Instant Prize Crossword

Game #1634 • CA

Instant Prize Crossword - California Lottery Scratch-Off Ticket

Image source: California Lottery

Key Statistics

Ticket Price
$20
Top Prize
$2,000,000
Top Prizes Left
3
Overall Odds
1 in 3.10
Expected ROI
-32.6%
Expected Value
$13.47

Top Prize Status

Original Top Prize
$2,000,000
Current Top Prize
$2,000,000
Top Prizes Remaining
3

Top prizes are still available! There are 3 top prize ticket(s) remaining.

Prize Pool Analysis

Total Payout at Launch
$303,255,550
Current Prize Pool
$37,028,300
Payout Percentage
12.2%
Total Prizes at Launch
7,511,234
Total Prizes Remaining
886,553

Ticket Statistics

Total Tickets Printed
23,284,825
Estimated Tickets Remaining
2,748,314
% Tickets Remaining
11.8%

Should You Play Instant Prize Crossword Right Now?

Instant Prize Crossword is a $20 scratch-off. The ROI is -32.6%, so this one is best played for entertainment rather than value. Each ticket returns an expected $13.47 in prize value. There are 3 of the original 19 top prizes still available. Top prize odds are holding steady with a 33.8% change since launch. Among the 14 active $20 games in California, Instant Prize Crossword ranks #12 by expected value. If you're looking for the best value at this price point, also consider 100X ($16.26 EV) and Instant Prize Crossword ($15.47 EV).

Alternative Strategy

Instead of buying one Instant Prize Crossword ($20) ticket, consider buying 2x $50 or $100! ($10). This combination delivers $14.57 in expected value compared to $13.47 for the single ticket — a 8.2% improvement. It also gives you a 23.1% chance of winning at least one prize versus 32.3% with the single ticket.

Analysis based on current remaining prizes and our ROI model. Updated May 27, 2026.

Prize Breakdown

Prize Amount Total Prizes Remaining Claimed % Left Original Odds Estimated Odds Change
$2,000,000 19 3 16 15.8% 1 in 1,225,517 1 in 916,105 ↑ 34%
$25,000 40 4 36 10.0% 1 in 582,121 1 in 687,079 ↓ 15%
$10,000 39 7 32 17.9% 1 in 597,047 1 in 392,616 ↑ 52%
$5,000 201 23 178 11.4% 1 in 115,845 1 in 119,492 ↓ 3%
$2,000 5,885 809 5,076 13.7% 1 in 3,957 1 in 3,397 ↑ 16%
$1,000 15,688 2,095 13,593 13.4% 1 in 1,484 1 in 1,312 ↑ 13%
$500 41,121 4,757 36,364 11.6% 1 in 566 1 in 578 ↓ 2%
$250 58,791 6,953 51,838 11.8% 1 in 396 1 in 395 ↑ 0.20%
$200 127,211 14,742 112,469 11.6% 1 in 183 1 in 186 ↓ 2%
$100 581,371 64,771 516,600 11.1% 1 in 40 1 in 42 ↓ 6%
$50 1,090,132 126,605 963,527 11.6% 1 in 21 1 in 22 ↓ 2%
$25 2,482,336 286,312 2,196,024 11.5% 1 in 9 1 in 10 ↓ 2%
Ticket 3,108,400 379,472 2,728,928 12.2% 1 in 7 1 in 7 ↑ 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.

Historical Trends

This section tracks how Instant Prize Crossword has performed over time. Daily prize claims, top prize depletion events, and overall prize pool changes are computed by comparing consecutive daily snapshots of remaining prizes at each tier.

Additional Information

Last Updated: May 27, 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.