The popular national lottery Mega Millions underwent major changes this spring—the first in nearly a decade. With higher ticket prices but improved odds and bigger prize payouts, players are wondering if the updates are paying off.
What Changed in the Mega Millions Lottery?
In April 2025, Mega Millions updated its game mechanics, pricing, and prize structure. Here’s a breakdown of the most notable changes:
- Ticket cost increased from $2 to $5 (now includes built-in multiplier).
- Jackpots now start at $50 million, up from $20 million.
- Odds of winning any prize improved from 1 in 24 to 1 in 23.
- Jackpot odds slightly improved to 1 in 290,472,336.
- Minimum prize payout jumped from $2 to $10.
Are More Players Winning?
Early results show a significant rise in non-jackpot prize winnings:
- Over $112 million in non-jackpot prizes have been awarded in the first 20 drawings since the overhaul.
- That’s a 347% increase from the $25 million paid under the old structure.
- Players matching only the Mega Ball collectively won $45 million.
- Even the lowest-tier winners ($10 for just the Mega Ball) earned a combined $14 million, more than double the previous amount.
How Does the Multiplier Impact Prizes?
The built-in random multiplier (up to 10X) is included in every $5 ticket. That change alone helped over 143,000 players win nearly $9.75 million.
- During the June 20 drawing, three Match 5 winners—thanks to the multiplier—claimed prizes of $2 million, $3 million, and $4 million.
- That single drawing generated over $15 million in total non-jackpot winnings—more than 3.6 times what would have been paid under the old rules.
Is the Jackpot Growing Faster?
It’s too early to determine if jackpots are climbing more quickly. However, data shows:
- A $112 million jackpot was won in just 24 days under the new system.
- Previously, jackpots took about 56 days to reach an average of $526 million.
Where to Play
Mega Millions is available in 45 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings occur at 11 p.m. ET every Tuesday and Friday. Proceeds benefit local causes across the U.S.
Key Takeaways
- Expect higher upfront cost, but better odds for small-to-mid-tier wins.
- The built-in multiplier adds more value to every ticket.
- Players are seeing significantly more non-jackpot prize money.
- Jackpot odds remain long, but chances of any prize have improved.
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