Firstly, for those seeking out the TX Lottery link:
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/archive/June162017/Proposed%20Rules/16.ECONOMIC%20REGULATION.html#16
Not only are the odds worse for most of the prizes, the Megaplier odds are far worse:
Current Megaplier Odds
2X 1:7.5
3X 1:3.75
4X 1:5
5X 1:2.5
New Megaplier Odds:
2X 1:3
3X 1:2.5
4X 1:5
5X 1:15
Currently, the odds are tilted in favor of a 5X Megaplier being drawn much of the time. Under the new rules, 5X will occur roughly 6 times less often. On the bright side, from my understanding, the Megaplier will still multiply all lower tier prizes, including 2nd; $2 million minimum with the possibility of winning $5 million with 5X.
In my view, the optional Just the Jackpot option, which allows one to play for jackpot only ($3 for two plays) is asking for trouble. There will be much misunderstanding and disappointment of players who hit lower tier prizes, especially 2nd and 3rd, thinking they won lots of money until they realize / are told they won zero.
While Just the Jackpot is a good idea, it should be modified to include 2nd place too. That should be doable (much of the payout for lower tier prizes is concentrated at lower levels) while still allowing for the JJP price-point to be kept at $3. Hopefully, someone here has contacts with lottery officials and can at least suggest this, because otherwise, it's just a matter of time before a JJP player hits 2nd, but actually wins zero, and then the story gets all twisted around and people get the impression MegaMillions doesn't always payout; cheating players.
Personally, after October, as I already do with Powerball, I'll only play Mega Millions when the jackpot is upwards of $400+ million, and only playing a few tickets max. The current Mega Millions, while lousy compared to the previous matrix, was still justifiable to play occasionally even at low jackpot levels due to the $1 ($2 for MP) price-point along with a decent chance of winning a few bucks to play again; staying motivated to even play at all. The new MM matrix makes it far more difficult to even win anything.
While casual MM / PB players are primarily focused on the huge jackpots, many of the more regular players who largely fund such large jackpots also consider the lower tier prizes, because those are far more likely to be hit. The price increase will easily allow for higher starting jackpots, but as with PB, jackpot growth will be far slower.
All in all, I get the sense the end is near for MM and they're just milking it for whatever they can before it's discontinued in the future. The lower $1 price-point was the major differentiating factor...
With MM becoming so much like PB, it seems to inevitable they'll eventually just be one large jackpot Powerball game two or three times per week. I could easily envision PB / MM combined game being $3 for base play and $5 for PP bonus play. With many lotteries allowing / expanding the ability to pay with debit and/or credit cards along with on-line subscriptions, such higher price-points become more feasible to market.