DORCHESTER, MA (March 25, 2025) – Mega Millions, the multi-state lottery game will feature a larger price tag but bigger prizes at every non-jackpot prize tier, better odds to win the jackpot, better odds overall, larger starting jackpots, and faster-growing jackpots. The first drawing under the new prize structure will be held Tuesday, April 8, at 11 p.m. ET.
“Increased odds of winning, larger jackpots, and bigger minimum prizes are just a few of the enhancements coming to Mega Millions in April that will make it a better experience for all who play,” said Mark William Bracken, Executive Director of the Massachusetts State Lottery. “Massachusetts players have enjoyed Mega Millions for over twenty years, and we are excited and hopeful to see more jackpot winners coming from the Bay State under the game’s new structure.”
A full prize matrix is available here. Other game enhancements benefiting players include:
- Improved overall odds – Overall odds to win any prize will improve to 1:23 from 1:24 due to the removal of one gold Mega Ball from the game.
- Improved odds to win the jackpot – Odds to win the jackpot will improve to 1:290,472,336 from 1:302,575,350 due to the removal of one gold Mega Ball from the game. The new game will feature 24 Mega Balls instead of the 25 in the current game.
- Larger starting jackpots – Following a jackpot win, the starting jackpot will reset to $50 million instead of the current $20 million.
- Faster-growing jackpots and bigger jackpots more frequently – Jackpots are expected to grow faster and get to higher dollar amounts more frequently in the new game. The Mega Millions Consortium estimates that the average jackpot win in the new game will be more than $800 million vs. approximately $450 million in the current game.
- 2X-10X prize increase with built-in random multiplier – Every non-jackpot win will multiply its base prize by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X or 10X automatically. Prizes in the new game will range from $10 to $10 million vs. the $2 to $1 million in the current game.
- Win more than the cost to play – With a minimum prize of $10 on a winning ticket in the new game, every winning ticket will pay out at least double the $5 cost for each play. In the current game, the minimum prize on a winning ticket and cost to play are the same: $2.
With higher value prizes embedded throughout every tier of the game, tickets for the new Mega Millions game will increase to $5 per play…