Crossword

Game #1953 • NJ

Crossword - New Jersey Lottery Scratch-Off Ticket

Image source: New Jersey Lottery

Key Statistics

Ticket Price
$3
Top Prize
$20,000
Top Prizes Left
15
Overall Odds
1 in 4.89
Expected ROI
-42.8%
Expected Value
$1.71
Weeks in Market
17

Top Prize Status

Original Top Prize
$20,000
Current Top Prize
$20,000
Top Prizes Remaining
15

Top prizes are still available! There are 15 top prize ticket(s) remaining.

Prize Pool Analysis

Total Payout at Launch
$24,345,260
Current Prize Pool
$14,629,890
Payout Percentage
60.1%
Total Prizes at Launch
2,858,730
Total Prizes Remaining
1,744,701

Ticket Statistics

Total Tickets Printed
13,979,189
Estimated Tickets Remaining
8,531,587
% Tickets Remaining
61.0%

Should You Play Crossword Right Now?

Crossword is a $3 scratch-off that has been on the market for 17 weeks. The ROI is -42.8%, so this one is best played for entertainment rather than value. Each ticket returns an expected $1.71 in prize value. There are 15 of the original 20 top prizes still available. Top prize odds are holding steady with a 22.9% change since launch. Among the 3 active $3 games in New Jersey, Crossword ranks #1 by expected value.

Alternative Strategy

Instead of buying one Crossword ($3) ticket, consider buying 1x Big Money Spectacular ($2) + 1x Loose Change ($1). This combination delivers $1.72 in expected value compared to $1.71 for the single ticket — a 0.3% improvement. It also gives you a 38.9% chance of winning at least one prize versus 20.4% with the single ticket.

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
$20,000 20 15 5 75.0% 1 in 698,959 1 in 568,772 ↑ 23%
$5,000 22 16 6 72.7% 1 in 635,418 1 in 533,224 ↑ 19%
$500 46 28 18 60.9% 1 in 303,895 1 in 304,700 ↓ 0.26%
$100 32,466 19,403 13,063 59.8% 1 in 431 1 in 440 ↓ 2%
$25 419,734 249,733 170,001 59.5% 1 in 33 1 in 34 ↓ 3%
$10 587,648 351,526 236,122 59.8% 1 in 24 1 in 24 ↓ 2%
$5 839,166 507,401 331,765 60.5% 1 in 17 1 in 17 ↓ 0.93%
FREE $3 TICKET 979,628 616,579 363,049 62.9% 1 in 14 1 in 14 ↑ 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.

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 New Jersey lottery website before making any purchasing decisions. We are not responsible for any losses or damages resulting from reliance on this information.