$500 Cash!

Game #980 • KY

$500 Cash! - Kentucky Lottery Scratch-Off Ticket

Image source: Kentucky Lottery

Key Statistics

Ticket Price
$5
Top Prize
$500
Top Prizes Left
3,411
Overall Odds
1 in 3.98
Expected ROI
-32.2%
Expected Value
$3.39
Weeks in Market
59

Top Prize Status

Original Top Prize
$500
Current Top Prize
$500
Top Prizes Remaining
3,411

Top prizes are still available! There are 3,411 top prize ticket(s) remaining.

Prize Pool Analysis

Total Payout at Launch
$20,975,000
Current Prize Pool
$8,339,720
Payout Percentage
39.8%
Total Prizes at Launch
1,508,850
Total Prizes Remaining
617,991

Ticket Statistics

Total Tickets Printed
6,005,223
Estimated Tickets Remaining
2,459,604
% Tickets Remaining
41.0%

Should You Play $500 Cash! Right Now?

$500 Cash! is a $5 scratch-off that has been on the market for 59 weeks. The ROI is -32.2%, so this one is best played for entertainment rather than value. Each ticket returns an expected $3.39 in prize value. There are 3411 of the original 8850 top prizes still available. Top prize odds are holding steady with a -6.0% change since launch. Among the 18 active $5 games in Kentucky, $500 Cash! ranks #9 by expected value. If you're looking for the best value at this price point, also consider Wild 7's ($3.49 EV) and Money Train ($3.49 EV).

Alternative Strategy

Instead of buying one $500 Cash! ($5) ticket, consider buying 2x Jefferson ($2) + 1x $1 Break Fort Knox ($1). This combination delivers $4.40 in expected value compared to $3.39 for the single ticket — a 29.9% improvement. It also gives you a 50.7% chance of winning at least one prize versus 25.1% 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 8,850 3,411 5,439 38.5% 1 in 679 1 in 721 ↓ 6%
$100 25,000 9,568 15,432 38.3% 1 in 240 1 in 257 ↓ 7%
$50 35,000 13,616 21,384 38.9% 1 in 172 1 in 181 ↓ 5%
$20 60,000 23,441 36,559 39.1% 1 in 100 1 in 105 ↓ 5%
$15 60,000 23,837 36,163 39.7% 1 in 100 1 in 103 ↓ 3%
$10 720,000 289,931 430,069 40.3% 1 in 8 1 in 8 ↓ 2%
$5 600,000 254,187 345,813 42.4% 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 $500 Cash! 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 Kentucky lottery website before making any purchasing decisions. We are not responsible for any losses or damages resulting from reliance on this information.