$500 Cash!

Game #980 • KY

$500 Cash! - Kentucky Lottery Scratch-Off Ticket

Image source: Kentucky Lottery

Key Statistics

Ticket Price
$5
Top Prize
$500
Top Prizes Left
4,158
Overall Odds
1 in 3.98
Expected ROI
-31.8%
Expected Value
$3.41
Weeks in Market
53

Top Prize Status

Original Top Prize
$500
Current Top Prize
$500
Top Prizes Remaining
4,158

Top prizes are still available! There are 4,158 top prize ticket(s) remaining.

Prize Pool Analysis

Total Payout at Launch
$20,975,000
Current Prize Pool
$10,147,595
Payout Percentage
48.4%
Total Prizes at Launch
1,508,850
Total Prizes Remaining
748,054

Ticket Statistics

Total Tickets Printed
6,005,223
Estimated Tickets Remaining
2,977,254
% Tickets Remaining
49.6%

Should You Play $500 Cash! Right Now?

$500 Cash! is a $5 scratch-off that has been on the market for 53 weeks. The ROI is -31.8%, so this one is best played for entertainment rather than value. Each ticket returns an expected $3.41 in prize value. There are 4158 of the original 8850 top prizes still available. Top prize odds are holding steady with a -5.3% change since launch. Among the 19 active $5 games in Kentucky, $500 Cash! ranks #8 by expected value. If you're looking for the best value at this price point, also consider Wild 7's ($3.49 EV) and Money Train ($3.48 EV).

Alternative Strategy

Instead of buying one $500 Cash! ($5) ticket, consider buying 2x Jefferson ($2) + 1x $1 Break Fort Knox ($1). This combination delivers $4.53 in expected value compared to $3.41 for the single ticket — a 33.0% improvement. It also gives you a 50.7% chance of winning at least one prize versus 25.1% with the single ticket. Play responsibly — lottery games are for entertainment.

Analysis based on current remaining prizes and our ROI model. Updated April 12, 2026.

Prize Breakdown

Prize Amount Total Prizes Remaining Claimed % Left Original Odds Estimated Odds Change
$500 8,850 4,158 4,692 47.0% 1 in 679 1 in 716 ↓ 5%
$100 25,000 11,735 13,265 46.9% 1 in 240 1 in 254 ↓ 5%
$50 35,000 16,694 18,306 47.7% 1 in 172 1 in 178 ↓ 4%
$20 60,000 28,686 31,314 47.8% 1 in 100 1 in 104 ↓ 4%
$15 60,000 29,069 30,931 48.4% 1 in 100 1 in 102 ↓ 2%
$10 720,000 352,416 367,584 48.9% 1 in 8 1 in 8 ↓ 1%
$5 600,000 305,296 294,704 50.9% 1 in 10 1 in 10 ↑ 3%

* Original odds based on total tickets printed. Estimated odds calculated from remaining tickets and prizes. Positive change (↑) means better odds now than at launch.

Additional Information

Last Updated: April 12, 2026

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for informational purposes only and represents our best effort to accurately reflect the current state of lottery games based on publicly available data. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of this information. Prize availability, odds, and game details may change without notice. Always verify information with the official Kentucky lottery website before making any purchasing decisions. We are not responsible for any losses or damages resulting from reliance on this information.