Mega Millions will undergo major changes starting in April 2025, with bigger prizes, better odds, and faster-growing jackpots, lottery officials confirmed.
The current game format will end after the drawing on April 4, 2025. The first new-format drawing will be held on April 8.
Under the updated system, the odds of winning any prize improve slightly from 1 in 24 to 1 in 23. This is because the number of gold Mega Balls will drop from 25 to 24.
The chances of hitting the jackpot will also improve—from about 1 in 302.6 million to roughly 1 in 290.5 million.
Several features will be removed or replaced. The “Just the Jackpot” option, which allowed two jackpot-only plays for $3, will be discontinued. The Megaplier feature, which boosted non-jackpot prizes for an extra $1, will be replaced by a built-in random multiplier.
Ticket prices will more than double, rising from $2 to $5 per play.
But the minimum non-jackpot prize will increase from $2 to $10, giving players more value for their money.
Mega Millions will continue to be available in 45 states, Washington D.C., and the US Virgin Islands. Drawings will remain at 11 p.m. Eastern Time every Tuesday and Friday.
Money raised from ticket sales will still support state programs unless local jurisdictions decide otherwise, officials said.
Joshua Johnston, lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, said the changes respond to player demand for bigger non-jackpot prizes and more excitement in the game.
