Hot $2,000

Game #3 • NC

Hot $2,000 - North Carolina Lottery Scratch-Off Ticket

Image source: North Carolina Education Lottery

Key Statistics

Ticket Price
$10
Top Prize
$2,000
Top Prizes Left
585
Overall Odds
1 in 3.80
Expected ROI
-28.5%
Expected Value
$7.15
Weeks in Market
33

Top Prize Status

Original Top Prize
$2,000
Current Top Prize
$2,000
Top Prizes Remaining
585

Top prizes are still available! There are 585 top prize ticket(s) remaining.

Prize Pool Analysis

Total Payout at Launch
$44,527,430
Current Prize Pool
$12,353,920
Payout Percentage
27.7%
Total Prizes at Launch
1,616,620
Total Prizes Remaining
454,540

Ticket Statistics

Total Tickets Printed
6,143,156
Estimated Tickets Remaining
1,727,252
% Tickets Remaining
28.1%

Should You Play Hot $2,000 Right Now?

Hot $2,000 is a $10 scratch-off that has been on the market for 33 weeks. The ROI is -28.5%, so this one is best played for entertainment rather than value. Each ticket returns an expected $7.15 in prize value. There are 585 of the original 2048 top prizes still available. Top prize odds are holding steady with a 1.5% change since launch. Among the 15 active $10 games in North Carolina, Hot $2,000 ranks #14 by expected value. If you're looking for the best value at this price point, also consider Cashword King ($7.96 EV) and $1,000,000 Money Rush ($7.94 EV).

Alternative Strategy

Instead of buying one Hot $2,000 ($10) ticket, consider buying 2x 5 Times Lucky ($5). This combination delivers $7.27 in expected value compared to $7.15 for the single ticket — a 1.6% improvement. It also gives you a 41.3% chance of winning at least one prize versus 26.3% with the single ticket.

Analysis based on current remaining prizes and our ROI model. Updated May 27, 2026.

Prize Breakdown

Prize Amount Total Prizes Remaining Claimed % Left Original Odds Estimated Odds Change
$2,000 2,048 585 1,463 28.6% 1 in 3,000 1 in 2,953 ↑ 2%
$500 521 140 381 26.9% 1 in 11,791 1 in 12,338 ↓ 4%
$200 1,041 283 758 27.2% 1 in 5,901 1 in 6,103 ↓ 3%
$100 61,445 16,714 44,731 27.2% 1 in 100 1 in 103 ↓ 3%
$50 245,412 66,616 178,796 27.1% 1 in 25 1 in 26 ↓ 3%
$40 78,199 21,397 56,802 27.4% 1 in 79 1 in 81 ↓ 3%
$20 614,013 171,119 442,894 27.9% 1 in 10 1 in 10 ↓ 0.88%
$10 613,941 177,686 436,255 28.9% 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.

Historical Trends

This section tracks how Hot $2,000 has performed over time. Daily prize claims, top prize depletion events, and overall prize pool changes are computed by comparing consecutive daily snapshots of remaining prizes at each tier.

Additional Information

Last Updated: May 27, 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 North Carolina lottery website before making any purchasing decisions. We are not responsible for any losses or damages resulting from reliance on this information.