Mega Millions is changing—and in a big way. Starting Tuesday, April 8, 2025, the game introduces a brand-new format with exciting updates designed to offer better chances, larger prizes, and more value with every ticket.
Let’s explore what’s new, based completely on the official Mega Millions information.
💵 A New $5 Ticket with a Built-In Multiplier
Mega Millions tickets now cost $5 per play. That price includes a Multiplier feature—there’s no need to pay extra for it anymore.
Here’s how it works:
- Every ticket will be given a random Multiplier: 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or even 10X.
- The Multiplier boosts non-jackpot prizes automatically.
- The smallest prize you can win is now $10, and prizes can go up to $10 million, depending on the numbers you match and your multiplier.
- Every winning ticket will be worth at least double the ticket price.
🏆 Higher Jackpots and Bigger Secondary Prizes
- The starting jackpot has increased from $20 million to $50 million.
- Jackpots are expected to grow faster and reach higher amounts more often.
- If you match all five white balls (but not the Mega Ball), you can win $2 million to $10 million, depending on your multiplier.
- If you match only the Mega Ball, your prize will be between $10 and $50, depending on the multiplier.
📈 Improved Odds to Win
The chances of winning the jackpot have improved:
- Jackpot odds are now 1 in 290,472,336 (better than the previous 1 in 302,575,350).
- This is because the Mega Ball pool has been reduced from 25 to 24 numbers.
- The overall odds of winning any prize have also improved, from 1 in 24 to 1 in 23.
🎲 Match Odds and Multiplier Chances
Here are your chances for each match combination:
| Match | Odds |
|---|---|
| 🟡 | 1 in 35 |
| ⚪ + 🟡 | 1 in 86 |
| ⚪⚪ + 🟡 | 1 in 665 |
| ⚪⚪⚪ | 1 in 607 |
| ⚪⚪⚪ + 🟡 | 1 in 13,965 |
| ⚪⚪⚪⚪ | 1 in 38,859 |
| ⚪⚪⚪⚪ + 🟡 | 1 in 893,761 |
| ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ | 1 in 12,629,232 |
| ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ + 🟡 (Jackpot) | 1 in 290,472,336 |
| Overall Odds | 1 in 23 |
And here are the odds of each multiplier:
| Multiplier | Odds |
|---|---|
| 2X | 1 in 2.13 |
| 3X | 1 in 3.2 |
| 4X | 1 in 8 |
| 5X | 1 in 16 |
| 10X | 1 in 32 |
🔍 Side-by-Side Comparison: Old Game vs. New Game
| Feature | OLD Game | NEW Game |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket Price | $2 | $5 |
| Starting Jackpot | $20 million | $50 million |
| Number Matrix | 5/70 + 1/25 | 5/70 + 1/24 |
| Overall Odds | 1 in 24 | 1 in 23 |
| Jackpot Odds | 1 in 302,575,350 | 1 in 290,472,336 |
| Prize Range | $2 to $1M | $10 to $10M |
| Multiplier | $1 extra | Included with ticket |
🏅 Prize Levels: Old vs. New
The table below shows how the new prize levels compare to the old ones:
| Match | Old Prize | New Prizes (with Multiplier) |
|---|---|---|
| ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ + 🟡 | Jackpot | Jackpot |
| ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ | $1 million | $2M, $3M, $4M, $5M, or $10M |
| ⚪⚪⚪⚪ + 🟡 | $10,000 | $20K, $30K, $40K, $50K, or $100K |
| ⚪⚪⚪⚪ | $500 | $1K, $1.5K, $2K, $2.5K, or $5K |
| ⚪⚪⚪ + 🟡 | $200 | $400, $600, $800, $1K, or $2K |
| ⚪⚪⚪ | $10 | $20, $30, $40, $50, or $100 |
| ⚪⚪ + 🟡 | $10 | $20, $30, $40, $50, or $100 |
| ⚪ + 🟡 | $4 | $14, $21, $28, $35, or $70 |
| 🟡 | $2 | $10, $15, $20, $25, or $50 |
🎮 How to Play the New Mega Millions
- Choose five numbers from 1 to 70 (white balls).
- Choose one number from 1 to 24 (the gold Mega Ball).
- You can pick your own numbers or use Quick Pick for a random selection.
- If you match all six numbers, you win the jackpot.
- There are nine total ways to win, and all non-jackpot prizes are multiplied by the Multiplier shown on your ticket.
…the new Mega Millions gives players more value and excitement in every ticket.
To get started, visit MegaMillions.com or learn more about the updates here.
Good luck—and may your numbers bring you great rewards!
