In 2025, Mega Millions will undergo several significant modifications that will see a price increase going from $2 to $5, an automatic inclusion of the Megaplier on every purchase, and an initial jackpot starting at $50 million, up from $20 million.
The Montana Lottery Commission revealed the new changes in a meeting on June 11, PlayiLottery reported. Although the session did not specify the exact date when the price increase would start, it is anticipated to happen in the spring of the coming year.
At the moment, lottery players must spend an additional $1 to enhance their non-progressive jackpot payout by a factor of two to five. Although, the multiplier for $5 tickets might be 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x, with an average multiplier of 2.87.
Key takeaways
- Starting in 2025, the Mega Millions ticket price will rise from $2 to $5, and every purchase will automatically include the Megaplier.
- The initial jackpot will increase from $20 million to $50 million, with the average progressive jackpot expected to rise to $694 million.
- This change is likely to make billion-dollar prizes more common.
Mega Millions changes to increase winning odds and higher jackpots
Mega Millions players will likely embrace these changes because of their increased chance of winning. The chances of winning a reward with the $2 ticket are 1 in 24. If tickets cost $5, the odds are 1 in 22.4.
On the other hand, the chances of winning the progressive jackpot would increase from 1 in 302 million to 1 in 278 million.
When ticket prices for the Mega Millions lottery go up, the minimum and average jackpots automatically increase. At the moment, the starting prize of $20 million results in an average jackpot of $387 million.
However, the minimum jackpot, set at $50 million beginning next year, is anticipated to amount to $694 million, almost twice as large. This indicates that prizes worth one billion dollars might become increasingly common.
Although an increase in the price might deter some players, it potentially distinguishes the lottery game by appealing to players who are more financially stable and who mainly engage once jackpots reach the billion-dollar mark.
Meanwhile, the game will also get new visuals and a new logo as part of a brand update. Since the Megaplier will now be integrated automatically into plays rather than being a feature that players must choose, the play slip will also undergo an update.
In September, the Montana Lottery Commission will examine and possibly approve these changes.
Expansion of online play: Mega Millions now accessible in multiple states
In addition to the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands, forty-five states now provide the opportunity to participate in the Mega Millions lottery.
It should come as no surprise that playing Mega Millions online has become so popular, given the growing number of states in the United States that have launched their online casinos.
Some of the states in which you may also play online lottery include:
- Kentucky
- North Carolina
- Michigan
- Illinois
- Pennsylvania
- Georgia
- New Hamphire
- North Dakota
- Virginia