The world of lottery games is vast, and the Mega Millions lottery stands as a titan among them. If you’ve ever played or heard of it, you’ve probably come across the term “Megaplier.” But do you know what it is and how to take advantage of it?
Let’s shed some light on this exciting feature that can skyrocket your winnings.
What is Megaplier?
Megaplier is an innovative feature introduced by Mega Millions to increase the value of secondary prizes excluding the Grand Jackpot. For an extra dollar, players have the opportunity to multiply the value of their prizes by 2, 3, 4, or even 5, depending on the number selected in the Megaplier drawing.
This option debuted in Texas in December 2003, and it wasn’t until 2010 that the rest of the states adopted it. Megaplier stands out as the only additional option in lottery games with large jackpots that can potentially lead you to win up to $5 million in second-tier prizes.
How the Megaplier Works
When you buy your Mega Millions tickets, you have the option to add the Megaplier by checking the “Multiplier” box on your ticket. Once you’ve checked this option and picked your lucky 6 numbers, all you have to do is sit back and wait for the draw.
Mega Millions drawings are held twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11pm ET. The multiplier number is selected from a separate set of 15 balls before the Mega Millions draw.
Odds of Winning a Mega Millions Megaplier Prize
| Multiplier | Balls | Odds |
| 2X | 5 | 1 in 3 |
| 3X | 6 | 1 in 2.5 |
| 4X | 1 | 1 in 15 |
| 5X | 1 | 1 in 15 |
Is the Megaplier Worth It?
Megaplier won’t increase your chances of winning a Mega Millions prize, but it can increase your winnings. If you happen to win one of the secondary prizes, you can multiply it up to 5 times. The decision to spend an extra dollar is entirely up to you.
How much can you win?
Let’s see how much each multiplier can increase the Mega Millions secondary prizes.
| Match | Regular Prize | 2X | 3X | 4X | 5X |
| 5 Numbers | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $3,000,000 | $4,000,000 | $5,000,000 |
| 4 Numbers + Mega Ball | $10,000 | $20,000 | $30,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 |
| 4 Numbers | $500 | $1,000 | $1,500 | $2,000 | $2,500 |
| 3 Numbers + Mega Ball | $200 | $400 | $600 | $800 | $1,000 |
| 3 Numbers | $10 | $20 | $30 | $40 | $50 |
| 2 Numers + Mega Ball | $10 | $20 | $30 | $40 | $50 |
| 1 Number + Mega Ball | $4 | $8 | $12 | $16 | $20 |
| Mega Ball | $2 | $4 | $6 | $8 | $10 |
Megaplier Winners
Many lottery players have seen their winnings grow exponentially thanks to the Megaplier. Here are some stories of Mega Millions winners who managed to multiply their winnings.
In the Mega Millions drawing on July 4, 2023, J. Refugio Gonzalez Almeida matched the first five numbers and just missed the Mega Ball. This earned him the second prize of $1,000,000. Almeida chose to activate the extra feature on his ticket, and the Megaplier for that draw was 3. So his prize was multiplied to $3,000,000.
In July 2020, Scott Clark and his group of winners managed to snag the second prize in Mega Millions. Thanks to the extra option on their ticket, they were able to multiply their prize by 4, taking home a total of 4 million dollars among them.
Reg Abare of Barre matched 5 numbers in the August 16, 2016 drawing. Normally he would have won $1 million, but Abare added the extra feature. The multiplier number for the drawing was 5, so Abare’s prize was $5 million.
Megaplier vs. Power Play
The Megaplier in Mega Millions and Power Play in Powerball serve a similar function. They both aim to boost non-jackpot prize winnings. However, there are a few key differences:
- The Power Play can increase your winnings by up to 10 times, while the Megaplier can increase it by up to 5 times.
- The maximum secondary prize in Powerball with Power Play is $2 million, while with the Megaplier in Mega Millions, it is $5 million.
Check out our Powerball vs. Mega Millions post to learn more about the differences between these two lottery games.
You know all about Megaplier. Now the question is, would you play with this extra option? Leave a comment and tell us if you think it’s worth it.
And don’t forget that you can improve your lottery experience with Lottonia App.