$250,000 Crossword
State: Illinois
Last Updated: 08/18/2025 at 11:08AM EDT
Image Credit: Illinois State Lottery
Ticket Price: $10
Expected Value (EV): -$2.59
Starting Odds: 1 in 3.73
Current Odds to Win $100 or More: 1 in 71.38
Current Odds to Win $1,000 or More: 1 in 16,436.88
Current Odds to Win $10,000 or More: 1 in 177,283.5
Estimated Tickets Remaining: 9,927,876.17 (43.15%)
Total $250,000 Prizes Remaining: 14 out of 32
Total $25,000 Prizes Remaining: 42 out of 96
Total $1,000 Prizes Remaining: 548 out of 1,152
About "$250,000 Crossword" Scratch-Off Game in Illinois
The "$250,000 Crossword" scratch-off game is one of the lottery options available in Illinois. The price of a ticket is $10.
The Expected Value (EV) of a ticket in $250,000 Crossword is -$2.59, which represents the average return based on current prizes remaining.
When this game was first released, the starting odds of winning were 1 in 3.73.
The odds of winning at least $100 in $250,000 Crossword are 1 in 71.38.
The chances of securing $1,000 or more are 1 in 16,436.88.
For those dreaming of hitting a jackpot, the odds of winning $10,000 or more are 1 in 177,283.5.
As of the last update on 08/18/2025 at 11:08AM EDT, approximately 43.15% of tickets are still in circulation. This means there are still unclaimed prizes waiting to be won in Illinois's $250,000 Crossword scratch-off game.
Prize Chart
| Prize | Total Prizes | Prizes Remaining | Starting Odds | Current Odds | Change in Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | 2,110,436 | 922,903 | 1 in 10.9 | 1 in 10.76 | 1.33% |
| $20 | 2,590,350 | 1,116,009 | 1 in 8.88 | 1 in 8.9 | -0.15% |
| $30 | 383,631 | 162,756 | 1 in 59.97 | 1 in 61 | -1.71% |
| $40 | 143,903 | 61,186 | 1 in 159.88 | 1 in 162.26 | -1.48% |
| $50 | 583,154 | 247,513 | 1 in 39.45 | 1 in 40.11 | -1.66% |
| $60 | 28,751 | 12,168 | 1 in 800.25 | 1 in 815.9 | -1.96% |
| $100 | 287,505 | 121,818 | 1 in 80.03 | 1 in 81.5 | -1.84% |
| $150 | 17,295 | 7,364 | 1 in 1,330.32 | 1 in 1,348.16 | -1.34% |
| $200 | 11,496 | 4,855 | 1 in 2,001.38 | 1 in 2,044.88 | -2.17% |
| $500 | 10,536 | 4,453 | 1 in 2,183.74 | 1 in 2,229.48 | -2.09% |
| $1,000 | 1,152 | 548 | 1 in 19,972.13 | 1 in 18,116.56 | 9.29% |
| $25,000 | 96 | 42 | 1 in 239,665.59 | 1 in 236,378 | 1.37% |
| $250,000 | 32 | 14 | 1 in 718,996.78 | 1 in 709,134.01 | 1.37% |
How Are the Odds Calculated for Illinois Scratch-Off Games?
The odds and statistics for Illinois's scratch-off games are based on official lottery data processed through statistical models. This is to help players understand their chances of winning in Illinois's scratch-off games. Here's how each metric is determined:
- Starting Odds: These are the official odds provided by the Illinois lottery at the scratch-off game's launch. They indicate the probability of winning any prize when all tickets are still in circulation.
- Estimated % Tickets Remaining: If not provided by the state, this is estimated based on the number of claimed prizes relative to the game's original prize structure. For example, if a game started with 1 million scratch-off tickets and half of the top prizes have been claimed, it is estimated that about 50% of the scratch-off tickets have been sold.
- Current Odds to Win $100/$1,000/$10,000 or More: These odds indicate the likelihood of winning higher-tier prizes in Illinois scratch-off games. They are determined by summing the probabilities of all applicable prize amounts using the current odds.
- Current Odds to Win the Grand Prize: This metric shows the probability of winning the game's largest prize, adjusted for the estimated remaining tickets and current odds.
- Expected Value (EV): EV represents the average return of a single scratch-off ticket based on the current prizes remaining. It is calculated by multiplying each prize amount by its probability of winning (prizes remaining ÷ estimated tickets remaining), summing these values, and subtracting the ticket price. A positive EV indicates an expected profit per ticket, while a negative EV indicates an expected loss.
Games, prizes, and odds for Illinois scratch-off games are sourced directly fromThe Official Illinois Lottery website.