Head to head
Pull tabs vs scratch-offs
They scratch the same itch: pay a buck or two, find out instantly if you won. But under the hood, pull tabs and scratch-offs are run by different people, under different laws, with the money going to very different places.
| Pull tabs | Scratch-offs | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Paper tab you peel open | Ticket you scratch off |
| Outcome | Printed in advance | Printed in advance |
| Pool size | Small, finite deal (hundreds to a few thousand) | Massive statewide print run (millions) |
| Odds posted? | Yes, on the flare for that exact deal | Overall odds published by the lottery, not per pack |
| Run by | Licensed nonprofits (charitable gaming) | The state lottery |
| Where the money goes | A local cause, plus expenses | State programs, plus retailer and lottery costs |
| Where you buy | Bars, clubs, VFW and Legion posts | Gas stations, convenience and grocery stores |
Same idea, different systems
Both games are pre-printed instant games: the win or loss on your ticket was decided before you ever touched it. Neither one is decided as you play. That shared DNA is why they feel so similar at the counter.
The difference is the system behind each. A scratch-off is a single ticket inside a statewide lottery print run of millions, sold at gas stations and run by the state. A pull tab comes from a small, self-contained deal of maybe a few thousand tickets, run by a licensed nonprofit at a bar or club. One funds state programs; the other funds a local cause.
The odds are more visible on pull tabs
This is the pull tab's quiet advantage. Every deal posts a flare showing the exact prizes and how many of each exist, so you can calculate the payout and your odds for that specific game before buying. Scratch-offs publish overall odds for the game, but you cannot see how many top prizes are left in the pack in front of you. If you like knowing the math, pull tabs hand it to you.
Compare any pull-tab deal yourself
Drop a deal's numbers into the pull-tab odds calculator to see its payout percentage and house edge, then decide if it beats the scratch-off in your pocket.
Which should you play?
If you want convenience, scratch-offs are everywhere. If you want a game where the odds are posted, the stakes are small and social, and your money supports a local team or post instead of the state, pull tabs are the pick. Neither is a way to make money over time; both keep a house edge. Play whichever is more fun for you, and keep it to what you are happy to spend.
More on the game: how pull tabs work, are pull tabs rigged, and the glossary.
Pull tabs vs scratch-offs FAQ
- What's the difference between pull tabs and scratch-offs?
- Both are instant games with outcomes printed in advance, but a pull tab comes from a small, finite deal run by a licensed charity, while a scratch-off is one ticket in a massive statewide lottery print run. Pull-tab money funds a local nonprofit; scratch-off money funds the state.
- Do pull tabs or scratch-offs have better odds?
- It depends on the specific game, but pull-tab deals often return a higher share of sales as prizes (commonly 60 to 80 percent) than many scratch-offs. The big advantage of pull tabs is that the exact odds for that deal are posted on the flare, so you can check before you buy.
- Are pull tabs and scratch-offs the same thing?
- No. They share the instant, pre-printed format, but they are run by different entities under different laws: pull tabs are charitable gaming run by nonprofits, and scratch-offs are a product of the state lottery.