Summary
- The new starting jackpot is $50 million.
- Previous starting jackpot: $20 million
- The new odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 290.4 million.
- The previous odds of winning the jackpot were 1 in 302.5 million.
- The updated ticket price is $5 per play.
- Previous price per play: $2
- The updated likelihood of winning any prize is 1 in 23.
- Previously, the odds of winning any prize were 1 in 24.
- Each $5 ticket comes with a random multiplier, enhancing the prize by 2 to 10 times.
- Increased chances of winning secondary prizes
- Jackpots can increase more rapidly and reach larger amounts.
Mega Millions is one of the two major jackpot games in the United States, attracting millions of players nationwide. Drawings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays, providing participants the opportunity to win various prizes, including a jackpot starting at $50 million, which continues to grow until claimed. In April this year, the introduction of a price increase marked one of the most significant changes in the history of Mega Millions.
Mega Millions ticket price increase simplified
Many lottery players may be curious about when the Mega Millions price increase takes effect. The new changes to this popular lottery game were implemented with the drawing on April 8, 2025. This means that the last drawing to use the old prize structure and $2 play cost took place on April 4, 2025. Starting April 8, 2025, when the price increase took effect, the game introduced larger prizes, built-in multipliers, a higher starting jackpot, and improved odds, along with a higher cost per play. One significant enhancement is that players can now always win more than the cost to play.
Mega Millions lottery price increase at a glance
In April 2025, significant changes and improvements were made to the Mega Millions lottery game. Below are some key highlights of the new prize structure compared to the previous one:
Mega Millions new ticket price includes a random multiplier
The Mega Millions lottery recently raised the ticket price from $2 to $5, a change that has received mixed reactions. While some players have criticized the increase, others appreciate the advantages that accompany the new pricing, such as improved odds, including better chances for jackpot prizes, and larger payouts due to the automatic inclusion of a random multiplier. Let's take a closer look at the changes Mega Millions introduced in April with the NEW Mega Millions. As stated, the ticket price increased to $5, but a significant update is that players no longer need to pay extra for the multiplier feature. Previously, players could opt to pay more for the Megaplier option, which allowed them to multiply non-jackpot winnings. Now, this multiplier is already included in the ticket price. The new $5 ticket price automatically includes a multiplier of 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X, assigned at the time of purchase. This means that a winning ticket can at least double the initial cost, guaranteeing a minimum prize of $10 or potentially up to $10 million by multiplying non-jackpot winnings. Under the old rules, Mega Millions offered non-jackpot prizes starting at $2, with a maximum of $1 million. The first drawing with the new $5 ticket price took place on April 8, 2025.
Mega Millions has better odds for jackpot prizes, top prize starting at $50m
In April, the Mega Millions lottery underwent a significant revamp. Beyond the increase in ticket price, the game's restructuring improved the starting jackpot prize. Previously, jackpots began at $20 million, but now they start at $50 million. Importantly, these changes mean that jackpots can grow more quickly and often reach higher amounts. Additionally, the odds of winning the top prize have improved. The new ticket costs $5 per play, with a 1 in 290,472,336 chance of winning the jackpot. Though still challenging, these odds have improved from the previous 1 in 302,575,350. The change was achieved by reducing the number of gold Mega Balls from 24 to 23, meaning players now select their gold Mega Ball from 1 to 23. Despite the improvements, the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot remain extremely low. For context, the National Weather Service states that the odds of being struck by lightning in a lifetime of 80 years are about 1 in 15,300, compared to the jackpot odds of 1 in 290.4 million.
Mega Millions non-jackpot prizes and odds improve
With the new Mega Millions ticket price, the chances of winning non-jackpot prizes have improved. Additionally, players now have the opportunity to win larger non-jackpot prizes due to a built-in random multiplier. While the odds of winning the jackpot have increased, the likelihood of obtaining a tier-two prize by matching five white balls has slightly decreased. However, there's a silver lining: previously, a tier-two prize from Mega Millions was $1 million, but now the payout can range from $2 million to an astonishing $10 million. Similarly, the chance of matching five balls has slightly decreased, but the odds of winning a tier-three prize by matching four white balls plus the gold Mega Ball have improved. Under the new matrix, players can receive $20,000, $30,000, $40,000, $50,000, or even $100,000 for such combinations. In comparison, the previous prize without multipliers was $10,000. Prize odds within the lower tiers have also improved. With the new ticket price, players can win a minimum of $10, effectively doubling their wager. Previously, matching only the gold Mega Ball awarded $2, but the recent changes allow winners to receive between $10 and $50 for the same match. The price increase in the Mega Millions lottery has enhanced non-jackpot prizes, enabling players to win at least $10 to as much as $10 million, doubling their wager in the lower tiers.
Why is the Mega Millions price increase happening?
The price per play for the popular lottery game, Mega Millions, has increased for several reasons. The new ticket cost allows for larger starting jackpots that can grow more frequently. This price increase from $2 to $5 marks only the second time the game has been updated in over 20 years, with the last significant change to the prize structure being in 2017. Earlier this year, Joshua Johnston, the Lead Director of the Mega Millions Consortium, discussed the changes. He stated, Beyond big jackpots, players wanted larger non-jackpot prizes, and that's exactly what this new game provides. Johnston further explained that players who previously won $2 will now win $10, $15, $20, $25, or $50. Those who won $500 under the old rules will now take home amounts such as $1,000, $1,500, $2,000, $2,500, or $5,000 with the new system. He also commended the game’s built-in multiplier feature, which increases non-jackpot prizes by 2 to 10 times, saying, That's the kind of value the new Mega Millions offers to our players at every drawing.
Will the Mega Millions new ticket price bring a new record jackpot?
Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 PM ET, and the recent increase in ticket prices has not changed these drawing days. This popular lottery is available in 45 states, as well as in the US Virgin Islands and Washington D.C. The largest jackpot in Mega Millions history was claimed on August 8, 2023, when a single ticket purchased in Florida matched all the winning numbers, resulting in an incredible $1.602 billion payout. Though that jackpot set a high bar, the current increases in Mega Millions aim to offer even larger top prizes. The revamp of the game is sure to thrill lottery players across the United States, providing them with improved odds and the chance to win bigger prizes.
Mega Millions ticket price increase FAQ
Starting with the April 8, 2025, drawing, the cost of a Mega Millions ticket increased from $2 to $5. Indeed, the price for a single play of Mega Millions is now $5. This price change for Mega Millions tickets took effect on April 8, 2025, raising the cost from the previous $2 per play to $5.
