If anyone told you, it’s true… Mega Millions tickets now cost $5.
That’s right. Day zero finally arrived, and the lottery made all the changes they’ve been talking about since September 2024. One of the biggest updates is the price of the tickets.
The cost of Mega Millions tickets went from $2 to $5 per play. Yes, more than doubled. But what caused such a big jump?
According to Joshua Johnston, executive director of the Mega Millions Consortium, these new changes are designed to improve players’ experiences. That means bigger jackpots, better non-jackpot prizes, and more chances to win.
But now the real question is…
Is it worth it? What do you get for the new Mega Millions ticket price?
Until April 4, 2025, the Mega Millions jackpot started at $20 million and grew until someone matched all six numbers. Now, the jackpot starts at $50 million. Yes, just like the cost of the tickets, the Mega Millions jackpot has more than doubled.
And it’s not just the jackpot…The secondary prizes have also increased, and you can win from $10 up to a minimum of $2 million, depending on how many numbers you match.
| Match | Minimun Prize | Odds of winning |
|---|---|---|
| 5 main numbers + the Mega Ball | Jackpot | 1 in 290,472,336 |
| 5 main numbers | $2 Million | 1 in 12,629,23 |
| 4 main numbers + the Mega Ball | $20,000 | 1 in 893,761 |
| 4 main numbers | $1,000 | 1 in 38,859 |
| 3 main numbers + the Mega Ball | $400 | 1 in 13,965 |
| 3 main numbers | $20 | 1 in 607 |
| 2 main numbers + the Mega Ball | $20 | 1 in 665 |
| 1 main number + the Mega Ball | $14 | 1 in 86 |
| The Mega Ball | $10 | 1 in 35 |
Source: Mega Millions official website
What about the Megaplier? How much does a Mega Millions ticket now cost with Megaplier?
You no longer have to pay extra to add the Megaplier. It’s now included in the $5 ticket price. If you look at the prize table, you’ll see a “minimum value” listed with the 2x multiplier already built in.
But here’s the cool part: there’s a new multiplier.
Yes, Mega Millions added a 10x multiplier to the mix. So, if you hit one of the secondary prizes, you could win anywhere from $100 to…wait for it…$10,000,000.
But check it out for yourself. Below is a breakdown of all Mega Millions prize payouts with the new ticket cost and Megaplier.
| Match | Prize by Multiplier | Odds | ||||
| 2x | 3x | 4x | 5x | 10x | ||
| Multiplier Odds | 1 in 2.13 | 1 in 3.2 | 1 in 8 | 1 in 16 | 1 in 32 | |
| 5 main numbers + the Mega Ball | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot | 1 in 290,472,336 |
| 5 main numbers | $2 Million | $3 Million | $4 Million | $5 Million | $10 Million | 1 in 12,629,23 |
| 4 main numbers + the Mega Ball | $20, 000 | $30, 000 | $40, 000 | $50, 000 | $100, 000 | 1 in 38,859 |
| 4 main numbers | $1, 000 | $1, 500 | $2, 000 | $2, 500 | $5, 000 | 1 in 38,859 |
| 3 main numbers + the Mega Ball | $400 | $600 | $800 | $1, 000 | $2, 000 | 1 in 13,965 |
| 3 main numbers | $20 | $30 | $40 | $50 | $100 | 1 in 607 |
| 2 main numbers + the Mega Ball | $20 | $30 | $40 | $50 | $100 | 1 in 665 |
| 1 main number + the Mega Ball | $14 | $21 | $28 | $35 | $70 | 1 in 86 |
| The Mega Ball | $10 | $15 | $20 | $25 | $50 | 1 in 35 |
Are there any other changes to Mega Millions you should know about?
Actually, yes. Did you take a close look at the prize table? Did you notice anything different about the odds of winning each prize? That’s right – they’ve changed too.
Now… you have better odds of winning. But how? Does it have anything to do with the new cost of the Mega Millions tickets?
Nope, not at all. The price does not affect your chances of winning. The improvement comes from a slight change in the rules of the game.
Here’s how it works: you still pick five numbers from 1 to 70 (that part hasn’t changed), but now the Mega Ball is drawn from 1 to 24 instead of 25.
This small change has improved the odds of winning a Mega Millions prize, including the jackpot.
Is it worth paying $5 for a Mega Millions ticket?
Well, that depends on you – and whether you think the new features are worth it.
Here’s a quick recap:
- The Mega Millions jackpot now starts at $50 million.
- Secondary prizes have been increased and now range from $10 to a minimum of $2 million.
- The Megaplier is always active, and there’s a new 10x multiplier, which means you can win up to $10 million on non-jackpot prizes.
- And thanks to the updated rules, your chances of winning are slightly better.
So now it’s up to you to decide if the new Mega Millions ticket cost is worth it.
And no matter how Mega Millions changes, you can still manage your games with the Lottonia app. It’s already updated with the latest lottery changes. As always, you can save your tickets, get number suggestions, and get real-time results for all your games – right on your phone.