The price for Mega Millions tickets will nearly double next year with the promise of bigger jackpots and greater odds, lottery officials announced on Monday via the New York Post.
The base price for a Mega Millions ticket will increase from $2 to $5 as part of a "mega overhaul" launching in April 2025.
“Spending 5 bucks to become a millionaire or billionaire, that’s pretty good,” said Joshua Johnston, director of the Washington Lottery and lead director of the group that oversees Mega Millions, via the New York Post.
Six players have won Mega Millions jackpots exceeding $1 billion, while 1,200 have become millionaires, with jackpot odds estimated to be about 1 in 302.6 million. Lottery officials intend to offer larger jackpots and increased odds as a way to attract more buyers.
“We expect more billion-dollar jackpots than ever before, meaning creating more billionaires and many more millionaires as the jackpots climb, plus this game will continue the important legacy of supporting great causes everywhere Mega Millions is played,” Johnston said in a statement obtained by the New York Post.
The upcoming changes will be the first time the lottery rules have been adjusted in the game's history. Tuesday's (October 8) Mega Millions drawing will be worth an estimated $129 million ($62.3 million cash option)