We chose two comparable prize value lottery games to see whether a scratch-off game or the lottery had better odds of winning.

To even up the comparison, we chose games with the same prize amount. In the case of the US Powerball, the $20 million figure is the minimum start amount after a jackpot has been drawn.

There is also a difference in ticket costs, with $30 for the scratch-off and only $2 for Powerball, so the barrier for entry is somewhat uneven.

However, the winning odds were in favor of the scratch-off game by a factor of 8x, so you can see why instant games are so popular. The chances of winning any prize are very much higher than the lottery.

So the answer was clear - play scratch-off games if you want improved odds of winning a prize.

Here are some details on the games in the test:

California's Set for Life Millionaire Edition: This game offers the state's largest-ever Scratchers prize of $20 million. The game was launched to provide exciting opportunities for players to win life-changing prizes while also supporting public education in California.

Each ticket costs $30, and the top prize is offered as an annuity, paid out in $800,000 yearly instalments over 25 years. The overall odds of winning any prize in this game are just 1 in 3.22.

The US Powerball is a multi-state lottery game known for offering one of the world's largest jackpot prizes. Powerball generates funds for various state programs, including education, public health, and environmental protection across participating states.

The cost of each Powerball ticket is $2, with the option to add the Power Play for an additional $1, which can multiply non-jackpot prizes. The top jackpot prize starts at a minimum of $20 million and rolls over to the next draw if there are no winners, leading to some of the largest jackpots in lottery history.

The jackpot can be taken as a lump sum or as an annuity, paid out in 30 graduated payments over 29 years. The odds of winning the jackpot prize in Powerball are 1 in 292,201,338.

The odds of winning any prize in Powerball are 1 in 24.9.