How we rate lotteries, apps and sweepstakes
One rubric, fixed weights, applied the same way to a state lottery, a courier app and a charity house raffle. Here is exactly how a score is built.
Last updated November 2, 2026
The six criteria
Every brand receives a score from 1 to 10 on each criterion, with a one-sentence justification that cites a fact from our sources. The weighted sum is the overall score.
| Criterion | Weight | What earns a high score |
|---|---|---|
| Odds & value | 25% | Published odds, prize-pool return, and what a dollar buys. |
| Transparency | 20% | Odds, draw procedures, audits and payout rates in the open. |
| Player protection | 20% | Age checks, limits, self-exclusion and real regulation. |
| Ease of play | 15% | Where and how you can buy, online options, friction. |
| Payouts & claims | 10% | Claim windows, process clarity, anonymity, speed. |
| Reputation | 10% | Regulator standing, track record, disputes and history. |
Odds & value (25%)
The published odds of winning any prize, the share of sales returned as prizes, and what one play costs. A state draw game that returns roughly half of sales and publishes odds for every tier scores around 5 to 6. A courier app inherits the game's odds and loses a point for its fee. A sweepstakes with a free entry route is scored on prize value against the stated odds.
Transparency (20%)
Are odds published for every game? Are draw procedures and audit arrangements public? Is the payout percentage reported? Are the rules written in plain language? Hiding odds in a PDF three clicks deep costs points. Not publishing them at all costs more.
Player protection (20%)
Age verification, deposit and spending limits, self-exclusion, a responsible-play program, and oversight by a state regulator. Licensed state agencies usually start high here. Private apps and sweepstakes have to earn it.
Ease of play (15%)
Where and how you can buy: online sales, app quality, states covered, retailer density, and how much friction sits between you and a ticket.
Payouts & claims (10%)
How long you have to claim, how clear the process is, whether winners can stay anonymous, how fast prizes are paid, and any fees on withdrawals.
Reputation (10%)
Standing with regulators, years in operation, lawsuits and enforcement actions in the last five years, and patterns in consumer complaints. Each item we rely on is listed on the review under "On the record", stated as the source reports it.
From score to stars
The overall score out of 10 is shown as stars in half-steps (a 7.4 is three and a half stars, an 8.6 is four and a half). Labels: 8.5 and above is Excellent; 7.5 to 8.4 Very good; 6.5 to 7.4 Good; 5.5 to 6.4 Fair; 4.5 to 5.4 Below average; under 4.5 Poor.
Sources we accept
- Prices, odds, draw days, rules, minimum age, online availability: only the operator's own site, or the multi-state association that runs the game.
- Taxes, claim deadlines, anonymity, legality: state statutes, state revenue departments, the lottery's claim page, or the IRS.
- Reputation and legal items: regulators, state attorneys general, court records, the FTC, and reporting from major outlets.
- Never: Wikipedia, affiliate or aggregator sites, forums, or AI summaries.
Every number carries the URL it came from and the date we checked it. If we could not verify a figure, the field is left blank rather than estimated.
Re-verification
Major brands are re-checked every quarter. Every page is re-checked at least once a year. Any page is re-checked within five business days of a reader report through our corrections page. The "Facts verified" badge on each page shows the last check.
What the score is not
Independence
No lottery, app or sweepstakes pays us, reviews our pages before publication, or can buy a placement. We do not sell tickets and we do not use affiliate links. See the editorial policy and advertising disclosure.