The Mega Millions game is introducing the following changes:

• The price will increase from $2 to $5 for each play (each line of numbers on a ticket).
• The starting jackpot amount will increase from $20 million to $50 million.
• Prize amounts at all levels below the jackpot will increase.
• The game will include a built-in multiplier as part of every $5 play.
• The odds of hitting the jackpot and the overall probability of winning a prize will improve.

The new Mega Millions format will begin after the drawing on Friday, April 4, 2025, which will be the last drawing of the old format. Tickets sold after 10:45 p.m. on April 4, 2025, will be $5 per play. The first drawing under the game’s new structure will be Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

After the jackpot is hit, the amount will reset to a base of $50 million. If the jackpot is still rolling after the drawing on April 4, 2025, it will continue to roll until it is hit, and will then reset to $50 million.

New Structure Beginning After the April 4, 2025 Drawing

• Players select five numbers from a range of 1 to 70;
  and one Mega Ball number from a range of 1 to 24.
• Estimated probability of hitting the jackpot: 1 in 290,472,336.
• Estimated probability of winning any prize: 1 in 23.07.

Old Structure Ending With the April 4, 2025 Drawing

• Players select five numbers from a range of 1 to 70;
  and one Mega Ball number from a range of 1 to 25.
• Estimated probability of hitting the jackpot: 1 in 302,575,350.
• Estimated probability of winning any prize: 1 in 24.

Mega Millions will have a new prize structure that includes a built-in multiplier with each $5 play you purchase. The prize amounts at all levels below the jackpot will increase (multipliers do not apply to the jackpot). The minimum prize amount at the lowest tier will increase from $2 to $10. There will be no “breakeven” prizes, meaning that on any winning ticket, the prize will always be more than the $5 cost to play. See the prize structure chart included in the response below for more information.

Each $5 play (each line of numbers on your ticket) will include a multiplier of 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X or 10X. The multiplier will appear on the right-hand side of each line, to the right of the Mega Ball number. The prize structure chart shows a “Base Prize” amount for each prize tier. If you win, you will multiply the base prize amount using the multiplier that appears on the winning line of your ticket. See the prize structure chart below for more information.

*In some cases, fixed prizes may be paid on a pari-mutuel basis and will be lower than these published prize levels. Refer to the Mega Millions Official Game Rules for a detailed explanation.

**The Lottery will announce the estimated Jackpot annuity prize value and the estimated cash prize value for every Mega Millions Drawing. The Jackpot prize will be divided equally among all Jackpot prize winning plays. When a prize is claimed, Jackpot winners will have the option to receive your Jackpot in a single (“cash”) payment or in annuity payments. A Jackpot prize will be paid as an annuity of 30 graduated payments over 29 consecutive years unless the winner selects the cash payment method within 60 days of the Ticket validation date, even though you have 182 days after the drawing date to claim your prize. The cash payment amount will be lower than the announced estimated Jackpot annuity prize. Variations in the announced Jackpot prize amounts may occur.

Yes. A multiplier is generated separately for each $5 line of numbers that you purchase. Each line is played separately. Each multiplier applies only to the line on which it appears.

Yes. Each play (each line of numbers) that you purchase will have a multiplier that will apply to all drawing dates covered by the ticket.

Yes. If you buy a ticket for multiple drawing dates and cash it in for winnings before the last drawing date on your ticket, the “Exchange” ticket you receive for your remaining drawing dates will have the same multipliers as your original ticket.

Multipliers are always generated separately for each line on each new ticket. A “Replay” ticket is considered a new ticket, so using the “Replay” function does not guarantee that you will receive the same multipliers you had on your old ticket.

The overall probabilities of receiving each of the multipliers are:

• 2X: 1 in 2.13 plays
• 3X: 1 in 3.20 plays
• 4X: 1 in 8 plays
• 5X: 1 in 16 plays
• 10X: 1 in 32 plays

The overall probabilities are based on the total number of Mega Millions plays that are sold across all 47 jurisdictions where Mega Millions is available (45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands). The probabilities are not based on the total number of plays that any single person purchases. For example, the 10X probability of 1 in 32 means that on average, there will be one 10X multiplier for every 32 plays across all Mega Millions sales throughout all 47 jurisdictions. It does not mean that you are guaranteed to receive a 10X multiplier if you purchase 32 plays.

The Megaplier option has been retired. There are no optional add-ons for Mega Millions tickets under the game’s new structure.

No. Mega Millions drawings will continue to be conducted in Atlanta by the Georgia Lottery at 11 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays. The cutoff time to purchase Mega Millions tickets is 10:45 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays. You can view the drawings on our website.

Mega Millions tickets are sold in 47 jurisdictions (45 states; Washington, D.C.; and the U.S. Virgin Islands). They are available at more than 4,300 Lottery retailers in Maryland.

Two jackpot-style games (Powerball and Multi-Match) are available for $2 per play. The Maryland Lottery also offers a wide variety of both draw games and instant games that are available for $2 or less. See the Games section of our website for details.