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Mega Millions rolls out changes to multistate lottery game. Here's what it means for jackpots and odds.

By
Alex Sundby
Senior Editor
Alex Sundby is a senior editor at CBSNews.com. In addition to editing content, Alex also covers breaking news, writing about crime and severe weather as well as everything from multistate lottery jackpots to the July Fourth hot dog eating contest.
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Alex Sundby

/ CBS News

Mega Millions has rolled out several changes, including new ticket prices, jackpots and an increase in the odds of winning, according to the multistate lottery game. The first drawing under the changes is set for later today.

How much is a Mega Millions ticket?

Players now need more than $2 and a dream to win. After last Friday's drawing, tickets now cost $5 each, Mega Millions said in a . An optional add-on to potentially increase nonjackpot prizes for an additional dollar and a $3 feature for two plays for just the jackpot have been discontinued.

What are the new Mega Millions odds?

In exchange for the higher price, the game boasts better odds for winning. While the odds for winning any prize have improved from 1 in 24 to 1 in 23, the chances of winning the big prize are still astronomical: going from 1 in 302,575,350 to 1 in 290,472,336. The change makes the odds of winning Mega Millions' jackpot closer to winning Powerball's, where the odds are 1 in 292.2 million.

One thing that hasn't changed is people are still less likely to win the jackpot than to be struck by lightning, the odds of which are 1 in 15,300 in a lifetime, according to the .

Players win a Mega Millions jackpot by matching the five white balls and the gold Mega Ball. The game's smallest prize is won by matching just the Mega Ball. The changes in the game's odds come from removing one of the Mega Balls.

The size of the prizes are also changing. The jackpot will be a minimum of $50 million, up from $20 million. Mega Millions estimates that the average jackpot win with the new changes will be over $800 million, an increase from about $450 million. A random multiplier will also be added to the smaller prizes.

"Players who had won $2 in the old game will now take home $10, $15, $20, $25 or $50 under this game," Joshua Johnston, lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, said in a statement. "Those who had won $500 under the old rules will now take home $1,000; $1,500; $2,000; $2,500 or $5,000 in this new game."

When does Mega Millions draw?

Mega Millions drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. Eastern time. Tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The biggest Mega Millions jackpot ever was $1.602 billion, won on Aug. 8, 2023, when a single winning ticket was sold in Florida.  

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