Everyone knows the drill. The Powerball jackpot hits $600 million, and suddenly everyone is lining up at the gas station. But while the world is busy chasing 1 in 292 million odds, the smart players are quietly opening the Michigan Lottery app and looking for the "Raffles".

Raffles are the "Anti-Jackpot." Instead of competing against millions of people for a prize that might never be won, you are entering a closed pool with a guaranteed winner. The ticket counts are capped. Once they are gone, they are gone.

But not all raffles are created equal. Right now, there are three digital-exclusive raffles sitting in the lobby. Here is how to rank them.

The "Buy": The Millionaire Raffle

• Top Prize: $1,000,000
• The Verdict: Play this.

This is the main event. If you are going to spend $20 on the lottery this month, put it here.

Here is the math: In a standard draw game, your odds depend on the matrix of balls (which is huge). In this raffle, your odds are determined simply by how many tickets are sold. The ticket count is capped at exactly 100,000 tickets.

That makes your odds of winning the top prize 1 in 100,000 for sure. That is arguably the best statistical shot at becoming a millionaire in the entire lottery system. You aren't fighting a multi-state algorithm; you are just fighting the 99,999 other people who bought a ticket.

The "Hedge": 50th Anniversary 50/50

• Top Prize: $50,000
• The Verdict: Worth a shot.

If the Millionaire Raffle is the heavy hitter, this is the smart value play. The concept is simple: 20,000 tickets are sold at $5 each. The total pot is $100,000. The winner takes half ($50,000).

The math here is solid. At 1 in 20,000, your odds of hitting the jackpot are astronomically better than hitting a Fantasy 5 jackpot (approx 1 in 575,000) or Lotto 47. If you want a little action but don't want to commit to the higher price point of the Millionaire Raffle, this is the "Goldilocks" zone.

The "Pass": Full of $50s

• Top Prize: $5,000
• The Verdict: Skip it.

The marketing on this one is "Loaded with prizes!" and technically, that is true. There are lots of $50 prizes to go around. But we are here to win money that changes your year, not money that pays for dinner.

The top prize is capped at a measly $5,000. Statistically, the risk-to-reward ratio just isn't there compared to its big brothers. If you have $5 to spend, put it on the 50/50 raffle where the upside is 10x higher.

Important Note: Digital Only

You won't see these tickets hanging behind the counter at your local liquor store. These three games are digital exclusives, meaning they are only available for purchase through the Michigan Lottery App or website.

The Strategy: Check the "Tickets Remaining" counter in the app. As the available tickets drop, the draw gets closer. Don't wait until the counter hits zero, or you'll be left holding your cash while someone else is holding the check.