Mega Millions Gets a Major Makeover: New Prices, Better Odds, and Bigger Jackpots!
Mega Millions is shaking things up next month with a bunch of exciting changes that players need to know about. Starting April 4, the popular multistate lottery game will introduce new ticket prices, revamped jackpots, and even better odds of winning, as announced in a recent statement.
So, if you thought $2 was all you needed to chase your dreams, think again! After the April 4 drawing, each ticket will cost $5. Along with this price hike, the optional add-on that could boost nonjackpot prizes for an extra dollar, as well as the $3 feature for two jackpot plays, will be discontinued. But don’t worry, the changes are designed to make your chances of winning a little more favorable.
With the new ticket price, the odds of snagging any prize will improve from 1 in 24 to 1 in 23. However, if you’re aiming for that life-changing jackpot, the odds will still be pretty steep, shifting from 1 in 302,575,350 to 1 in 290,472,336. This adjustment brings Mega Millions' jackpot odds closer to those of Powerball, which currently sit at 1 in 292.2 million.
It’s worth noting that even with these changes, your chances of winning the jackpot are still slimmer than getting struck by lightning—odds of which are about 1 in 15,300 over a lifetime, according to the National Weather Service.
To win the Mega Millions jackpot, players need to match all five white balls along with the gold Mega Ball. The smallest prize can be won by matching just the Mega Ball. The new odds come from the removal of one of the Mega Balls, making the game a bit more exciting.
And let’s talk about those jackpots! The minimum jackpot will now start at a whopping $50 million, a significant increase from the previous $20 million. With these changes, Mega Millions estimates that the average jackpot win will soar to over $800 million, up from around $450 million. Plus, a random multiplier will be added to smaller prizes, making them even more enticing.
Joshua Johnston, the lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, shared some exciting news: “Players who used to win $2 in the old game will now take home $10, $15, $20, $25, or even $50 under the new rules. Those who previously won $500 can now expect to win $1,000, $1,500, $2,000, $2,500, or $5,000!”
Mega Millions drawings take place every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Eastern time, with the first drawing under the new rules scheduled for April 8. Tickets are available in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
For a bit of trivia, the largest Mega Millions jackpot ever recorded was a staggering $1.602 billion, won on August 8, 2023, when a single winning ticket was sold in Florida. So, get ready to grab your tickets and dream big!
