my super easy tips will increase your chances of hitting the jackpot & winning a bundle
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A SCRATCH-OFF pro has revealed easy tips to increase your chances of hitting the jackpot.
The odds of winning big on scratch-off cards are relatively low - but making the right moves can boost your chances of scooping the jackpot.
It can be fun to buy scratch-off tickets every now and then - as long as you keep an eye on your finances as certain moves can result in wasting your hard-earned cash.
Money expert Natasha Gabrielle from The Motley Fool has revealed several ways you can increase your chances of winning.
Firstly, she says it's best to find out if the top prizes are still available before purchasing a ticket.
It only takes a few seconds online for a rundown of the prizes still available.
She says it's worth checking if other lottery players have already claimed the best prizes - a $500,000 win you have your hopes set on.
It's always a better idea to put money towards a ticket with a small possibility of winning a big unclaimed prize, rather than spend it on a game where only small prizes are left, she said.
Players should also keep an eye on the expiration date on a ticket.
Some people might not have realised scratch-off tickets can actually expire - so make sure you claim it promptly.
Some states are more generous with their timelines - but others have strict rules, Natasha explains.
For example, in Illinois, winners must claim prizes within a year of the game's end date.
But in Texas, tickets expire 180 days after the close of a game.
Another top tip is to check the odds of winning a prize.
Players can also use the state's lottery website to view the odds of winning each scratch-off ticket game.
It means you can buy a ticket with slightly better odds of winning money.
Another lottery aficionado revealed three mistakes would-be winners should avoid when buying scratch-off cards.
And a lottery winner also she uses every time she buys a ticket.
