$500 Loaded

Game #935 • NC

$500 Loaded - North Carolina Lottery Scratch-Off Ticket

Image source: North Carolina Education Lottery

Key Statistics

Ticket Price
$5
Top Prize
$500
Top Prizes Left
1,870
Overall Odds
1 in 4.37
Expected ROI
-36.7%
Expected Value
$3.16
Game Ends
Feb 27, 2026

Top Prize Status

Original Top Prize
$500
Current Top Prize
$500
Top Prizes Remaining
1,870

Top prizes are still available! There are 1,870 top prize ticket(s) remaining.

Prize Pool Analysis

Total Payout at Launch
$42,126,550
Current Prize Pool
$4,334,880
Payout Percentage
10.3%
Total Prizes at Launch
2,793,411
Total Prizes Remaining
313,489

Ticket Statistics

Total Tickets Printed
12,207,206
Estimated Tickets Remaining
1,369,946
% Tickets Remaining
11.2%

Should You Play $500 Loaded Right Now?

$500 Loaded is a $5 scratch-off. The ROI is -36.7%, so this one is best played for entertainment rather than value. Each ticket returns an expected $3.16 in prize value. There are 1870 of the original 20313 top prizes still available. Top prize odds are holding steady with a -17.9% change since launch. Among the 21 active $5 games in North Carolina, $500 Loaded ranks #20 by expected value. If you're looking for the best value at this price point, also consider 5 Times Lucky ($3.55 EV) and $400,000 Jackpot ($3.52 EV).

Alternative Strategy

Instead of buying one $500 Loaded ($5) ticket, consider buying 1x LOTERIA® ($3) + 1x Easy $100s ($2). This combination delivers $3.26 in expected value compared to $3.16 for the single ticket — a 3.0% improvement. It also gives you a 41.1% chance of winning at least one prize versus 22.9% with the single ticket.

Analysis based on current remaining prizes and our ROI model. Updated April 11, 2026.

Prize Breakdown

Prize Amount Total Prizes Remaining Claimed % Left Original Odds Estimated Odds Change
$500 20,313 1,870 18,443 9.2% 1 in 601 1 in 733 ↓ 18%
$100 4,082 394 3,688 9.7% 1 in 2,990 1 in 3,477 ↓ 14%
$50 122,242 11,922 110,320 9.8% 1 in 100 1 in 115 ↓ 13%
$20 407,145 40,099 367,046 9.8% 1 in 30 1 in 34 ↓ 12%
$10 1,221,741 133,276 1,088,465 10.9% 1 in 10 1 in 10 ↓ 3%
$5 1,017,888 125,928 891,960 12.4% 1 in 12 1 in 11 ↑ 10%

* 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 11, 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 North Carolina lottery website before making any purchasing decisions. We are not responsible for any losses or damages resulting from reliance on this information.