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
-27.8%
Expected Value
$3.61
Weeks in Market
8

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
$737,130
Payout Percentage
85.5%
Total Prizes at Launch
58,689
Total Prizes Remaining
48,975

Ticket Statistics

Total Tickets Printed
244,733
Estimated Tickets Remaining
204,225
% Tickets Remaining
83.4%

Should You Play Black Pearls Right Now?

Black Pearls is a $5 scratch-off that has been on the market for 8 weeks. The ROI is -27.8%, so this one is best played for entertainment rather than value. Each ticket returns an expected $3.61 in prize value. All 2 top prizes are still available. Top prize odds are holding steady with a 19.8% change since launch. Among the 30 active $5 games in Washington DC, Black Pearls ranks #10 by expected value. If you're looking for the best value at this price point, also consider 20X the Cash ($5.24 EV) and DC LOVE ($3.83 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 $3.61 for the single ticket — a 7.9% improvement. It also gives you a 40.9% chance of winning at least one prize versus 24.0% 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
$50,000 2 2 N/A 100.0% 1 in 122,367 1 in 102,113 ↑ 20%
$5,000 3 3 N/A 100.0% 1 in 81,578 1 in 68,075 ↑ 20%
$1,000 8 8 N/A 100.0% 1 in 30,592 1 in 25,528 ↑ 20%
$500 33 23 N/A 69.7% 1 in 7,416 1 in 8,879 ↓ 16%
$200 39 33 N/A 84.6% 1 in 6,275 1 in 6,189 ↑ 1%
$100 617 519 N/A 84.1% 1 in 397 1 in 393 ↑ 0.80%
$50 2,028 1,690 N/A 83.3% 1 in 121 1 in 121 ↓ 0.14%
$25 2,722 2,256 N/A 82.9% 1 in 90 1 in 91 ↓ 0.68%
$20 7,357 6,111 N/A 83.1% 1 in 33 1 in 33 ↓ 0.46%
$10 21,440 17,872 N/A 83.4% 1 in 11 1 in 11 ↓ 0.11%
$5 24,440 20,458 N/A 83.7% 1 in 10 1 in 10 ↑ 0.31%

* 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 Black Pearls 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 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.