Holiday Bucks
Image Credit: Illinois State Lottery
Ticket Price: $10
Expected Value (EV): -$2.54
Starting Odds: 1 in 3.86
Current Odds to Win $100 or More: 1 in 73.04
Current Odds to Win $1,000 or More: 1 in 16,145.92
Current Odds to Win $10,000 or More: 1 in 473,613.64
Estimated Tickets Remaining: 2,841,681.82 (98.99%)
Total $500,000 Prizes Remaining: 3 out of 3
Total $50,000 Prizes Remaining: 3 out of 3
Total $5,000 Prizes Remaining: 30 out of 30
About "Holiday Bucks" Instant Ticket in Illinois
The "Holiday Bucks" instant ticket is one of the lottery options available in Illinois. The price of a ticket is $10.
The Expected Value (EV) of a ticket in Holiday Bucks is -$2.54, which represents the average return based on current prizes remaining.
When this game was first released, the starting odds of winning were 1 in 3.86.
The odds of winning at least $100 in Holiday Bucks are 1 in 73.04.
The chances of securing $1,000 or more are 1 in 16,145.92.
For those dreaming of hitting a jackpot, the odds of winning $10,000 or more are 1 in 473,613.64.
As of the last update on 10/05/2025 at 08:18AM EDT, approximately 98.99% of tickets are still in circulation. This means there are still unclaimed prizes waiting to be won in Illinois's Holiday Bucks instant ticket.
Prize Chart for "Holiday Bucks"
| Prize | Total Prizes | Prizes Remaining | Starting Odds | Current Odds | Change in Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | 335,150 | 331,802 | 1 in 8.57 | 1 in 8.56 | 0.01% |
| $20 | 167,543 | 165,824 | 1 in 17.13 | 1 in 17.14 | — |
| $25 | 51,705 | 51,213 | 1 in 55.52 | 1 in 55.49 | 0.06% |
| $30 | 50,342 | 49,820 | 1 in 57.02 | 1 in 57.04 | — |
| $50 | 99,642 | 98,622 | 1 in 28.81 | 1 in 28.81 | — |
| $100 | 33,877 | 33,535 | 1 in 84.74 | 1 in 84.74 | — |
| $200 | 2,532 | 2,509 | 1 in 1,133.74 | 1 in 1,132.6 | 0.1% |
| $300 | 1,420 | 1,393 | 1 in 2,021.57 | 1 in 2,039.97 | — |
| $500 | 1,299 | 1,293 | 1 in 2,209.88 | 1 in 2,197.74 | 0.55% |
| $1,000 | 140 | 140 | 1 in 20,504.49 | 1 in 20,297.73 | 1.01% |
| $5,000 | 30 | 30 | 1 in 95,687.6 | 1 in 94,722.73 | 1.01% |
| $50,000 | 3 | 3 | 1 in 956,875.99 | 1 in 947,227.27 | 1.01% |
| $500,000 | 3 | 3 | 1 in 956,875.99 | 1 in 947,227.27 | 1.01% |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the instant ticket price of "Holiday Bucks"?
Each ticket costs $10, giving you a chance to win prizes ranging from small amounts to the top jackpot.
What is the jackpot or highest prize you can win playing "Holiday Bucks"?
The grand prize you can win playing "Holiday Bucks" is $500,000.
What is the smallest prize you can win playing "Holiday Bucks"?
The smallest prize for "Holiday Bucks" is $10.
What were the original odds of winning any prize?
The starting odds of winning any prize are approximately 1 in 1 in 3.86.
How are the odds calculated for Illinois instant tickets?
The odds and statistics for Illinois's instant tickets are based on official lottery data processed through statistical models. This is to help players understand their chances of winning in Illinois's instant tickets.
- Starting Odds: These are the official odds provided by the Illinois lottery at the instant ticket's launch. They indicate the probability of winning any prize when all tickets are still in circulation.
- Estimated % Tickets Remaining: If not provided by the state, this is estimated based on the number of claimed prizes relative to the game's original prize structure. For example, if a game started with 1 million instant tickets and half of the top prizes have been claimed, it is estimated that about 50% of the instant tickets have been sold.
- Current Odds to Win $100/$1,000/$10,000 or More: These odds indicate the likelihood of winning higher-tier prizes in Illinois instant tickets. They are determined by summing the probabilities of all applicable prize amounts using the current odds.
- Current Odds to Win the Grand Prize: This metric shows the probability of winning the game's largest prize, adjusted for the estimated remaining tickets and current odds.
- Expected Value (EV): EV represents the average return of a single instant ticket based on the current prizes remaining. It is calculated by multiplying each prize amount by its probability of winning (prizes remaining ÷ estimated tickets remaining), summing these values, and subtracting the ticket price. A positive EV indicates an expected profit per ticket, while a negative EV indicates an expected loss.
Where does Scratch-Off Hub get information on Illinois lottery instant tickets, odds, prizes remaining, and tickets remaining?
Games, prizes, and odds for Illinois instant tickets are sourced directly from The Official Illinois Lottery Website.
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