Black Pearls

Game #1656 • DC

Black Pearls - Washington D.C. Lottery Scratch-Off Ticket

Image source: DC Lottery

Key Statistics

Ticket Price
$5
Top Prize
$50,000
Top Prizes Left
2
Overall Odds
1 in 4.17
Expected ROI
-29.2%
Expected Value
$3.54
Weeks in Market
1

Top Prize Status

Original Top Prize
$50,000
Current Top Prize
$50,000
Top Prizes Remaining
2

Top prizes are still available! There are 2 top prize ticket(s) remaining.

Prize Pool Analysis

Total Payout at Launch
$862,190
Current Prize Pool
$821,525
Payout Percentage
95.3%
Total Prizes at Launch
58,689
Total Prizes Remaining
55,676

Ticket Statistics

Total Tickets Printed
244,733
Estimated Tickets Remaining
232,168
% Tickets Remaining
94.9%

Should You Play Black Pearls Right Now?

Black Pearls is a $5 scratch-off that has been on the market for 1 weeks. The ROI is -29.2%, so this one is best played for entertainment rather than value. Each ticket returns an expected $3.54 in prize value. All 2 top prizes are still available. Top prize odds are holding steady with a 5.4% change since launch. Among the 31 active $5 games in Washington DC, Black Pearls ranks #17 by expected value. If you're looking for the best value at this price point, also consider 20X the Cash ($5.05 EV) and DC LOVE ($3.81 EV).

Alternative Strategy

Instead of buying one Black Pearls ($5) ticket, consider buying 1x One-Word Crossword ($3) + 1x MONOPOLY ($2). This combination delivers $3.89 in expected value compared to $3.54 for the single ticket — a 10.0% improvement. It also gives you a 40.9% chance of winning at least one prize versus 24.0% 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
$50,000 2 2 N/A 100.0% 1 in 122,367 1 in 116,084 ↑ 5%
$5,000 3 3 N/A 100.0% 1 in 81,578 1 in 77,389 ↑ 5%
$1,000 8 8 N/A 100.0% 1 in 30,592 1 in 29,021 ↑ 5%
$500 33 26 N/A 78.8% 1 in 7,416 1 in 8,930 ↓ 17%
$200 39 37 N/A 94.9% 1 in 6,275 1 in 6,275 ↑ 0.01%
$100 617 594 N/A 96.3% 1 in 397 1 in 391 ↑ 1%
$50 2,028 1,913 N/A 94.3% 1 in 121 1 in 121 ↓ 0.57%
$25 2,722 2,575 N/A 94.6% 1 in 90 1 in 90 ↓ 0.28%
$20 7,357 6,957 N/A 94.6% 1 in 33 1 in 33 ↓ 0.32%
$10 21,440 20,351 N/A 94.9% 1 in 11 1 in 11 ↑ 0.06%
$5 24,440 23,210 N/A 95.0% 1 in 10 1 in 10 ↑ 0.11%

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