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Mega Millions Getting An Overhaul With New Features Debuting In April 2025

Bigger Jackpots, Better Odds, Built-In Multiplier On The Way

CLIVE, Iowa - Mega Millions® is getting ready for a "mega" overhaul, with a new design in the game set to debut in April 2025. Among the enhancements that players will see:

  • Improved odds to win the jackpot
  • Bigger jackpots more frequently
  • Larger starting jackpots
  • Faster -growing jackpots
  • A built-in multiplier on every play, automatically improving every non-jackpot win by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X or 10X. With the built-in multiplier, players will be able to win up to $10 million for matching just the five white balls but missing the Mega Ball in a drawing.
  • No break-even prizes, meaning when a player wins, they'll always win more than the cost of a play

"We are creating a game that both our existing players and people new to Mega Millions will love and get excited about playing," said Joshua Johnston, director of Washington's Lottery and the lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium. "We expect more billion-dollar jackpots than ever before, meaning creating more billionaires and many more millionaires as the jackpots climb. Plus, this game will continue the important legacy of supporting great causes everywhere Mega Millions is played."

When the revamped game launches next April, tickets in it will cost $5 per play. This is only the game's second price adjustment since the first Mega Millions ticket was sold in May 2002, and the first change since the current game design was adopted in 2017.

Iowa Lottery CEO Matt Strawn has the April change in view.

"Responsibly raising revenue for important state causes, such as the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund, requires modernizing lottery games to meet consumer expectations," Strawn said. "I am confident the proposed updates to the Mega Millions game will bring renewed excitement from both existing and new lottery players, and I look forward to its official launch next April."

Mega Millions of has produced winners of six jackpots exceeding $1 billion. The game's largest prize to date was a $1.6 billion jackpot won in August 2023 with a ticket purchased in Florida.

Iowa has offered Mega Millions tickets since January 2010. During that time, Iowa Lottery players have won 18 Mega Millions prizes of at least $1 million.

Mega Millions is a national game with tickets sold in Iowa, 44 other states, Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The game's drawings are held at 10 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays in Atlanta, Georgia.

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