‘Mega’ update aims to make more million dollar winners

August 1, 2017 Posted by NC Lottery at 7:32 AM

This fall, Mega Millions players will see the starting jackpot elevated to $40 million and better chances of winning the second prize of $1 million or more.

To make possible bigger jackpots and the potential for more $1 million wins, a regular ticket will move to $2 with the Megaplier option still a $1 add-on. The range of white balls shifts from 1-75 to 1-70, and the choice of numbers for the Mega Ball changes from 1-15 to 1-25. It is the first ticket price adjustment since the game began more than 15 years ago.

In the new game, the odds of winning the jackpot climb from 1 in 258.8 million to 1 in 302.5 million, enabling jackpots to start bigger and grow faster.

The odds of winning $1 million improve. Players currently face odds of 1 in 18.4 million to match all five white balls. The new odds are 1 in 12.6 million.

The third prize of $5,000 doubles to $10,000. And adding the Megaplier feature will still multiply all non-jackpot winnings by 2X to 5X the base prize.

Sales for the new game begin Saturday, Oct. 28 and the first draw will be Tuesday, Oct. 31. The changes require a gradual step-down in the number of multidraws available for purchase after the Aug. 1 drawing. Starting the next day, the maximum number of multidraw tickets available for purchase will decrease with each drawing until it reaches zero for the Oct. 27 drawing.

If you have questions about the changes to the game or the step-down, the best way to get your questions answered is to call the customer service team between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at 877-962-7529.

We hope you'll enjoy the new Mega Millions game.

36 COMMENTS

10/09/2017 10:36 - John D.

Congrats to all the winners. I bought a $20 diamond ticket at the Scotchman in Zebulon and won $100. They wouldn't cash it in and said they weren't allowed to cash out over $30. They should have to put up a visible notice (sign) about the amount they cash in if it not the standard.NC Lottery
Some retailers don't keep enough cash on hand to cash out lottery prizes. However they should offer players the option of getting other forms of payment such as a business check or money order. Thank you for letting us know what happened.

8/06/2017 06:25 - Ward E.

Thank you NCEL for reducing the number of balls in a game. People, where can you go & leagally take $2 or $3 & have a chance @ thousands upon thousands of dollars if not millions? The worst case is helping education. Once again, thanks NCEL! mre2

8/05/2017 09:49 - Calandra R.

My subscription is not letting me purchase tickets ??NC Lottery
Anytime you have a technical question or concern, it is best to click on the HELP link at the top of the screen and fill out an ONLINE SUPPORT form. There is also additional contact information there for tech support.

8/03/2017 08:50 - becky c.

Can't say im2 happy with the changes to MM, so if i play it will be a random tossup btw MM and PB. Would love to see a better Cash 5 game

8/02/2017 10:17 - michael e.

Lottery's are just this !! SCAMS BY states to increase their bottom line So I don't waist my hard earned money on SCAMS SO bye forever LOTTERY .NC Lottery
Hi there Hamofaguy. Sorry for your frustration. The lottery does have real people who win real prizes, every day. We gave out an average of $4.2 million daily this year. Also, proceeds go towards a great cause: education in North Carolina. This year, the lottery raised more than $600 million for education programs. Hope this helps clarify the issue!

8/02/2017 09:41 - Charlotte R.

Well. Sounds like I won't be playing mega anymore.

8/02/2017 09:44 - bradley s.

What a joke. So how much does NCEL take off Mega? $2, per now. Never play the junk anyway, and Yes you messed up Cash 5, adding numbers. It's GREED , pretty simple. I Only wish desperate souls could lay off this mess for a single month .,Then see your profit margin. It would take more than that I know as lotto Bankroll is STOUT.

8/02/2017 09:30 - Tony T.

hey guys, don't like the change?, don't play. I feel the numbers games have so very slim chances of winning the jackpots I very rarely bother, unless the pot gets to an astronomical figure. Can't remember the last time I bought a Mega millions ticket and been quite a while since I bought a powerball or even a cash 5 for that matter.

8/02/2017 12:44 - Charlene W.

Heard about this months ago so no surprise here, also just another way for lotto commissioners to get a rise in their profits again no surprise here.

8/02/2017 12:37 - Charlene W.

Odds and prices have gotten worse with these tics.They ALL need to be a $1 with better odds and prizes

8/01/2017 05:28 - Evelyn W.

Someone needs to come to the Food Lion in Creedmoor on hwy 56 bcause the machine keeps taking the money people put in to get tickets and scratch-offs. The Head Manager is not nice. She always say lottery is down. When the new tickets come out they wait a couple of weeks to get rid of the old ones. They never put the new tickets out on the first Tuesday of each month. I am still going to play for fun. Maybe I will hit the jackpot one day.NC Lottery
The experience you're describing is not the one we want players to have. Thank you for mentioning it to us. You can also call player customer service between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday: 877-962-7529

8/01/2017 04:27 - Avante B.

Mega millions increase wow! I am still upset about the repeated numbers for the pick3 and pick4 over and over again! If we can't win 290.00 dollars what makes you think that we believe that you are going to make more millionaires in NC, just not true!

8/01/2017 04:18 - Amy G.

Not too happy with this decision I play it more than Powerball because it's only a dollar.

8/01/2017 03:57 - Mary G.

Disappointing news to me. Just means I'll play less not more.

8/01/2017 03:39 - Evelyn W.

NC Lottery need to have their own Powerball and Mega Million because other states are winning. The lottery gives money to education every year, but we are losing our jobs every year especially Teacher Assistants who work side by side with Teachers and make $1200 to 1400 a month for 7 and 8 hours a day in the classroom,Media,Computerlab/ISS,Art and Substituting all day. Now they want us to drive a bus or no job. We should not have to work 2 to 3 jobs for a living. Lottery use to be fun to play,but not anymore. The points for the tickets to win second chances are not good. Some people are giving away 500 points,but they don't win anything at all. Sometimes I wonder if people are really winning or is it to get our hard earn money. Nobody in Creedmoor, NC has hit the million jackpot.

8/01/2017 03:29 - Robert H.

I don't play Powerball because of the price, will play less when your cost increases. Why not lower all odds and have lots of millionaires instead of one big winner? You could bill yourself as "the game that makes millionaires."

8/01/2017 03:24 - George J.

Since you now match ticket prices with Powerball, did anyone on your team think to compare PRIZE valued? For the same $2 ticket cost, Powerball prizes beat yours in every level but the 4-white ball level. And your Megaball only winning prize is STILL only $1? Powerball's lowest payout is $4!! Our 15 player office pool has been switching btw PB & MB for years - now hands down we'restaying with Powerball.

8/01/2017 03:15 - alfreda v r.

Sounds good I can't wait to win! Good luck on!NC Lottery
Good luck Avroberts!

8/01/2017 01:51 - Brian C.

:-(

8/01/2017 01:01 - Gary C.

The ticket price increase decision was not made solely by NC Lottery. I like the increased odds of winning a million. By the way, what has NOT gone up in price over the past 15 years?

8/01/2017 01:00 - Michael B.

I had no idea NCEL sold lottery tickets inside of North Lake mall. Very surprised I bought ticket didn't win but I thought it was g ood odd spot maybe there is a winner there. I'll be back

8/01/2017 11:52 - tj j.

When will I be able to see all my lucked rewards points ..you all changed recently and all I can see are my points dating back to Jan of this year NC Lottery
We are not aware of a known issue relating to this. Would you please click on the HELP link at the top of the screen and fill out an ONLINE SUPPORT form? You can also call 855-767-1863 for technical support. Please let us know if you are unable to get assistance with this.

8/01/2017 11:15 - David B.

That's why PLAYER stays anonymous! Don't want the Almighty NECL to blackball me ! Hoping to win on some LuckeRewards game! I think it may be to late! I think my identity has already been compromised! ha!ha! Lol! :) NC Lottery
Random drawings are conducted according to strict security procedures, whether it is with a ball machine or a random number generator. Nobody's odds of winning have anything to do with his or her identity - we are happy for winners no matter who they are :-)

8/01/2017 10:54 - Robert O.

There went my reason for playing Mega Millions instead of Powerball. I'll just put my money in Cash 5 instead.NC Lottery
Hey there, Moparman. Sorry you don't like the changes! The lottery wanted to make it possible for players to have better chances at winning the $1 million prizes, with new odds of 1 in 12.6 million. But good luck with playing the Cash 5.

8/01/2017 10:52 - David B.

I'm sure California,Florida and NY are going to love this!!!

8/01/2017 10:47 - Judith C.

The only reason I still play Mega Million ONLY because of the $1 ticket. Stopped playing PB after they increased price and lowered odds of people winning. Whatever the true reason is for the increase it's NOT so players can win more!

8/01/2017 10:42 - David B.

The Lottery has lost it's greedy greedy mind! I would like to know who is calling The shots! Just don't understand the logic behind this except pure greed! NCEL emphasizes play for fun ! This is not fun anymore! It's pure GREED!!! Implode with my MONEY!!!NC Lottery
Mega Millions will continue to pay out 50% in total prizes just like it did before, just as all draw games do including Powerball and Lucky for Life, and the daily draw games Pick 3, Pick 4, and Cash 5. The changes were decided on by an association of lotteries that manage the Mega Millions game. The updated version of the game will offer bigger starting jackpots that grow faster, better chances of winning the second prize of $1 million, and a larger third place prize :-)

8/01/2017 10:33 - Alisha S.

Lord please let me win for my familyNC Lottery
Good luck to you!

8/01/2017 10:32 - dwight f.

They should have just increase the 2nd place prize that would have been better

8/01/2017 10:30 - David B.

Ive had a lotto pool at work with 10 players since the beginning. Each player would put in $30 a month. That got us 15 sets of numbers for that month. I'd play power play. When Powerball went up $1 I Switched to mega ball! Now this junk I new it was going to happen ! When new game Starts it will be the end of a 10 year + work pool! You've Screwed up a great C5 game For greed now this BS! Can't Wait till C5 goes up! The Lotto has lost its mind !!! Just go ahead and price Everyone out!! Like I said IMPLODE!!! It just makes me Want to throw up!! I'll just Have to the the 10 loyal Players it's over !! I just Can't keep it going with no Way to win!!! I tried put The NCEL just doesn't care About the simple person with Only a dream! GREED!Greed! Greed!!!

8/01/2017 10:17 - Mamie B.

Why not inprove the lesser money payout??? Those smaller prizes needs higher payout to give players a greater return for 2 or 3 dollars played.....

8/01/2017 09:56 - John R.

Well, somebody will win even if the odds have now become further skewed. But that hardly justifies an increased ticket price. Now instead of playing several sets of numbers... I will play just one I guess. GREED by MM lottery... Again, I say that if they are REALLY serious 'bout creating more millionaires (which they are not)... then change the game to TOP OUT the max payout, and then come up with a way to let 100 people win a million...

8/01/2017 09:18 - john w.

still waiting for the following numbers to come out; 4-10-23-25-28-35

8/01/2017 08:25 - Dennis C.

RIP MEGA Millions.

8/01/2017 08:14 - Mike S.

That's a whopping increase in the odds - even larger than Powerball. Yes the $1M odds drop but they are still higher than PB. One thing not mentioned is the overall odds will go from 1 in 14.71 to 1 in 24 which in itself means less probability of winning anything (PB odds are 1 in 24.87). Think about that before playing after the new game is launched.

8/01/2017 08:11 - Nicholas S.

The title of this article could of also been, "Mega update - Worse jackpot odds for twice the cost". lol. Just a little jokey joke NCEL, don't want this to affect my chances at a 2nd chance win. There's gotta be a list somewhere at headquarters of all the complainers. I want to stay off that list. NC Lottery
Hi Yodidoe - We view questions and criticism as an opportunity to share helpful information. Please avoid making comments that are critical of other players though, as we may not be able to publish them in an effort to keep a positive community atmosphere among players. We love it when people win prizes, whether they have been a critic of the lottery or not! :-)

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‘Mega’ update aims to make more million dollar winners

August 1, 2017 Posted by NC Lottery at 7:32 AM

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