Mega Millions more than doubles lottery ticket price

Mega Millions ticket increase 2025

Driving the news: Mega Millions tickets will go from $2 to $5 in April, the lottery announced on Monday.

• It's the second time prices have been hiked since Mega Millions tickets debuted more than two decades ago.

Zoom in: Lotto players will get "improved odds to win the jackpot," "bigger jackpots more frequently" and faster-growing prizes, Mega Millions said.

• And breakeven tickets are going away, "meaning when a player wins, they'll always win more than the cost of the ticket."

Yes, but: There are no plans to raise the $2 price of Powerball lottery tickets or change the odds, the Associated Press reported.

Mega Millions drawings: How, when to watch

Mega Millions drawings are held in Atlanta at 11pm ET on Tuesdays and Fridays.

• The drawings are posted on the Mega Millions YouTube page.
• Two machines pick the numbers in the drawings, the first picking five white balls and the other selecting a gold "Mega Ball."

How to play Mega Millions lottery

Lottery players can pick six numbers from two separate pools — five different numbers from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 25 (the gold Mega Ball).

• "Quick Pick" or "Easy Pick" tickets can also be purchased where numbers are selected automatically.

What states sell Mega Millions tickets

State of play: Mega Millions tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

• Cutoff times to buy tickets vary by state because tickets are sold by individual lotteries.
• Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah do not participate in the lottery.

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