MEGA Crossword

Game #1628 • CA

MEGA Crossword - California Lottery Scratch-Off Ticket

Image source: California Lottery

Key Statistics

Ticket Price
$5
Top Prize
$75,000
Top Prizes Left
1
Overall Odds
1 in 3.82
Expected ROI
-56.9%
Expected Value
$2.15

Top Prize Status

Original Top Prize
$75,000
Current Top Prize
$75,000
Top Prizes Remaining
1

Top prizes are still available! There are 1 top prize ticket(s) remaining.

Prize Pool Analysis

Total Payout at Launch
$178,222,515
Current Prize Pool
$6,707,380
Payout Percentage
3.8%
Total Prizes at Launch
15,496,975
Total Prizes Remaining
815,605

Ticket Statistics

Total Tickets Printed
59,198,444
Estimated Tickets Remaining
3,115,611
% Tickets Remaining
5.3%

Should You Play MEGA Crossword Right Now?

MEGA Crossword is a $5 scratch-off. The ROI is -56.9%, so this one is best played for entertainment rather than value. Each ticket returns an expected $2.15 in prize value. Only 1 of the original 48 top prizes remains — act fast if you're chasing the big one. Top prize odds are holding steady with a -60.4% change since launch. Among the 13 active $5 games in California, MEGA Crossword ranks #13 by expected value. If you're looking for the best value at this price point, also consider Cash Crush ($3.38 EV) and California Dreamin' ($3.35 EV).

Alternative Strategy

Instead of buying one MEGA Crossword ($5) ticket, consider buying 1x Tripling Bonus Crossword ($3) + 1x $pring Green ($2). This combination delivers $2.93 in expected value compared to $2.15 for the single ticket — a 36.2% improvement. It also gives you a 46.4% chance of winning at least one prize versus 26.2% 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
$75,000 48 1 47 2.1% 1 in 1,233,301 1 in 3,115,611 ↓ 60%
$5,000 746 32 714 4.3% 1 in 79,354 1 in 97,363 ↓ 18%
$1,000 1,487 51 1,436 3.4% 1 in 39,811 1 in 61,090 ↓ 35%
$500 19,325 542 18,783 2.8% 1 in 3,063 1 in 5,748 ↓ 47%
$100 99,266 3,186 96,080 3.2% 1 in 596 1 in 978 ↓ 39%
$50 189,050 6,175 182,875 3.3% 1 in 313 1 in 505 ↓ 38%
$30 297,042 10,200 286,842 3.4% 1 in 199 1 in 305 ↓ 35%
$25 369,407 11,923 357,484 3.2% 1 in 160 1 in 261 ↓ 39%
$20 1,480,986 56,615 1,424,371 3.8% 1 in 40 1 in 55 ↓ 27%
$15 2,810,284 102,423 2,707,861 3.6% 1 in 21 1 in 30 ↓ 31%
$10 5,044,350 225,031 4,819,319 4.5% 1 in 12 1 in 14 ↓ 15%
Ticket 5,184,984 399,426 4,785,558 7.7% 1 in 11 1 in 8 ↑ 46%

* 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.