Mega Millions Adjusts Ticket Prices, Jackpots, and Odds Starting April 2025
The popular multistate lottery game Mega Millions is set to implement significant changes next month, including modifications to ticket prices, jackpot sizes, and odds of winning. These upcoming adjustments are designed to enhance the overall player experience.
New Ticket Pricing Structure
Beginning with the April 4 drawing, the price of Mega Millions tickets will increase from $2 to $5. In a recent announcement, Mega Millions specified that an optional add-on, which previously allowed players to enhance nonjackpot prize winnings for an additional dollar, will be eliminated. Additionally, the $3 two-play feature for the jackpot will also be discontinued.
Improved Odds of Winning
In exchange for the increased ticket price, the odds of winning have been adjusted to offer players better opportunities. The overall odds of winning any prize will improve from 1 in 24 to 1 in 23. However, winning the jackpot remains a challenge, with odds shifting from 1 in 302,575,350 to 1 in 290,472,336. This will bring Mega Millions’ jackpot odds closer to those of its counterpart, Powerball, which stands at 1 in 292.2 million.
Interestingly, despite these improvements, players will still face a greater likelihood of being struck by lightning, with odds estimated at 1 in 15,300 over a lifetime, according to the National Weather Service.
Changes to Jackpot Prizes
Another key change involves the minimum jackpot amount, which will rise from $20 million to $50 million. Mega Millions anticipates that the average jackpot prize will surge to over $800 million, compared to an average of around $450 million under the current system. Furthermore, a random multiplier will be introduced for smaller prizes, significantly enhancing potential winnings.
Joshua Johnston, the lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, highlighted the impact of these changes: “Players who had won $2 in the old game will now take home $10, $15, $20, $25 or $50 under this game… Those who had won $500 under the old rules will now take home $1,000; $1,500; $2,000; $2,500 or $5,000 in this new game.”
Mega Millions Draw Schedule
Mega Millions drawings will continue to take place on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. Eastern time, with the first drawing under the new rules scheduled for April 8. The game is available in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Record-Breaking Jackpot
For context, the largest Mega Millions jackpot to date reached an astounding $1.602 billion, which was won on August 8, 2023, with a single winning ticket sold in Florida.
