Mega Millions lottery game's redesign aims at bigger jackpots, better overall odds

Jul 17, 2013, 6:06 pm (97 comments)

Mega Millions

Megaplier to be expanded

The Mega Millions multi-state lottery game is being redesigned to offer bigger starting jackpots and better overall odds beginning Oct. 22.

(First reported by Lottery Post in May: Mega Millions multi-state lottery to get harder to win in Oct., May 20, 2013.)

"The updated Mega Millions game will offer a starting jackpot of $15 million, up from the current $12 million, and will grow by at least $5 million every time the jackpot rolls," said Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Todd Rucci. "Adding to the excitement, purchasing the expanded Megaplier option will allow non-jackpot prizes to be multiplied by a factor of five — up from the current maximum of four."

This change to the Megaplier option will increase the top, non-jackpot prize to $5 million, Rucci noted.

The ticket price will remain $1. The Megaplier option price also will remain $1.

Under the new Mega Millions game matrix, the overall odds of winning any Mega Millions prize will improve to 1-in-14.71 from 1-in-40, making an estimated three times as many winners.

The overall odds of winning the game's jackpot will change to 1-in-258,890,850 from the current 1-in-175,711,536. This change is expected to lead to larger jackpot growth.

Players in the redesigned game will choose their first five numbers from a pool of 75, up from the current 56. The group of numbers in the Mega Ball pool will shrink from 46 to 15.

Mega Millions tickets normally may be purchased up to 13 weeks (26 draws) in advance. However, to prepare for these changes, the Pennsylvania Lottery must temporarily limit the game's advance play feature.

After the July 23 drawing, the number of advance draws available for purchase will continue to decrease by one until Oct. 18, the last Mega Millions drawing under the current game design.

Mega Millions tickets for the updated version of the game will go on sale beginning Oct. 19. At that time, players will again be able to purchase up to 13 weeks (26 draws) of advance-play tickets.

AP

Comments

Win$500Quick's avatarWin$500Quick

The overall odds of winning the game's jackpot will change to 1-in-258,890,850 from the current 1-in-175,711,536. This change is expected to lead to larger jackpot growth.  Florida finally get Mega Millions and then they decide to increase the odds. I will just stick to playing the regularFlorida Lottery games with better odds like Lotto, Mega Money and Fantasy 5.

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by Win$500Quick on Jul 17, 2013

The overall odds of winning the game's jackpot will change to 1-in-258,890,850 from the current 1-in-175,711,536. This change is expected to lead to larger jackpot growth.  Florida finally get Mega Millions and then they decide to increase the odds. I will just stick to playing the regularFlorida Lottery games with better odds like Lotto, Mega Money and Fantasy 5.

Why not think of it as lowering your odds of winning your dollar back instead of increasing your odds of being a multi-millionaire.

Stack47

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on Jul 17, 2013

Why not think of it as lowering your odds of winning your dollar back instead of increasing your odds of being a multi-millionaire.

The odds against matching 5 + 0 became four times harder, but once that happens, the odds against winning the jackpot are much better. It goes without saying players are after the jackpot, but with odds of 40 to 1 against winning anything, they can almost expect to win nothing. At least the new format gives a $5 player a 3 to 1 chance of at least winning a buck.

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

Thumbs Down to the proposed changes. Once my MM season ticket expires for the year 2013 I will not bother with this game again. Bah! I don't think there is enough time before the year is over to recoup the money I've spent those 10 years I have played this game religiously Blue Thinking

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

So if you get 5 wb & you megaply you win $5 millionWhat?

ckrakowski

Mega Millions tickets normally may be purchased up to 13 weeks (26 draws) in advance. However, to prepare for these changes, the Pennsylvania Lottery must temporarily limit the game's advance play feature.

After the July 23 drawing, the number of advance draws available for purchase will continue to decrease by one until Oct. 18, the last Mega Millions drawing under the current game design.

Mega Millions tickets for the updated version of the game will go on sale beginning Oct. 19. At that time, players will again be able to purchase up to 13 weeks (26 draws) of advance-play tickets.

 

 

so is this just for pennsylvania or is it for everyone? they do not say. while pennsylvania redues their machines can players in other states still play the advanced draws?

JoeBigLotto's avatarJoeBigLotto

Quote: Originally posted by dallascowboyfan on Jul 17, 2013

So if you get 5 wb & you megaply you win $5 millionWhat?

No not really only if the mega plier ball says 5 then you get 5million. if it says 4 you get 4million if it says 3 you get 3million all the way to i think 2 for two million. this is my best guess for you.

Jon D's avatarJon D

Quote: Originally posted by JoeBigLotto on Jul 17, 2013

No not really only if the mega plier ball says 5 then you get 5million. if it says 4 you get 4million if it says 3 you get 3million all the way to i think 2 for two million. this is my best guess for you.

I haven't seen specifics on the new MM for 2nd prize megaplier yet.

Currently with MM, the 3rd-9th prizes are multiplied by the megaplier value, but the 2nd prize is always megaplied 4X $250,000 = $1,000,000.

Will the new MM be *always* $5M for megaplier 2nd prize (5X) or will it actually be $1M times the megaplier value? This still needs to be clarified.

Think's avatarThink

Wow!  How sneaky.  This is actually going to be a better version than the current one.  I can't believe how many people have missed this.

I'm not going to explain why.  I figured it out and you can too.

mnsweeps

This is BS...I have already stopped buying MM.

CowboysFan's avatarCowboysFan

Besides avid lotto players, they know most people who will buy the MM tix will have no clue the odds have increased so much.

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by maringoman on Jul 17, 2013

Thumbs Down to the proposed changes. Once my MM season ticket expires for the year 2013 I will not bother with this game again. Bah! I don't think there is enough time before the year is over to recoup the money I've spent those 10 years I have played this game religiously Blue Thinking

Come on now, you really never expected to recoup your loses with out winning a jackpot, did you?  You can still win a jackpot with the new matrix while losing less per play. Thumbs Up

Tatototman65's avatarTatototman65

I've already boycotted!

Smile

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by CowboysFan on Jul 17, 2013

Besides avid lotto players, they know most people who will buy the MM tix will have no clue the odds have increased so much.

Does it really matters what the odds are when asked about them half of the average players think they are one in a billion already.

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