Mega Millions jackpot hike and modifications explained
The popular lottery game Mega Millions has undergone a significant change, with the ticket price increasing from $2 to $5 per play, effective from April 8, 2025. This adjustment comes with several exciting upgrades, including a higher starting jackpot of $50 million and a built-in multiplier for non-jackpot prizes.
The changes took effect from the first drawing on April 8, 2025, and new play slips and digital app updates were introduced starting April 5, 2025, in preparation for the change. Along with the ticket price increase, the game now offers bigger jackpots, better odds, and the chance to win more substantial local prizes.
One of the key features of the new Mega Millions is the inclusion of a random multiplier that can multiply non-jackpot prizes. Each $5 ticket includes a built-in random multiplier that can increase the prize between 2X and 10X. This means that players can now win a minimum of $10, which is double their wager, within the non-jackpot tiers.
Moreover, matching only the gold Mega Ball now pays out $10, $15, $20, $25 or even $50, an improvement from the previous prize of $2. The combination of matching five balls in Mega Millions now pays out $20,000, $30,000, $40,000, $50,000 or $100,000, an improvement from the previous prize of $10,000.
It's important to note that the odds of winning the jackpot in Mega Millions have increased to 1 in 290.4 million, but the odds of winning non-jackpot prizes have improved as well. Jackpots can grow faster and bigger in Mega Millions, and the Mega Millions largest jackpot to date was won on August 8, 2023, with a single ticket purchased in Florida winning a mind-blowing $1.602 billion payout.
Mega Millions is one of America's two big jackpot games and is played in 45 states, as well as the US Virgin Islands and Washington D.C. The drawing days, which still take place on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 PM ET, have not been affected by the price increase.
With these changes, players can now always win more than they pay for the cost to play in Mega Millions, making the game even more exciting and rewarding.
The increase in ticket price for Mega Millions to $5 per play, starting from April 8, 2025, is part of a broader shift in the game's business model, which includes the inclusion of a random multiplier in each ticket and enhanced non-jackpot prize amounts. This transformation extends the financial opportunities in casino-and-gambling and lotteries, offering more substantial local prizes and improving overall odds.
