INSTANT $500

Game #1561 • NY

INSTANT $500 - New York Lottery Scratch-Off Ticket

Image source: New York Lottery

Key Statistics

Ticket Price
$10
Top Prize
$500
Top Prizes Left
4,075
Overall Odds
1 in 4.19
Expected ROI
-34.9%
Expected Value
$6.51

Top Prize Status

Original Top Prize
$500
Current Top Prize
$500
Top Prizes Remaining
4,075

Top prizes are still available! There are 4,075 top prize ticket(s) remaining.

Prize Pool Analysis

Total Payout at Launch
$126,474,020
Current Prize Pool
$9,513,980
Payout Percentage
7.5%
Total Prizes at Launch
4,427,826
Total Prizes Remaining
348,647

Ticket Statistics

Total Tickets Printed
18,552,590
Estimated Tickets Remaining
1,460,830
% Tickets Remaining
7.9%

Should You Play INSTANT $500 Right Now?

INSTANT $500 is a $10 scratch-off. The ROI is -34.9%, so this one is best played for entertainment rather than value. Each ticket returns an expected $6.51 in prize value. There are 4075 of the original 56773 top prizes still available. Top prize odds are holding steady with a -8.9% change since launch. Among the 16 active $10 games in New York, INSTANT $500 ranks #5 by expected value. If you're looking for the best value at this price point, also consider $50 OR $100 ($6.79 EV) and SET FOR LIFE ($6.67 EV).

Alternative Strategy

Instead of buying one INSTANT $500 ($10) ticket, consider buying 10x INSTANT TAKE 5 ($1). This combination delivers $9.33 in expected value compared to $6.51 for the single ticket — a 43.2% improvement. It also gives you a 90.9% chance of winning at least one prize versus 23.9% 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
$500 56,773 4,075 52,698 7.2% 1 in 327 1 in 358 ↓ 9%
$100 185,453 13,559 171,894 7.3% 1 in 100 1 in 108 ↓ 7%
$50 386,143 28,003 358,140 7.3% 1 in 48 1 in 52 ↓ 8%
$30 463,197 34,419 428,778 7.4% 1 in 40 1 in 42 ↓ 6%
$20 1,112,235 85,115 1,027,120 7.7% 1 in 17 1 in 17 ↓ 3%
$15 370,842 30,160 340,682 8.1% 1 in 50 1 in 48 ↑ 3%
$10 1,853,183 153,316 1,699,867 8.3% 1 in 10 1 in 10 ↑ 5%

* 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 INSTANT $500 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 New York lottery website before making any purchasing decisions. We are not responsible for any losses or damages resulting from reliance on this information.