Current:Home > StocksMega Millions tickets will cost $5 starting in April as lottery makes 'mega changes' -Quantum Capital Pro
Mega Millions tickets will cost $5 starting in April as lottery makes 'mega changes'
View
Date:2025-04-12 23:07:26
The price for a shot to be a multimillionaire is about to rise.
Starting in April, Mega Millions tickets are going to cost $5 per play, the lottery game announced Monday.
The increase marks the second price change in the game's history, following the shift from $1 to $2 in 2017.
The ticket adjustment comes as Mega Millions launches "mega changes" to its game by April "with plans to be bigger and better than ever," the company said in a news release. Among the changes include "improved odds to win the jackpot" and "larger starting jackpots."
"We are creating a game that both our existing players and people new to Mega Millions will love and get excited about playing," Mega Millions Consortium Lead Director Joshua Johnston said in the news release. "We expect more billion-dollar jackpots than ever before, meaning creating more billionaires and many more millionaires as the jackpots climb."
Changes to Mega Millions
Mega Millions announced the following changes to the lottery game starting in April:
- Higher odds of winning the jackpot
- Bigger and more frequent jackpots
- Larger starting jackpots
- Faster growing jackpots
- A built-in multiplier for every play that would "automatically improve every non-jackpot win by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X or 10X – up to $10 million for matching the five white balls."
- No more breakeven prizes, allowing winners to always win more than the ticket's cost
Did anyone win Mega Millions?
Friday night's drawing didn't have any lucky winners for the Match 5 or Match 5 + Megaplier. Tuesday's drawing has risen to an estimated $129 million.
To view the list of past winners, visit the Mega Millions website.
How to play the Mega Millions
In order to buy a ticket, you'll have to visit your local convenience store, gas station or grocery store − and in a handful of states, you can purchase tickets online.
To play, you will need to pick six numbers. Five numbers will be white balls ranging from 1 to 70. The gold Mega Ball is one number between 1 and 25.
If you believe the odds are against you, ask for a "Quick Pick" or an "Easy Pick," the computer will randomly generate the numbers for you.
Players can add the "Megaplier" for $1, which can increase non-grand prize winnings by two, three, four or five times. The Megaplier is drawn before the Mega Millions numbers on Tuesday and Friday.
There are 15 Megapiler balls in all:
- 2X, five balls
- 3X, six balls
- 4X, three balls
- 5X, one ball
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms.
Contributing: Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY
veryGood! (9)
Related
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- Northwestern football players to skip Big Ten media days amid hazing scandal
- US heat wave eyes Northeast amid severe storms: Latest forecast
- Breakups are hard, but 'It's Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake' will make you believe in love again
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- Kelly Ripa Is Thirsting Over This Shirtless Photo of Mark Consuelos at the Pool
- Check Out the Best Men's Deals at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale on Clothing, Grooming, Shoes & More
- How does acupuncture work? Understand why so many people swear by it.
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- Love the outrageous costumes from ‘The Righteous Gemstones?’ Get the look for yourself.
Ranking
- Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
- Small funnel cloud over US Capitol turns into viral photo
- An alliance of Indian opposition parties — called INDIA — joins forces to take on Modi
- PacWest, Banc of California to merge on heels of US regional banking crisis
- San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
- Hunter Biden’s guilty plea is on the horizon, and so are a fresh set of challenges
- Notre Dame legend, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Lujack dies at 98
- Booksellers seek to block Texas book ban on sexual content ratings in federal lawsuit
Recommendation
Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
Bryan Cranston slams artificial intelligence during SAG-AFTRA rally: 'We ask you to hear us'
Florida rentals are cooling off, partly because at-home workers are back in the office
Kansas football lineman charged in connection with alleged bomb threat
Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
Jason Aldean blasts cancel culture, defends Try That in a Small Town at Cincinnati concert
She was diagnosed with cancer two months after she met her boyfriend. Her doctors saw their love story unfold – then played a role in their wedding
Cigna health giant accused of improperly rejecting thousands of patient claims using an algorithm