Do you want to win big with the Mega Millions? Your chances have just increased, because the organization is making some changes that will raise ticket prices and jackpots.
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The company said the shift is in response to customers who want bigger prizes.
“We have a demand for innovation to keep fresh, entertaining lottery games and to deliver the attention-grabbing jackpots,” Debbie Alford, Mega Millions president and CEO of the Georgia Lottery Corp., said in a statement. “We’re excited to deliver the opportunity to create more millionaires and also provide more opportunities to raise additional revenues for the respected causes lotteries benefit.”
The updates begin Oct. 28, so here’s what you need to know before Saturday’s drawing.
1. The ticket prices are going up.
Ticket prices are going from $1 per play to $2 per play. Players will also be able to purchase tickets for up to 14 consecutive draws.
As for the Powerball tickets prices, those will remain the same at $2.
2. The jackpot will be bigger.
The Mega Million prize is also increasing. It will begin at $40 million instead of $15 million. After the Tuesday, Oct. 24 drawing, there will be no more $25 million jackpots.
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3. Secondary prizes will be larger, too.
Thanks to the larger starting jackpot, there will be better odds to win $1 million prizes. The secondary prizes will go up as well. If you match four white balls and the Mega Ball, you will win $10,000 instead of $5,000. If you match three white balls and the Mega Ball, you will earn $200 instead of $150. If you match two white balls and the Mega Ball, you will pocket $10 instead of $5, and if you match one white ball and a Mega Ball, you can take home $4 instead of $2.
4. There will be more opportunities to enter the Mega Millions.
Players will be able to wager $3 for two entries to win the jackpot. This “Just the Jackpot” option is only available in six states, including Georgia, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas. Other areas will be able to offer this in the future.
5. There will be more chances to win.
In the past, players were able to match five white balls from 0 to 75 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 15. Now, they can match five right balls from 0 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25."Players will have a 1 in 24 overall chance of winning a price," the press release read.
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