Getting ready for new Mega Millions game

January 7, 2025 Posted by NC Lottery at 11:16 AM

Coming this April, Mega Millions will get a “mega” overhaul with improved odds on faster-growing jackpots.

However, you may notice some changes to the Mega Millions game much sooner as we prepare for that switch. After the Mega Millions drawing tonight, Tuesday, Jan. 7, the number of upcoming drawings you can purchase tickets for will start to be reduced.

The reason is simple. New game rules will go into effect with the first new drawing on April 8. So, you don’t want to buy tickets for drawings after that if the game rules are changing.

So, after the Jan. 7 Mega Millions drawing, the number of drawings you can purchase tickets to play, currently 26 drawings, will slowly be reduced. By Feb. 14, for example, you can purchase tickets for just the next 15 draws. The process continues until, finally on April 4, tickets can only be purchased for that day’s drawing.

When Mega Millions officially relaunches on April 5, players will be able to once again purchase tickets for up to 26 drawings, just like they did with the older version of the game. The first drawing under the new game rules will be on April 8.

Here are some of the enhancements that come with the new Mega Millions game:

Improved odds to win the jackpot
Bigger starting jackpots
Faster growing jackpots
A built-in multiplier on every play, up to 10X, automatically improving every non-jackpot win – up to $10 million for matching the five white balls
With every win, prizes will always be more than the cost of the ticket

Tickets for the improved Mega Millions game will be $5 per play. This marks only the second ticket price change for the game since the first ticket was sold more than 20 years ago.

We hope you are excited for the new and improved Mega Millions!

60 COMMENTS

2/21/2025 11:05 - Anthony G.

I'm paying $3/play now, so another $2 won't hurt. Looking 4ward 2 the changes. Let's Go!!!!

2/21/2025 08:41 - Richard P.

Disgraceful. $5...? Come on now. First of all, we don't need more billionaires. How about a game with more smaller winners, like $5,000,000 for 5 balls. or 4 balls + megaball? These games are too disproportional.

2/20/2025 03:23 - Herbert V.

slap on the face,time to quit

2/19/2025 10:03 - Armondo B.

I have to agree with what seems to be the majority of the opinions posted here. Five dollars per ticket is too much and NC can’t compete with California and New York when it comes to the states where most people win. I won’t play this game anymore.

2/19/2025 09:43 - Russell C.

Very disappointed to read about this change. Price increase will keep me out of this one. Looking like a good time to phase out of lottery as my entertainment...

2/19/2025 09:40 - Edgar B.

$5 is too much for me. How about increasing cash five to $2 and changing the game so that 1-3 million jackpots are common? Thanks

2/19/2025 07:49 - Virgil L.

I thank you because it's a waste of money anyway and I will never buy one for $5

2/19/2025 06:37 - Tarsha M.

I hope that everyone realizes this is not a North Carolina change. The price increase is statewide, it was announced in October 2024. Do I agree it's too much, most definitely. Instead of increasing the prices they should’ve added a day. The days that open are Sundays and Thursdays. However, those days might be for maintenance that we're unaware of. FYI you don’t have to play the mega multiplier it's an option. The change is NOT exciting. They will see a decrease in purchases. Until that jackpot gets higher and more locals win or the statewide change will revert back with adding another day of the week.

2/18/2025 07:16 - Chris P.

I Want be playing at $5 a ticket. It’s unbelievable that mega millions thinks it’s ok to raise the price of tickets 150%

2/18/2025 03:52 - Daniel P.

$5 per, probably an additional $1 or more for the multiplier? Not for me...

2/18/2025 03:43 - Virginia B.

Too much of an increase! Cannot afford that price!

2/18/2025 01:01 - Shenetta R.

That's waaay too much for one ticket. Won't be playing very often.

2/18/2025 12:01 - Jimmy R.

I will not buy Mega Millions any longer when the price increases. Also a lot of other states have Cash4Life lottery game instead of Lucky For Life like we have. It has the same top prize of $1000 a day for life but the 2nd prize is $52000 a year for life but in NC we only get $25000 a year for life! Annnnd ours is not a live drawing but computer generated which can be manipulated.

2/18/2025 11:03 - harry b.

it will cut down on how often I paly.. I have a 30 a month limit.

2/18/2025 02:38 - Syd G.

The increase to $5 is absolutely obscene, and I will NEVER purchase a ticket at that price. Hopefully enough players will boycott the game, which is the only way to send a message that such greed won't be tolerated.

2/17/2025 11:18 - William S.

I agree with the previous comment that this change will lead to a "game gap." I don't plan on playing the new MM - I would like to see the game improved without increasing the price. Jackpots do not need to be in the Billions (with correspondingly difficult odds).

2/17/2025 08:52 - Jaleel A.

I Will not waste my money on the Mega Millions. I would spend $10 for 5 tickets not for 2 tickets!

1/12/2025 11:11 - Kevin P.

You know, this could be a good opportunity for NC to start a larger state lottery beyond Cash 5, something with jackpots around the 1-2 million range with tickets priced around $3. I have the feeling that if the $5 ticket price ends up taking off for Mega Millions then Powerball won't be far behind in raising prices, and that leaves a large gap for a smaller lottery with reasonably priced tickets.

1/10/2025 02:24 - Denver G.

I'll stick to C5 and LFL. I hit $150 twice in Dec on LFL. On C5 hit 4 of 5 twice in Dec for $250 and hit 4/5 last night for $500 on C5 double draw.NC Lottery
That's awesome! Congratulations on the wins, Denver!

1/09/2025 09:54 - Colin M.

I won't play @ $5.

1/09/2025 07:32 - ROBERT D.

Price getting to high, going to have to play something else, way to much money, if over half the people drop out the same amount of money will still be played, crazy

1/09/2025 05:13 - richard m.

bro. these comments. the math skills. the spelling.

1/08/2025 11:07 - Joseph R.

Honestly, they should raise the cost of tickets for CA, NY, TX players since I can literally remember at least 80% of the 1B jackpots being won by CA and NY players. Lucky players? Doubt it! They won't be able to uphold promises of bugger and better jackpots when they only get half of the players in NEW game. Just watch!

1/08/2025 09:30 - David L.

No I am not excited about it at all because of two reasons the price is going up, and the winning tickets are always in one of ten states and NC is not one of them! I have bought tickets for all of the games regularly but can’t seem to win anything but small change!!!

1/08/2025 09:09 - Anthony B.

So five drawings is $25 instead of $15 . Well haven't no one has hit the Mega Million in NC anyway anyway

1/08/2025 08:58 - Anthony B.

Nope

1/08/2025 07:08 - Janet C.

$5.00 per ticket…I just can’t do it…

1/08/2025 06:48 - William A.

What’s the new odds to win the jackpot?NC Lottery
Hi, William! We don't have this info at this time, but we'll share more about the new odds once we get closer to the launch of the updated game!

1/08/2025 05:51 - Paul H.

$5... Nope.

1/08/2025 04:34 - Sherry J.

I am going to win!

1/08/2025 03:24 - Chemberly P.

Five $ per play is obscene! This is a game changer, it maybe time to look for a new hobby.

1/08/2025 02:58 - Iurii A.

Well, more expensive tickets = less chances.

1/08/2025 12:42 - Cristie B.

I will no longer purchase Mega Millions tickets. $5.00 per ticket is way too much

1/08/2025 12:14 - Joseph B.

Changes are good for the game I'm having one nothing yet but maybe I will but I'm looking forward to the changes and I'm looking forward to winning something somebody got smart and realized something and that's a good thing thank you for sharing this information and I wish North Carolina good luck with this new direction that you're going. Thank you.NC Lottery
Thanks for the love, Joseph! We're crossing our fingers for you and wishing you a bunch of luck with Mega Millions and beyond!

1/08/2025 09:39 - Steven B.

i will play!!! this sounds much betterNC Lottery
hanks for the positive comment, Steven! We're wishing you lots of luck!

1/08/2025 09:07 - Deborah S.

From $2 to $5 for a draw? Sorry, I won't be plying MM anymore come April. Without knowing what the odds are you are changing with your "Improved odds to win the jackpot", you've reduced my chances of a win by over 83%!!

1/08/2025 08:13 - William A.

$5 per play. You got to be kidding me. We were told when it went up to $2 a ticket jackpots were going to start bigger then Covid hit and they dropped them. It’s a joke you can’t win now. Why would anyone think this is a good idea at Mega Millions. Just another jab in the players back.

1/08/2025 08:02 - June C.

Too expensive for one ticket.

1/08/2025 07:29 - Eugene H.

Wow! I'm sure everyone is elated that they can give their money away to NC faster once the $5 per ticket starts. Improved odds from 1 in 302,575,350 doesn't really give a player any true advantage and the MM jackpots will continue to go to states like CA, NY, Fl. The MM jackpot has only been hit by an NC player 2 times. The most recent was 14 years ago.

1/08/2025 07:11 - David F.

No thanks

1/08/2025 05:06 - Rodney W.

I’m done with Mega Millions as soon as it goes to five dollars a ticket . The price increase is absolutely ridiculous. It is hard enough to win as it is .I have had an online acct. for a few years . I will continue to play other lottery games online but five dollars for a single ticket is insane .

1/08/2025 12:54 - Jon S.

Nope

1/07/2025 11:08 - ROSE M.

NO NOT REALLY MORE MONEY FOR CALF,AND ONLY ONE WINNER.

1/07/2025 10:39 - Laura S.

Hi! This is Laura! Am I win? If so please let me know?.ThanksNC Lottery
Hi, Laura! If you're a winner with an Online Play ticket, or if you win in a second chance or Lucke-Rewards draw, you'll receive an email notifying you of your win with instructions on how to claim your prize.

1/07/2025 10:09 - Larry B.

You need to figure out a formula whereby our Rewards points can be applied to a cash deposit into our online account, e.g. 100 rewards points can be redeemed toward a $1 deposit.NC Lottery
Hi, Larry! We appreciate you sharing this idea with us. The folks in charge of those decisions read comments like these, so the future is full of possibilities!

1/07/2025 09:02 - Warren F.

Not impressed with the much higher ticket cost. May not participate as much, if at all

1/07/2025 08:12 - linda p.

Sounds good hope the new mega change my luck. Good Luck everyone in 2025NC Lottery
We're wishing you lots of luck, Linda!

1/07/2025 06:45 - Donald H.

Tired of not winning anything. I'm especially tired of California and Florida winning the Big ones. I'm done with all of it it!!!!!

1/07/2025 06:05 - Kristena M.

That increases the price 150%! Anytime a company does a major upheaval and restructures something its never good, always for increased profits on THEIR end, not the customer. Secondly, how are poor people supposed to play at a price like this? I never play $5 games for a reason. Your taking that little bit of hope we have in the form oof a few dollars that won't be too missed and charging us like we're rich people gambling at poker. Doesnt the government take enough from the poor already? Now your going to mess with my dreams? The numbers are already to high, 1-70 and y'all keep on increasing it. That's why you see ppl buying 40 tickets just to have a chance. Now those 40 tickets will cost $200!!! And if you played one ticket every day $150!! Not cool. You are creating a monster. And the only people who will be playing is already rich people against all ready rich people. You'll see an increase at first as any new games do, but it will decline quickly as people realize the damage it's causing.

1/07/2025 04:12 - Donna M.

5.00 per play? Nope.

1/07/2025 03:50 - Jack W.

I'd say Mega Million just shot there self in the foot.I am 1 that will not buy any more of there tickets. I'll stick to NC draws.

1/07/2025 03:43 - mike r.

Ohhh. Boy

1/07/2025 03:27 - michael b.

If the mega million ticket is $5 how much is it going to be for the mega plier plierNC Lottery
Hi, Michael! There will be a built-in multiplier with these new tickets, so there won't be an additional charge like there currently is to add Megaplier.

1/07/2025 02:22 - William A.

You know we were told when the ticket price increased we would have bigger starting Jackpots. Then during Covid they reduced the starting pot. I guess after a few years of giving players the old boot sales must be down. I used to win here and there on Mega Millions and Powerball. Not anymore, I can’t remember the last time I won more than $10 dollars on either of these draw games.

1/07/2025 02:05 - william g.

bad move raising price at $1 a ticket I would buy 5 at $2 i get 2 now at $5 i will only get 1

1/07/2025 01:26 - Rudolph P.

Wasn't long ago they increased the price to have bigger starting and faster jackpots. Then they reversed it, but the increased price stayed the same. I'm sure the 10X multiplier will not be appearing a lot.

1/07/2025 01:24 - shirley b.

no one is excited about the price increase. Are you kidding?

1/07/2025 12:55 - Kevin D.

Too much money for a single draw

1/07/2025 12:24 - Patricia G.

So I play the same numbers every time and you say increasing the price will improve my odds of winning even though the pulling of the numbers is completely random, you have no idea who will win and I will probably be buying fewer tickets?NC Lottery
Hi, Patricia! With the game changes, there will be improved odds to win the jackpot when compared to the current jackpot odds. Odds are not dependent on how many people are playing or how many tickets are purchased, but rather how many possible number combinations there are and the odds of matching the jackpot-winning combination!

1/07/2025 11:37 - Angela A.

LOL! We hear better odds to Win the Jackpot, but seems the same old story. Just like the PowerBall starting Jackpot was decreased for COVID-19 and has yet to return to start at 40 Million the World has moved on why hasn't the Jackpot.

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Getting ready for new Mega Millions game

January 7, 2025 Posted by NC Lottery at 11:16 AM

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