$500,000 Crossword

Game #680 • MD

$500,000 Crossword - Maryland Lottery Scratch-Off Ticket

Image source: Maryland Lottery

Key Statistics

Ticket Price
$20
Top Prize
$500,000
Top Prizes Left
2
Overall Odds
1 in 2.84
Expected ROI
-25.3%
Expected Value
$14.94
Weeks in Market
104
Game Ends
Aug 24, 2026

Top Prize Status

Original Top Prize
$500,000
Current Top Prize
$500,000
Top Prizes Remaining
2

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

Prize Pool Analysis

Total Payout at Launch
$33,305,590
Current Prize Pool
$15,378,850
Payout Percentage
46.2%
Total Prizes at Launch
777,594
Total Prizes Remaining
362,353

Ticket Statistics

Total Tickets Printed
2,208,366
Estimated Tickets Remaining
1,029,082
% Tickets Remaining
46.6%

Should You Play $500,000 Crossword Right Now?

$500,000 Crossword is a $20 scratch-off that has been on the market for 104 weeks. The ROI is -25.3%, so this one is best played for entertainment rather than value. Each ticket returns an expected $14.94 in prize value. There are 2 of the original 5 top prizes still available. Top prize odds are holding steady with a -14.2% change since launch. Among the 9 active $20 games in Maryland, $500,000 Crossword ranks #7 by expected value. If you're looking for the best value at this price point, also consider THE GAME OF LIFE™ ($15.67 EV) and MONOPOLY™ X100 ($15.60 EV).

Alternative Strategy

Instead of buying one $500,000 Crossword ($20) ticket, consider buying 2x Money Bags ($10). This combination delivers $15.57 in expected value compared to $14.94 for the single ticket — a 4.2% improvement. It also gives you a 49.0% chance of winning at least one prize versus 35.2% 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
$500,000 5 2 3 40.0% 1 in 441,673 1 in 514,541 ↓ 14%
$50,000 7 4 3 57.1% 1 in 315,481 1 in 257,271 ↑ 23%
$10,000 19 10 9 52.6% 1 in 116,230 1 in 102,908 ↑ 13%
$1,000 607 278 329 45.8% 1 in 3,638 1 in 3,702 ↓ 2%
$500 4,510 2,111 2,399 46.8% 1 in 490 1 in 487 ↑ 0.45%
$200 17,082 7,932 9,150 46.4% 1 in 129 1 in 130 ↓ 0.35%
$100 28,161 13,096 15,065 46.5% 1 in 78 1 in 79 ↓ 0.20%
$50 220,901 102,365 118,536 46.3% 1 in 10 1 in 10 ↓ 0.56%
$20 506,302 236,555 269,747 46.7% 1 in 4 1 in 4 ↑ 0.26%

* 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 Maryland lottery website before making any purchasing decisions. We are not responsible for any losses or damages resulting from reliance on this information.