Instant Prize Crossword

Game #1682 • 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
2
Overall Odds
1 in 3.10
Expected ROI
-34.6%
Expected Value
$13.08

Top Prize Status

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

Top prizes are still available! There are 2 top prize ticket(s) remaining.

Prize Pool Analysis

Total Payout at Launch
$239,183,600
Current Prize Pool
$42,628,950
Payout Percentage
17.8%
Total Prizes at Launch
5,926,088
Total Prizes Remaining
1,051,553

Ticket Statistics

Total Tickets Printed
18,370,872
Estimated Tickets Remaining
3,259,814
% Tickets Remaining
17.7%

Should You Play Instant Prize Crossword Right Now?

Instant Prize Crossword is a $20 scratch-off. The ROI is -34.6%, so this one is best played for entertainment rather than value. Each ticket returns an expected $13.08 in prize value. There are 2 of the original 15 top prizes still available. Top prize odds are holding steady with a -24.9% change since launch. Among the 13 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 ($15.92 EV) and $100 or $200 ($15.21 EV).

Alternative Strategy

Instead of buying one Instant Prize Crossword ($20) ticket, consider buying 2x $50 or $100! ($10). This combination delivers $14.58 in expected value compared to $13.08 for the single ticket — a 11.5% 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 April 12, 2026.

Prize Breakdown

Prize Amount Total Prizes Remaining Claimed % Left Original Odds Estimated Odds Change
$2,000,000 15 2 13 13.3% 1 in 1,224,725 1 in 1,629,907 ↓ 25%
$25,000 32 12 20 37.5% 1 in 574,090 1 in 271,651 ↑ 111%
$10,000 32 7 25 21.9% 1 in 574,090 1 in 465,688 ↑ 23%
$5,000 159 51 108 32.1% 1 in 115,540 1 in 63,918 ↑ 81%
$2,000 4,640 1,462 3,178 31.5% 1 in 3,959 1 in 2,230 ↑ 78%
$1,000 12,358 2,829 9,529 22.9% 1 in 1,487 1 in 1,152 ↑ 29%
$500 32,337 5,712 26,625 17.7% 1 in 568 1 in 571 ↓ 0.45%
$250 46,292 8,080 38,212 17.5% 1 in 397 1 in 403 ↓ 2%
$200 100,486 17,602 82,884 17.5% 1 in 183 1 in 185 ↓ 1%
$100 458,548 77,966 380,582 17.0% 1 in 40 1 in 42 ↓ 4%
$50 857,951 149,184 708,767 17.4% 1 in 21 1 in 22 ↓ 2%
$25 1,961,582 343,950 1,617,632 17.5% 1 in 9 1 in 9 ↓ 1%
Ticket 2,451,656 444,696 2,006,960 18.1% 1 in 7 1 in 7 ↑ 2%

* 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.