What Lottery Insiders See That Players Miss

Lottery clerks and gas station workers have a unique view of the game. They sell hundreds of tickets a day. They see who wins, who loses, and — over time — they start to notice patterns.

These aren’t lottery “gurus” selling courses. They’re everyday workers who’ve observed thousands of transactions and picked up insights most players never consider.

Here’s what lottery insiders see that most players miss.

100s

Tickets sold daily

Years

Of observations

Patterns

Players don’t see

🎫 Insight #1: The First Tickets on a Roll Rarely Win

A gas station worker who has sold lottery tickets since 2009 shared an observation that surprised many players: the first 4 tickets on a new scratch-off roll are seldom winners.

This doesn’t mean they CAN’T win — but from years of watching customers scratch tickets at the counter, this clerk noticed that winners tend to appear further into the roll.

✅ What to do: If you see a brand new roll just opened, you might want to ask what number ticket they’re on. Some players prefer to wait until the roll is a bit further along.

🎫 Insight #2: $10 Tickets Win Most Consistently

According to multiple clerks who’ve shared their observations, $10 scratch-off tickets tend to win the most often and most consistently — often paying out between $20 and $500.

Here’s what they’ve noticed at different price points:

Price	What Clerks Observe
$1-$2	Low payouts ($10-$15 max typically); high loss rate
$3	Hit or miss; crossword/bingo games do better
$5	Avoid “poker” themed; holiday themes pay better
$10	Best balance of cost vs. consistent wins ($20-$500)
$20	Look for tickets #15-25 on the roll
$30	“Multiplier” games tend to perform better

💡 Insider note: One clerk specifically mentioned that $2 tickets “lose the most” and he advises skipping them entirely.

🎫 Insight #3: Certain Game Types Underperform

From years of observation, clerks have noticed that some game types consistently underperform:

Poker-themed scratchers: Multiple clerks say they rarely see these pay out more than $5-$15
Lotería tickets: Players often buy 10 and only come back with 1 small winner
Complex games with too many ways to win: Often confuse players who miss wins

What tends to do better:

Crossword puzzles: Clerks see these hit more frequently
Bingo-style games: Similar — more consistent small-to-medium wins
Holiday-themed tickets: Some clerks believe these have better payouts during the season
“Win $500” or “Win $1,000” simple games: Straightforward games with clear prize structures

🎫 Insight #4: Winners Check Their Tickets Differently

Clerks notice a pattern in how winners behave compared to everyone else:

✅ What winners do:
• They don’t scratch at the counter in front of everyone
• They take their tickets home or to the car first
• They check EVERY ticket — even ones that look like losers
• They bring tickets back to verify instead of throwing away
• They ask clerks to scan “losing” tickets just in case

❌ What losers do:
• Scratch at the counter and immediately toss “losers”
• Only check for jackpot — miss smaller wins
• Throw tickets away without scanning
• Play impulsively without checking odds first
• Buy $2 tickets repeatedly instead of fewer $10 tickets

🎫 Insight #5: Buying a Whole Roll Is Almost Never Worth It

Some players think buying an entire roll guarantees a profit. Clerks say otherwise.

One worker shared: “Someone bought a brand new roll and got half their money back. They spent $600…”

Why it doesn’t work: Rolls are designed to pay out a certain percentage overall — but that doesn’t mean every roll has a big winner. You could buy a whole roll and only get small payouts.

⚠️ Insider tip: Instead of buying a whole roll, some experienced players buy 5-10 tickets from a roll that’s already been played a bit — ideally somewhere in the middle.

🎫 Insight #6: Check the State Lottery Website First

This is something clerks wish more players did: check which games still have top prizes available BEFORE buying.

Here’s a startling fact: in more than 10% of scratch-off tickets sold, the top prizes have already been claimed. You could be buying a ticket with zero chance of winning the jackpot.

✅ What to do: Go to your state lottery website, find the scratch-off section, and look for games that still have plenty of top prizes remaining. This takes 2 minutes and can save you from playing a game that’s already been “won out.”

🎫 Insight #7: When You Win, the Next Ticket Often Wins Too

Multiple clerks have mentioned this observation: if a ticket is a winner, the next ticket in the roll is often a winner too.

This isn’t guaranteed, but it’s a pattern some insiders claim to see regularly. The theory is that lottery manufacturers sometimes cluster winners together on rolls.

💡 What some players do: When they hit a winner, they buy the next 1-2 tickets on that same roll. It’s not a sure thing, but it’s a strategy based on patterns insiders claim to observe.

🎫 Insight #8: Don’t Scratch at the Store

Clerks see this all the time: players scratch tickets right at the counter, decide it’s a loser, and throw it away.

Problems with this:

You might miss a small win you didn’t notice
The clerk now knows if you won or lost (and some players don’t like that)
You make impulsive decisions about buying more
You don’t take time to properly read the ticket

✅ Better approach: Take your tickets somewhere private. Scratch carefully. Check every possible way to win. Bring them back to be scanned before throwing anything away.

✅ Quick Tips From Lottery Insiders

🎯 Insider Checklist:

1. Check your state lottery website — See which games still have top prizes

2. Consider $10 tickets — Best balance of cost and consistent wins

3. Avoid the first 4 tickets — Wait until the roll is a bit further along

4. Skip poker and Lotería games — Clerks rarely see these pay well

5. Don’t scratch at the counter — Take tickets home and check carefully

6. Always get tickets scanned — Even if you think you lost

7. If you win, consider the next ticket — Winners sometimes cluster

🎯 Conclusion

Lottery clerks don’t have magic formulas. But they do have something valuable: thousands of hours of observation.

The patterns they notice — which tickets win, which lose, what winners do differently — aren’t guarantees. But they’re insights most players never get to see.

Use these tips to make more informed decisions. Check the website before you buy. Be strategic about which tickets you choose. And always, always scan your tickets before throwing them away.

Sometimes the edge is just knowing what the people behind the counter have already figured out.

📌 This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. These are observations from lottery workers, not guaranteed strategies. Lottery outcomes involve chance. Past patterns don’t guarantee future results. Please play responsibly and within your means.

Sources: Interviews and social media posts from lottery clerks, Daily Dot, Best Life, Lottery Post forums, state lottery websites.

Andrew Brooks

Andrew Brooks is a qualified writer and researcher with experience producing clear, trustworthy content on topics such as personal finance, lifestyle optimization, consumer insights, productivity, and informed decision-making. With an approachable yet professional tone, he focuses on turning complex information into practical, easy-to-understand guidance that helps readers make smarter choices with confidence.