Instant Prize Crossword

Game #1590 • 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
9
Overall Odds
1 in 3.10
Expected ROI
-35.8%
Expected Value
$12.84

Top Prize Status

Original Top Prize
$2,000,000
Current Top Prize
$2,000,000
Top Prizes Remaining
9

Top prizes are still available! There are 9 top prize ticket(s) remaining.

Prize Pool Analysis

Total Payout at Launch
$433,108,000
Current Prize Pool
$155,650,675
Payout Percentage
35.9%
Total Prizes at Launch
10,734,091
Total Prizes Remaining
3,909,907

Ticket Statistics

Total Tickets Printed
33,275,682
Estimated Tickets Remaining
12,120,711
% Tickets Remaining
36.4%

Should You Play Instant Prize Crossword Right Now?

Instant Prize Crossword is a $20 scratch-off. The ROI is -35.8%, so this one is best played for entertainment rather than value. Each ticket returns an expected $12.84 in prize value. There are 9 of the original 27 top prizes still available. Top prize odds are holding steady with a -8.5% change since launch. Among the 14 active $20 games in California, Instant Prize Crossword ranks #14 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 $12.84 for the single ticket — a 13.5% 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 May 27, 2026.

Prize Breakdown

Prize Amount Total Prizes Remaining Claimed % Left Original Odds Estimated Odds Change
$2,000,000 27 9 18 33.3% 1 in 1,232,433 1 in 1,346,746 ↓ 8%
$25,000 55 21 34 38.2% 1 in 605,012 1 in 577,177 ↑ 5%
$10,000 56 22 34 39.3% 1 in 594,209 1 in 550,941 ↑ 8%
$5,000 280 101 179 36.1% 1 in 118,842 1 in 120,007 ↓ 0.97%
$2,000 8,426 3,142 5,284 37.3% 1 in 3,949 1 in 3,858 ↑ 2%
$1,000 22,525 8,355 14,170 37.1% 1 in 1,477 1 in 1,451 ↑ 2%
$500 59,047 21,554 37,493 36.5% 1 in 564 1 in 562 ↑ 0.21%
$250 84,272 31,010 53,262 36.8% 1 in 395 1 in 391 ↑ 1%
$200 181,913 66,044 115,869 36.3% 1 in 183 1 in 184 ↓ 0.33%
$100 829,444 297,351 532,093 35.8% 1 in 40 1 in 41 ↓ 2%
$50 1,550,454 559,701 990,753 36.1% 1 in 21 1 in 22 ↓ 0.89%
$25 3,558,192 1,292,129 2,266,063 36.3% 1 in 9 1 in 9 ↓ 0.30%
Ticket 4,439,400 1,630,468 2,808,932 36.7% 1 in 7 1 in 7 ↑ 0.83%

* 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.