INSTANT $500

State: New York

Last Updated: 11/03/2025 at 08:21AM EST

Image Credit: New York State Lottery

Ticket Price: $10

Expected Value (EV): -$3.30

Starting Odds: 1 in 4.19

Current Odds to Win $100 or More: 1 in 78.86

Current Odds to Win $1,000 or More: N/A

Current Odds to Win $10,000 or More: N/A

Estimated Tickets Remaining: 3,442,793.11 (18.56%)

Total $500 Prizes Remaining: 10,162 out of 56,773

Total $100 Prizes Remaining: 33,496 out of 185,453

Total $50 Prizes Remaining: 69,607 out of 386,143

About "INSTANT $500" Scratch-Off Game in New York

The "INSTANT $500" scratch-off game is one of the lottery options available in New York. The price of a ticket is $10.

The Expected Value (EV) of a ticket in INSTANT $500 is -$3.30, which represents the average return based on current prizes remaining.

When this game was first released, the starting odds of winning were 1 in 4.19.

The odds of winning at least $100 in INSTANT $500 are 1 in 78.86.

As of the last update on 11/03/2025 at 08:21AM EST, approximately 18.56% of tickets are still in circulation. This means there are still unclaimed prizes waiting to be won in New York's INSTANT $500 scratch-off game.

Prize Chart for "INSTANT $500"

Prize	Total Prizes	Prizes Remaining	Starting Odds	Current Odds	Change in Odds
$10	1,853,183	350,363	1 in 10	1 in 9.83	1.74%
$15	370,842	69,834	1 in 49.98	1 in 49.3	1.36%
$20	1,112,235	204,125	1 in 16.66	1 in 16.87	-1.24%
$30	463,197	84,082	1 in 40.01	1 in 40.95	-2.34%
$50	386,143	69,607	1 in 48	1 in 49.46	-3.04%
$100	185,453	33,496	1 in 99.94	1 in 102.78	-2.84%
$500	56,773	10,162	1 in 326.45	1 in 338.79	-3.78%

Prize: $10

Total Prizes: 1,853,183

Prizes Remaining: 350,363

Starting Odds: 1 in 10

Current Odds: 1 in 9.83

Change in Odds: 1.74%

Prize: $15

Total Prizes: 370,842

Prizes Remaining: 69,834

Starting Odds: 1 in 49.98

Current Odds: 1 in 49.3

Change in Odds: 1.36%

Prize: $20

Total Prizes: 1,112,235

Prizes Remaining: 204,125

Starting Odds: 1 in 16.66

Current Odds: 1 in 16.87

Change in Odds: -1.24%

Prize: $30

Total Prizes: 463,197

Prizes Remaining: 84,082

Starting Odds: 1 in 40.01

Current Odds: 1 in 40.95

Change in Odds: -2.34%

Prize: $50

Total Prizes: 386,143

Prizes Remaining: 69,607

Starting Odds: 1 in 48

Current Odds: 1 in 49.46

Change in Odds: -3.04%

Prize: $100

Total Prizes: 185,453

Prizes Remaining: 33,496

Starting Odds: 1 in 99.94

Current Odds: 1 in 102.78

Change in Odds: -2.84%

Prize: $500

Total Prizes: 56,773

Prizes Remaining: 10,162

Starting Odds: 1 in 326.45

Current Odds: 1 in 338.79

Change in Odds: -3.78%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scratch-off game price of "INSTANT $500"?

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 "INSTANT $500"?

The grand prize you can win playing "INSTANT $500" is $500.

What is the smallest prize you can win playing "INSTANT $500"?

The smallest prize for "INSTANT $500" is $10.

What were the original odds of winning any prize?

The starting odds of winning any prize are approximately 1 in 1 in 4.19.

How are the odds calculated for New York scratch-off games?

The odds and statistics for New York's scratch-off games are based on official lottery data processed through statistical models. This is to help players understand their chances of winning in New York's scratch-off games.

Starting Odds: These are the official odds provided by the New York lottery at the scratch-off game'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 scratch-off games and half of the top prizes have been claimed, it is estimated that about 50% of the scratch-off games 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 New York scratch-off games. 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 scratch-off game 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.