The price of Mega Millions tickets is set to rise in April 2025, as the lottery game undergoes a major overhaul aimed at boosting its already massive jackpots. The cost of a single ticket will jump from $2 to $5, marking a 150% increase. This is only the second price hike in the game’s 22-year history, following the increase from $1 to $2 in 2017.
The price change is part of a strategy to enhance the lottery experience by increasing the chances of winning and offering bigger, faster-growing jackpots. According to lottery officials, the new game format will also eliminate “breakeven prizes,” ensuring that any winning ticket will be worth more than the price paid for it.
Bigger jackpots on the horizon
Mega Millions is positioning itself to deliver even larger jackpots, potentially surpassing the record-breaking $1.6 billion prize won in Florida in 2023. The game has already produced six billion-dollar jackpots, and lottery officials predict that this number will increase significantly with the new pricing structure. The higher ticket price will lead to larger starting jackpots and faster accumulation, creating more opportunities for players to win life-changing amounts.
In addition to larger jackpots, the lottery is introducing new gameplay features that improve a player’s odds of winning. Every ticket will now come with a built-in multiplier, boosting non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times. This means that even if you don’t hit the jackpot, your chances of walking away with a substantial prize are greatly improved.
The impact of the price hike
The price increase has sparked debate among players and industry analysts. On one hand, the promise of bigger jackpots and better odds is expected to attract more participants, potentially leading to more frequent and larger prize pools. On the other hand, some are concerned that the higher cost per ticket may deter casual players who are unwilling to spend $5 on a single shot at winning.
However, officials believe the changes will reinvigorate interest in the lottery, drawing in both new players and long-time enthusiasts.
“We are creating a game that both our existing players and people new to Mega Millions will love and get excited about playing,” Joshua Johnston, lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, said in a statement. “We expect more billion-dollar jackpots than ever before, meaning creating more billionaires and many more millionaires as the jackpots climb, plus this game will continue the important legacy of supporting great causes everywhere Mega Millions is played.”
Changes to Mega Millions
Mega Millions announced the following changes to the lottery game starting in April:
- Increased price of tickets
- 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
How to play the new Mega Millions
For those unfamiliar with the current format, players select six numbers—five white balls between 1 and 70, and one gold Mega Ball between 1 and 25. To win the jackpot, a player must match all six numbers. The new game format will maintain these rules but introduce more exciting features like the multiplier, which can boost non-jackpot winnings by 2X to 10X.
Tickets will continue to be available at gas stations, convenience stores, grocery stores, and online in certain states. The popular “Quick Pick” option will also remain, allowing the system to randomly select numbers for players.
