Mega Millions Jackpot Odds Improve With New $5 Per Play Format

Posted on: April 4, 2025, 03:14h. 

Last updated on: April 4, 2025, 03:14h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.
  • Mega Millions is being overhauled beginning next week
  • The price of a basic ticket is increasing from $2 to $5
  • Officials say the change will benefit players

Tonight’s Mega Millions jackpot for the final $2 per play drawing is a measly $43 million after a player in Illinois won last Friday’s jackpot worth $349 million ($161.4 million cash).

Mega Millions jackpot odds lottery
Mega Millions becomes $5 to play beginning with the Tuesday, April 8 drawing. Mega Millions says the price hike will lead to bigger payouts, richer jackpots, and overall better odds. (Image: Mega Millions)

After tonight, Mega Millions will undergo its biggest game change since October 2017 when the number of gold and white balls changed to lengthen the jackpot’s odds, and the price of a basic ticket was doubled from a buck to $2. After sales close tonight, the price of a Mega Millions ticket will more than double to $5 for the next drawing on Tuesday, April 8.

Despite the considerably higher entry price, the 2025 Mega Millions game change should be welcomed by players, so says officials with the Mega Millions Consortium.

Beyond big jackpots, players told us they want bigger non-jackpot prizes and that’s exactly what this new game delivers,” said Joshua Johnston, lead director of the Consortium.

“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. Non-jackpot prizes at every level are going up by 2X to 10X. That’s the kind of value the new Mega Millions will deliver to our players at every single drawing.” 

Megaplier No More

Johnston’s remarks focus on the fact that the new gameplay version retires the optional $1 add-on Megaplier that was available in most Mega Millions jurisdictions. The Megaplier is being replaced with a built-in multiplier that eliminates break-even results where tickets simply won back their $2 purchase.

With the multiplier automatically included in the $5 purchase, every non-jackpot win will multiply its prize by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X. Along with each drawing including five white balls and a golf Mega Ball, the Mega Millions drawing will draw a multiplier with one of those multipliers coming up. Mega Millions is also doing away with the “Just the Jackpot” $1 gameplay that has been available in certain jurisdictions.

Higher entry prices will also result in higher starting jackpots at $50 million — up from the current $20 million minimum.

Jackpots are expected to grow faster and get to higher dollar amounts more frequently in the new game,” game officials said.

The average jackpot under the new game is expected to be over $800 million compared to approximately $450 million under the present structure.

Mega Millions Jackpot Odds Improve

The odds of hitting the Mega Millions jackpot have also improved because the next version will feature one fewer gold Mega Ball at 24.

Every ticket’s odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot beginning next week will shorten slightly from one in 302.5 million to one in 290,472,336. Also starting next week, the overall odds of winning will improve from 1:24 to 1:23 because of one less gold Mega Ball.

While the $5 minimum purchase price will likely scare off some lottery regulars, Mega Millions hopes the jackpot’s better odds, which will become slightly better than Powerball’s one in 292.2 million, along with larger non-jackpot prizes, will keep the interstate game competitive.  

Since launching in 2002, Mega Millions has produced seven billion-dollar jackpots and made over 1,200 people millionaires.