2025 Mega Millions Update: Ticket Price Hike and Increased Jackpot Announced
Mega Millions will undergo significant changes in 2025, with ticket prices rising from $2 to $5 and the starting jackpot increasing to $50 million. These modifications, announced by the Montana Lottery Commission, include an automatic Megaplier on every purchase. The changes are expected to boost the average progressive jackpot to $694 million and increase the odds of winning.
Mega Millions, one of the most popular lottery games in the United States, is set to undergo significant changes in 2025. The Montana Lottery Commission announced on June 11 that the ticket prices will rise from $2 to $5. This increase is accompanied by a substantial boost in the starting jackpot, which will climb from $20 million to $50 million. Additionally, every ticket purchase will now automatically include the Megaplier feature.
Introducing these changes aims to make Mega Millions more appealing to players by offering larger jackpots and better odds of winning. Players need to spend an extra $1 to activate the Megaplier, which can multiply non-jackpot winnings by up to five times. With the new system, the multiplier for $5 tickets could be 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or even 10x, with an average multiplier of 2.87.
The Montana Lottery Commission’s decision was influenced by the need to keep the game competitive and attractive in the evolving lottery market. The expected increase in the average progressive jackpot to $694 million reflects this strategy. With interest in the best USA betting sites at an all-time high, Mega Millions hopes that the increase in prize money will help the company compete.
Mega Millions jackpot soars above $1 billion after months with no winner. Here's why it's harder than it used to be to win the lottery. https://t.co/YrJt89iEeD pic.twitter.com/VzndkQbdyJ
— đť•Ź (@TownyMontana) January 10, 2023
The changes will likely make billion-dollar prizes more common, attracting more players who dream of hitting a massive jackpot. The odds of winning the progressive jackpot will improve from 1 in 302 million to 1 in 278 million.
Despite the price increase, these changes are anticipated to appeal to a broader audience, especially those who are more financially stable and play primarily when jackpots reach substantial amounts. Alongside the price and jackpot adjustments, Mega Millions will also feature a brand update, including new visuals and a revamped logo. The play slips will be redesigned to reflect the automatic inclusion of the Megaplier. This comprehensive overhaul aims to rejuvenate the game and maintain its popularity across the United States.
History of the Mega Millions and Current Format
Mega Millions, originally known as The Big Game, debuted in 1996 with six participating states: Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Virginia. The first drawing took place on September 6, 1996, and the game quickly gained popularity. By February 1998, a Tuesday drawing was added, and the game continued to expand. As of June 30, 2023, Mega Millions is offered in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The game was renamed The Big Game Mega Millions in 2002, and the first drawing under this name was held on May 17, 2002. Initially, the game was offered only in the original six states, but it soon expanded. The logo for all game versions featured a gold-colored ball with six stars, representing the original member states, although some lotteries included their own logos within the ball.
Mega Millions drawings are held at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesdays and Fridays, including holidays. The drawings take place at the studios of WSB-TV in Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia, supervised by the Georgia Lottery. The current hosts include John Crow, Carol Blackmon, and Adria Wofford. Under the current regulations, effective since October 28, 2017, the minimum advertised jackpot is $20 million, paid in 30 graduated yearly installments, increasing 5% each year unless the cash option is chosen.
The jackpot increases when no top-prize winner is drawn. The current format of Mega Millions involves drawing five white balls from a pool of 70 and one gold-colored MegaBall from a separate pool of 25. To win the jackpot, a player must match all six numbers. Each game costs $2, and all but California offer an additional Megaplier option, which multiplies non-jackpot prizes.
Congratulations to the IRS on winning the $846.3 million Mega Millions Jackpot! pic.twitter.com/1pCJKNdLBJ
— John W. Rich (Wealthy) (@Cokedupoptions) August 2, 2022
The largest jackpot in Mega Millions history was $1.602 billion, won on August 8, 2023, by a single ticket sold in Florida. However, as the Tweet above shows, the US government also do very well when a winner comes forward. A recent $1.28 billion win saw the winner take “only” $433.7m.
The 2010 expansion allowed jurisdictions to sell both Mega Millions and Powerball tickets, significantly increasing the game’s reach. Florida joined Mega Millions in 2013, and Mississippi became the latest state to join in January 2020.
