Mystery Crossword

Game #1659 • CA

Mystery Crossword - California Lottery Scratch-Off Ticket

Image source: California Lottery

Key Statistics

Ticket Price
$10
Top Prize
$750,000
Top Prizes Left
2
Overall Odds
1 in 3.47
Expected ROI
-51.3%
Expected Value
$4.87

Top Prize Status

Original Top Prize
$750,000
Current Top Prize
$750,000
Top Prizes Remaining
2

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

Prize Pool Analysis

Total Payout at Launch
$449,720,520
Current Prize Pool
$15,506,440
Payout Percentage
3.4%
Total Prizes at Launch
21,279,924
Total Prizes Remaining
917,598

Ticket Statistics

Total Tickets Printed
73,841,336
Estimated Tickets Remaining
3,184,065
% Tickets Remaining
4.3%

Should You Play Mystery Crossword Right Now?

Mystery Crossword is a $10 scratch-off. The ROI is -51.3%, so this one is best played for entertainment rather than value. Each ticket returns an expected $4.87 in prize value. There are 2 of the original 60 top prizes still available. Top prize odds are holding steady with a -22.7% change since launch. Among the 12 active $10 games in California, Mystery Crossword ranks #12 by expected value. If you're looking for the best value at this price point, also consider $50 or $100! ($7.29 EV) and $1,000,000 Money Mania ($7.17 EV).

Alternative Strategy

Instead of buying one Mystery Crossword ($10) ticket, consider buying 2x Cash Crush ($5). This combination delivers $6.77 in expected value compared to $4.87 for the single ticket — a 39.0% improvement. It also gives you a 39.3% chance of winning at least one prize versus 28.8% 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
$750,000 60 2 58 3.3% 1 in 1,230,689 1 in 1,592,033 ↓ 23%
$10,000 128 8 120 6.3% 1 in 576,885 1 in 398,008 ↑ 45%
$4,000 188 12 176 6.4% 1 in 392,773 1 in 265,339 ↑ 48%
$2,000 186 6 180 3.2% 1 in 396,996 1 in 530,678 ↓ 25%
$1,000 9,269 445 8,824 4.8% 1 in 7,966 1 in 7,155 ↑ 11%
$400 15,471 537 14,934 3.5% 1 in 4,773 1 in 5,929 ↓ 20%
$200 139,093 4,913 134,180 3.5% 1 in 531 1 in 648 ↓ 18%
$100 1,497,166 49,275 1,447,891 3.3% 1 in 49 1 in 65 ↓ 24%
$60 739,650 26,042 713,608 3.5% 1 in 100 1 in 122 ↓ 18%
$40 1,172,605 38,651 1,133,954 3.3% 1 in 63 1 in 82 ↓ 24%
$20 5,902,036 209,399 5,692,637 3.5% 1 in 13 1 in 15 ↓ 18%
Ticket 11,804,072 588,308 11,215,764 5.0% 1 in 6 1 in 5 ↑ 16%

* 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.