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Mega Millions Overhaul Introduces $5 Tickets and Bigger Prizes

The revamped lottery game debuts April 8 with a $50 million starting jackpot, improved odds, and enhanced non-jackpot prizes.

An employee of Mares Mart hands a Mega Millions lottery ticket to a customer in Chicago, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
A Mega Millions lottery ticket vending machine is seen at a convenience store in Chicago, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Purchased Powerball and Mega Millions tickets are shown at Mares Mart in Chicago, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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Overview

  • Mega Millions tickets now cost $5, marking the second price increase in the game's history and the first since 2017.
  • The new format raises the starting jackpot to $50 million, up from the previous $20 million baseline.
  • Non-jackpot prizes have been significantly increased, ranging from $10 to $10 million, with a built-in multiplier replacing the retired 'Megaplier' add-on.
  • The updated game offers better odds of winning overall, with jackpot odds adjusted to 1 in 290.5 million.
  • The first drawing under the revamped rules is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, 2025, across 45 participating states.