2025 Changes to Mega Millions
A series of changes were recently made to Mega Millions, officially coming into effect on April 5, 2025. It was the first time in almost eight years that the game had seen a significant update. Find full details of all the alterations below, but here is a quick summary:
- Ticket price was raised to $5
- The Mega Ball pool decreased from 25 to 24 balls
- Optional Megaplier was replaced by an automatic Multiplier that is included in the cost of entry
- 'Just the Jackpot' feature was removed in states where it was offered
- Starting jackpot increased from $20 million to $50 million
The purpose of these changes was to freshen up the multi-state lottery and provide extra excitement, as the odds of winning have now improved. This is the case for both the jackpot and the overall odds of getting any prize. The size of the average jackpot is also expected to increase.
The cost per play had been $2 since October 2017, with the option to add Megaplier for an extra $1. From April 5, 2025, this was raised to $5. The Multiplier feature is now incorporated into the ticket price and is not optional.
The new-look Multiplier includes a 10X option for the first time ever, along with 2X, 3X, 4X and 5X. The multiplier is built-in to a play, so one of the possible values is randomly generated at the point of purchase and printed on your ticket.
As the Multiplier is now included on every ticket, it means the lowest payout you can receive is $10, just for matching the Mega Ball. This also means there are no ‘breakeven’ prizes - if you win, you receive more than the cost of a ticket.
You continue to pick five main numbers from 1 to 70, plus a Mega Ball. However, the range of numbers for the Mega Ball has been reduced from 1 out of 25 to 1 out of 24. This is the tweak that boosts the odds of winning. Your chances of winning the jackpot, for example, have gone from 1 in 302,575,350 to 1 in 290,472,336.
The following table shows all the new odds and how to win.
| Prize Category | Old Odds | New Odds | Old Prize | New Base Prize* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Numbers + Mega Ball | 1 in 302,575,350 | 1 in 290,472,336 | Jackpot | Jackpot |
| 5 Numbers | 1 in 12,607,306 | 1 in 12,629,232 | $1 Million | $1 Million |
| 4 Numbers + Mega Ball | 1 in 931,001 | 1 in 893,761 | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| 4 Numbers | 1 in 38,792 | 1 in 38,859 | $500 | $500 |
| 3 Numbers + Mega Ball | 1 in 14,547 | 1 in 13,965 | $200 | $200 |
| 3 Numbers | 1 in 606 | 1 in 607 | $10 | $10 |
| 2 Numbers + Mega Ball | 1 in 693 | 1 in 665 | $10 | $10 |
| 1 Number + Mega Ball | 1 in 89 | 1 in 86 | $4 | $7 |
| Mega Ball Only | 1 in 37 | 1 in 35 | $2 | $5 |
*The new base prize amounts are shown for guidance, as these are always multiplied by 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 times.
The overall odds of winning a prize are now 1 in 23.07.
Multiplier Prize Amounts
The table below shows the prizes you can win in the new-look Mega Millions, depending on whether the multiplier is 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 10x.
| Multiplier | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | 2x | 3x | 4x | 5x | 10x |
| 5 Numbers | $2 million | $3 million | $4 million | $5 million | $10 million |
| 4 Numbers + Mega Ball | $20,000 | $30,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 | $100,000 |
| 4 Numbers | $1,000 | $1,500 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| 3 Numbers + Mega Ball | $200 | $300 | $400 | $500 | $1,000 |
| 3 Numbers | $20 | $30 | $40 | $50 | $100 |
| 2 Numbers + Mega Ball | $20 | $30 | $40 | $50 | $100 |
| 1 Number + Mega Ball | $14 | $21 | $28 | $35 | $70 |
| Mega Ball Only | $10 | $15 | $20 | $25 | $50 |
The table below shows the odds of each multiplier being printed on your ticket. There is more chance that one of the lower values will be selected, but even these will significantly increase your payout. If the 10x multiplier is generated on your ticket, the Match 5 + Mega Ball prize will be worth $10 million, while just matching the Mega Ball will reward you with $50.
| Multiplier | Odds of being Drawn |
|---|---|
| 2x | 1 in 2.3 |
| 3x | 1 in 3.2 |
| 4x | 1 in 8 |
| 5x | 1 in 16 |
| 10x | 1 in 32 |
*The first draw under these new rules took place on Tuesday, April 8.