Mega Millions lottery tickets will increase from $2 to $5 starting April 5, 2025. Despite the higher cost, officials promise several improvements:
- Better odds of winning the jackpot (specific new odds not yet disclosed)
- Larger starting jackpots (current minimum is $20 million)
- Faster-growing jackpot amounts
- No more break-even prizes (all wins will exceed ticket cost)
- Built-in multiplier for second-prize winnings included with each ticket
Until April 4, players can only purchase tickets for drawings up to that date. After April 5, players can again buy tickets for up to eight future drawings.
This marks only the second price increase since the game began in 2002. The previous increase was in 2017, when tickets doubled from $1 to $2.
The changes come as lottery officials note decreasing ticket sales and diminishing excitement for jackpots under $1 billion. The goal is to generate more winners, attract more players, and increase revenue for state government services.
