Can You Make Money from Pull Tab Lotteries? The Truth Behind the Pull Tab Machine
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Can You Make Money from Pull Tab Lotteries? The Truth Behind the Pull Tab Machine
In bars, convenience stores and even church activities in countries such as the United States and Canada, there is a small game that is particularly common, that is – pull-tab lottery . You may see an inconspicuous automatic machine in the corner, with a pile of wine glasses and chips next to it.
This machine is called a pull-tab machine . People usually try their luck by pulling a few small lottery tickets from this machine while chatting or drinking.
This type of lottery is very simple to operate. Each ticket has several small windows to tear open to see if there is a winner. The result comes out in a few seconds, which is faster than scratch cards. Because of this, many people can draw dozens of tickets at a time when they are excited.
But here comes the question: Can pull-tab lottery make money?
To be honest, many people are not just thinking about playing, but – “Will I win a few hundred dollars? If I win, I will have enough money for drinks tonight!” But the reality is that this fantasy of “getting rich by pulling” is most likely a trap.
This article will take you through the principles of gameplay, bonus distribution, pull-tab machine mechanism and other aspects to thoroughly understand: Is the pull-tab lottery a tool for making money, or a “probability trap” in the guise of a game?
What is a pull-tab lottery? How does it work?
Pull-tabs, also known as “scratch tickets” or “pull-tab tickets”, look like a small envelope. Each ticket has 3 to 5 windows that can be torn open. After pulling them open, a pattern or number will be displayed. If it matches the winning combination, it is considered a win.
Now many bars, clubs and other places use pull-tab machines, which are like small vending machines. After inserting coins or banknotes, it will spit out tickets one by one. The whole process is as simple and intuitive as a claw machine. There are also some places that sell tickets manually, such as charity events or church gatherings.
What is the essence of pull-tab lottery? It is not an investment, but entertainment
When playing pull-tab lottery, you must not enter with the mentality of “investment” or “making money”. Why?
Because its essence is a probability game, similar to slot machines, scratch cards, and lottery tickets, behind which is a set of well-designed mathematical models to ensure:
The operator makes a profit without loss;
Most players lose money;
A small number of people “win” just to attract more people to continue buying.
In other words: the money you win is the money others lose, and the system as a whole must be a positive profit for the operator.
How much money can you get back from your spending?
Let’s talk about a key indicator: return rate (RTP, Return to Player)
This is the most important mathematical concept in the entire game mechanism. For example:
A batch of pull-tab lottery tickets totals 10,000, each worth $1, with a total sales of $10,000
The system sets a return rate of 70%
Then these 10,000 lottery tickets will only return a total of $7,000 as prize money
The remaining $3,000 is the profit of the operator (bar, charity or third-party merchant)
So, for every $1 you buy, you can only “get back” $0.65~$0.80 on average, which is definitely a loss in the long run.
Note that the lower the return rate, the more the operator earns; the higher the return rate, the better the player experience, but the less profit the merchant makes. The return rate set by most venues is generally between 60% and 80%.
Why do people always win big prizes?
You must have heard: “Someone bought 2 pull-tab tickets and won $500.” It is indeed possible, but we have to look at the “structure behind it.”
Let’s use a hypothetical example:
Total number of tickets: 10,000
Price per ticket: $1
Total sales: $10,000
Return rate: 70%, bonus pool is $7,000
The bonus setting may be as follows:
| Bonus level | Number of tickets | Probability |
| $1~$5 (small prize) | 6,500 tickets | 65% |
| $10~$50 | 700 tickets | 7% |
| $100 | 10 tickets | 0.10% |
| $500~$1,000 | 1-2 tickets | 0.01%-0.02% |
In other words, most of the winnings are actually just a small return. The chance of winning a high bonus is very low, just to “stimulate your gambling nature”.
Who is the one who makes money?
The answer is no suspense: the operator.
If you are the operator, or you own a compliant pull-tab machine, the return rate and the probability of winning are set by you;
Lottery printing costs are low, sales are stable, and cash flow is good;
For bars or charitable organizations, this is a very controllable source of profit.
Some states or regions allow non-profit organizations or churches to legally operate pull-tab lottery, and the proceeds can be used to fund charitable projects. In this case, although it cannot be said to be a huge profit, it is a form of legal money-making with stable operations and sufficient cash.
Will the pull-tab lottery never make money?
We can’t say that it will never make money. In the following two situations, some people do “make money”:
✅ Situation 1: You just win the jackpot
This situation does exist. The problem is that you can’t rely on it, it’s more like winning the lottery. You may not win 10 times, 20 times, or 50 times; while some people may win $1,000 the first time.
This situation is called “short-term fluctuations”, which cannot be replicated and are not stable.
✅ Situation 2: You are a legal operator
This is the only identity that can “make money stably”. You control the price, quantity, and return rate of the lottery tickets. You can even set marketing strategies, such as:
Launch limited edition grand prize tickets
Binding a wine and beverage package to get a lucky draw
Setting high-frequency small prizes to extend user retention time
It’s like you opened a “small gambling business”, but you must operate it according to the law and obtain a license.
Is the pull ring lottery worth playing?
You can play, but you have to figure out your purpose.
Project Description
Cost per ticket $0.25~$5
Probability of small prizes High, often used for “psychological comfort”
Probability of grand prizes Extremely low, about one thousandth or even lower
Return rate 60%~80%, long-term loss
Cost control Play more and lose, play less as entertainment is acceptable
Psychological risks Addiction, emotional consumption, impulse buying
Is it worth trying? Small amounts are okay, large amounts are not recommended
If you really want to try it, how to be rational?
✅ Set a budget: play only a fixed amount each time, such as $5 or $10.
✅ Only buy in regular places: avoid illegal lotteries or fake tickets.
✅ Don’t fantasize about turning over with it: winning the jackpot is an accident, not a strategy.
✅ Observe your emotional state: once you get addicted or want to “recover losses”, stop immediately.
✅ Treat it as a form of entertainment: just like drinking a glass of wine or playing a game of chess, not an investment.
Conclusion: Can pull-tab lottery make money?
Theoretically: there is a chance, but the probability is extremely low
In fact: most people can’t make money, just for fun
If you just have a relaxed attitude and draw a few tickets each time for fun, then of course there is no problem; but if you want to use it to subsidize your life and get rich, then I can only say:
The real money is never made by the buyer, but the seller.
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