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
5,623
Overall Odds
1 in 4.19
Expected ROI
-34.0%
Expected Value
$6.60

Top Prize Status

Original Top Prize
$500
Current Top Prize
$500
Top Prizes Remaining
5,623

Top prizes are still available! There are 5,623 top prize ticket(s) remaining.

Prize Pool Analysis

Total Payout at Launch
$126,474,020
Current Prize Pool
$12,934,435
Payout Percentage
10.2%
Total Prizes at Launch
4,427,826
Total Prizes Remaining
467,824

Ticket Statistics

Total Tickets Printed
18,552,590
Estimated Tickets Remaining
1,960,182
% Tickets Remaining
10.6%

Should You Play INSTANT $500 Right Now?

INSTANT $500 is a $10 scratch-off. The ROI is -34.0%, so this one is best played for entertainment rather than value. Each ticket returns an expected $6.60 in prize value. There are 5623 of the original 56773 top prizes still available. Top prize odds are holding steady with a -6.3% change since launch. Among the 18 active $10 games in New York, INSTANT $500 ranks #4 by expected value. If you're looking for the best value at this price point, also consider $50 OR $100 ($6.79 EV) and $5,000 HOLIDAY FRENZY/$5,000 GOLD ($6.71 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 $6.60 for the single ticket — a 41.3% 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 April 12, 2026.

Prize Breakdown

Prize Amount Total Prizes Remaining Claimed % Left Original Odds Estimated Odds Change
$500 56,773 5,623 51,150 9.9% 1 in 327 1 in 349 ↓ 6%
$100 185,453 18,524 166,929 10.0% 1 in 100 1 in 106 ↓ 5%
$50 386,143 38,549 347,594 10.0% 1 in 48 1 in 51 ↓ 6%
$30 463,197 46,992 416,205 10.1% 1 in 40 1 in 42 ↓ 4%
$20 1,112,235 115,146 997,089 10.4% 1 in 17 1 in 17 ↓ 2%
$15 370,842 40,101 330,741 10.8% 1 in 50 1 in 49 ↑ 2%
$10 1,853,183 202,889 1,650,294 10.9% 1 in 10 1 in 10 ↑ 4%

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