Mystery Crossword

Game #1708 • CA

Mystery Crossword - California Lottery Scratch-Off Ticket

Image source: California Lottery

Key Statistics

Ticket Price
$10
Top Prize
$750,000
Top Prizes Left
28
Overall Odds
1 in 3.47
Expected ROI
-38.8%
Expected Value
$6.12

Top Prize Status

Original Top Prize
$750,000
Current Top Prize
$750,000
Top Prizes Remaining
28

Top prizes are still available! There are 28 top prize ticket(s) remaining.

Prize Pool Analysis

Total Payout at Launch
$332,593,160
Current Prize Pool
$191,085,500
Payout Percentage
57.5%
Total Prizes at Launch
15,728,718
Total Prizes Remaining
8,992,322

Ticket Statistics

Total Tickets Printed
54,578,651
Estimated Tickets Remaining
31,203,357
% Tickets Remaining
57.2%

Should You Play Mystery Crossword Right Now?

Mystery Crossword is a $10 scratch-off. The ROI is -38.8%, so this one is best played for entertainment rather than value. Each ticket returns an expected $6.12 in prize value. There are 28 of the original 45 top prizes still available. Top prize odds are holding steady with a 8.8% change since launch. Among the 12 active $10 games in California, Mystery Crossword ranks #10 by expected value. If you're looking for the best value at this price point, also consider $50 or $100! ($7.29 EV) and $1,000,000 Money Mania ($7.17 EV).

Alternative Strategy

Instead of buying one Mystery Crossword ($10) ticket, consider buying 2x Cash Crush ($5). This combination delivers $6.77 in expected value compared to $6.12 for the single ticket — a 10.5% improvement. It also gives you a 39.3% chance of winning at least one prize versus 28.8% with the single ticket. Play responsibly — lottery games are for entertainment.

Analysis based on current remaining prizes and our ROI model. Updated April 12, 2026.

Prize Breakdown

Prize Amount Total Prizes Remaining Claimed % Left Original Odds Estimated Odds Change
$750,000 45 28 17 62.2% 1 in 1,212,859 1 in 1,114,406 ↑ 9%
$10,000 93 67 26 72.0% 1 in 586,867 1 in 465,722 ↑ 26%
$4,000 144 112 32 77.8% 1 in 379,018 1 in 278,601 ↑ 36%
$2,000 136 105 31 77.2% 1 in 401,314 1 in 297,175 ↑ 35%
$1,000 6,867 4,341 2,526 63.2% 1 in 7,948 1 in 7,188 ↑ 11%
$400 11,455 6,494 4,961 56.7% 1 in 4,765 1 in 4,805 ↓ 0.84%
$200 102,852 58,496 44,356 56.9% 1 in 531 1 in 533 ↓ 0.52%
$100 1,100,714 622,099 478,615 56.5% 1 in 50 1 in 50 ↓ 1%
$60 547,094 310,473 236,621 56.7% 1 in 100 1 in 101 ↓ 0.74%
$40 872,598 493,671 378,927 56.6% 1 in 63 1 in 63 ↓ 1%
$20 4,362,240 2,476,729 1,885,511 56.8% 1 in 13 1 in 13 ↓ 0.69%
Ticket 8,724,480 5,019,707 3,704,773 57.5% 1 in 6 1 in 6 ↑ 0.64%

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