Mystery Crossword

Game #1708 • CA

Mystery Crossword - California Lottery Scratch-Off Ticket

Image source: California Lottery

Key Statistics

Ticket Price
$10
Top Prize
$750,000
Top Prizes Left
23
Overall Odds
1 in 3.47
Expected ROI
-38.0%
Expected Value
$6.20

Top Prize Status

Original Top Prize
$750,000
Current Top Prize
$750,000
Top Prizes Remaining
23

Top prizes are still available! There are 23 top prize ticket(s) remaining.

Prize Pool Analysis

Total Payout at Launch
$332,593,160
Current Prize Pool
$136,427,940
Payout Percentage
41.0%
Total Prizes at Launch
15,728,718
Total Prizes Remaining
6,341,003

Ticket Statistics

Total Tickets Printed
54,578,651
Estimated Tickets Remaining
22,003,280
% Tickets Remaining
40.3%

Should You Play Mystery Crossword Right Now?

Mystery Crossword is a $10 scratch-off. The ROI is -38.0%, so this one is best played for entertainment rather than value. Each ticket returns an expected $6.20 in prize value. There are 23 of the original 45 top prizes still available. Top prize odds are holding steady with a 26.8% change since launch. Among the 9 active $10 games in California, Mystery Crossword ranks #7 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 Poker ($7.02 EV).

Alternative Strategy

Instead of buying one Mystery Crossword ($10) ticket, consider buying 2x Red, White & Blue 7's ($5). This combination delivers $6.88 in expected value compared to $6.20 for the single ticket — a 10.9% improvement. It also gives you a 37.8% chance of winning at least one prize versus 28.8% with the single ticket. Play responsibly — lottery games are for entertainment.

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
$750,000 45 23 22 51.1% 1 in 1,212,859 1 in 956,664 ↑ 27%
$10,000 93 49 44 52.7% 1 in 586,867 1 in 449,047 ↑ 31%
$4,000 144 73 71 50.7% 1 in 379,018 1 in 301,415 ↑ 26%
$2,000 136 73 63 53.7% 1 in 401,314 1 in 301,415 ↑ 33%
$1,000 6,867 3,151 3,716 45.9% 1 in 7,948 1 in 6,983 ↑ 14%
$400 11,455 4,574 6,881 39.9% 1 in 4,765 1 in 4,811 ↓ 0.95%
$200 102,852 41,097 61,755 40.0% 1 in 531 1 in 535 ↓ 0.89%
$100 1,100,714 434,845 665,869 39.5% 1 in 50 1 in 51 ↓ 2%
$60 547,094 217,747 329,347 39.8% 1 in 100 1 in 101 ↓ 1%
$40 872,598 344,944 527,654 39.5% 1 in 63 1 in 64 ↓ 2%
$20 4,362,240 1,735,143 2,627,097 39.8% 1 in 13 1 in 13 ↓ 1%
Ticket 8,724,480 3,559,284 5,165,196 40.8% 1 in 6 1 in 6 ↑ 1%

* 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 Mystery 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.