Crossword

Game #1953 • NJ

Crossword - New Jersey Lottery Scratch-Off Ticket

Image source: New Jersey Lottery

Key Statistics

Ticket Price
$3
Top Prize
$20,000
Top Prizes Left
11
Overall Odds
1 in 4.89
Expected ROI
-43.9%
Expected Value
$1.68
Weeks in Market
24

Top Prize Status

Original Top Prize
$20,000
Current Top Prize
$20,000
Top Prizes Remaining
11

Top prizes are still available! There are 11 top prize ticket(s) remaining.

Prize Pool Analysis

Total Payout at Launch
$24,345,260
Current Prize Pool
$10,293,985
Payout Percentage
42.3%
Total Prizes at Launch
2,858,730
Total Prizes Remaining
1,251,452

Ticket Statistics

Total Tickets Printed
13,979,189
Estimated Tickets Remaining
6,119,599
% Tickets Remaining
43.8%

Should You Play Crossword Right Now?

Crossword is a $3 scratch-off that has been on the market for 24 weeks. The ROI is -43.9%, so this one is best played for entertainment rather than value. Each ticket returns an expected $1.68 in prize value. There are 11 of the original 20 top prizes still available. Top prize odds are holding steady with a 25.6% change since launch. Among the 3 active $3 games in New Jersey, Crossword ranks #1 by expected value.

Alternative Strategy

Instead of buying one Crossword ($3) ticket, consider buying 1x Big Money Spectacular ($2) + 1x Loose Change ($1). This combination delivers $1.73 in expected value compared to $1.68 for the single ticket — a 2.9% improvement. It also gives you a 38.9% chance of winning at least one prize versus 20.4% 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
$20,000 20 11 9 55.0% 1 in 698,959 1 in 556,327 ↑ 26%
$5,000 22 12 10 54.5% 1 in 635,418 1 in 509,967 ↑ 25%
$500 46 21 25 45.7% 1 in 303,895 1 in 291,409 ↑ 4%
$100 32,466 13,593 18,873 41.9% 1 in 431 1 in 450 ↓ 4%
$25 419,734 174,826 244,908 41.7% 1 in 33 1 in 35 ↓ 5%
$10 587,648 246,986 340,662 42.0% 1 in 24 1 in 25 ↓ 4%
$5 839,166 360,735 478,431 43.0% 1 in 17 1 in 17 ↓ 2%
FREE $3 TICKET 979,628 455,268 524,360 46.5% 1 in 14 1 in 13 ↑ 6%

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