ST. LOUIS, MO – September 8, 2026 (STL.News) A Missouri Lottery player in St. Louis turned a family-inspired choice into a $100,000 payday after purchasing one of her father’s favorite Scratchers tickets.
The woman won the $100,000 top prize playing the Missouri Lottery’s “Mystery Prize Crossword” Scratchers game, according to the Missouri Lottery.
Her decision to purchase the ticket wasn’t entirely random. She said the game caught her attention because it was one her father regularly played.
“It’s a game my dad always gets, so I naturally gravitate towards those,” the winner told the Missouri Lottery.
When she discovered that her ticket was worth $100,000, her father naturally became the first person she wanted to tell.
“When I won, he was the first person I told!” she said.
The winning ticket was purchased at Circle K, located at 1402 S. Hanley Road in St. Louis.
Mystery Prize Crossword carries $100,000 top prize
Mystery Prize Crossword is Missouri Lottery Scratchers game No. 533. The $5 ticket launched Dec. 5, 2025, and offers a top prize of $100,000.
The Missouri Lottery’s current game information shows that players have won more than $15.65 million in prizes since the game began.
The game originally included eight $100,000 top prizes. Following the St. Louis-area win and other previously claimed prizes, three $100,000 top prizes remain unclaimed, according to the Missouri Lottery’s current prize information.
Other major prizes include $10,000, $2,500, and $1,000 awards, along with numerous smaller prizes.
The Missouri Lottery currently reports more than $7.1 million in total prizes remaining unclaimed across the game’s various prize levels.
Because prize availability changes as winning tickets are purchased and claimed, players should consult the Missouri Lottery’s official Mystery Prize Crossword game page for the latest information.
Lottery winnings have major impact in St. Louis County
While a $100,000 Scratchers win can generate considerable attention for an individual player, Missouri Lottery activity also represents millions of dollars in prizes, retailer compensation and education funding in St. Louis County.
During fiscal year 2025, players in St. Louis County won more than $195.9 million in Missouri Lottery prizes, according to the Lottery.
Retailers in the county received more than $18.8 million in commissions and bonuses during the same fiscal year.
Additionally, more than $47.9 million in Missouri Lottery proceeds went to education programs benefiting St. Louis County during FY2025.
The Missouri General Assembly appropriates Lottery proceeds to support public education programs. The specific programs receiving Lottery-generated funding can vary according to appropriations approved by state lawmakers.
The St. Louis woman’s $100,000 victory adds another notable local winner to the Lottery’s list, and she chose the ticket largely because of a family connection to the game.
What started as following her father’s preference ultimately produced a six-figure prize — and gave her a particularly memorable reason to make him the first person she called with the news.
The Missouri Lottery encourages players to play responsibly and notes that purchasing a Lottery ticket does not guarantee a prize.
