Mega Millions Improves Odds While Increasing Ticket Cost to $5

ATLANTA, GA — The odds for the Mega Millions multi-state lottery are about to get slightly better, but the price for that will be the increase of tickets from $2 to $5, beginning with Tuesday’s drawing.

Lottery officials are hoping the cost increase for tickets will help create more large jackpots that will catch the public’s attention and, in turn, cause more revenue from sales.

The odds of winning the jackpot are improving from 1 in 302.6 million, to 1 in 290.5 million. The odds of winning any prize will improve from 1 in 24, to 1 in 23.

The higher ticket price also means the jackpot will start at $50 million, up from the previous $20 million.

Under the new rules, prizes for tickets not matching all six numbers also will increase, with non-jackpot winners guaranteed at least $10. 

Each ticket also will include a randomly assigned multiplier that can increase the prize by up to 10 times, a previous add-on feature that cost an extra $1. The multiplier doesn't apply to a jackpot.