state.
- Are electronic pull tabs the same as paper ones?
- The math is identical. An electronic pull tab is a digital version of a paper deal played on a tablet, drawing from a predetermined, finite set of tickets. It is not a slot machine, which generates a fresh random result each play. Why pull tabs aren't slots.
- Can you improve your odds at pull tabs?
- You cannot change a single ticket's printed outcome, but you can pick a deal with a higher payout percentage and favor jars whose top prizes are still unclaimed. That is the whole edge, and it is a small one. How to read a flare.
- What is a flare?
- The flare is the printed card posted with a deal that lists the ticket price, the number of tickets, and every prize with the exact count of winners. It is where the odds live, and reading it is the smartest thing a player can do. More pull-tab terms.
- Where can I play pull tabs?
- At licensed bars, restaurants, veterans and fraternal posts, and clubs in states that allow charitable pull tabs. The Pull Tab Finder app maps community-verified spots near you.