Mega Millions is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States, offering massive jackpots and exciting gameplay. Whether you’re a first-time player or a seasoned lottery enthusiast, here’s everything you need to know about playing Mega Millions in 2025.
Latest Changes to Mega Millions
Mega Millions recently introduced some key updates to enhance the game:
- Ticket Price Increase: The cost of a Mega Millions ticket has increased from $2 to $5.
- New Number Range: The Mega Ball number range has been reduced from 25 to 24, making it slightly easier to win.
- Built-in Multiplier: The optional Megaplier has been replaced with a built-in multiplier, automatically increasing non-jackpot prizes.
- Higher Minimum Payouts: The lowest prize is now $10, eliminating the previous “breakeven” prize.
The below items have been impacted from year 2025 as above.
- The cost of ticket is $2.00 per play and draw will be on every Tuesday and Friday evening at 10:00pm CST.
- Players may pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers – five different numbers from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 25 (the gold Mega Ball) – or select Easy Pick/Quick Pick.
- You win the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in a drawing.
- There are a total of nine ways to win a prize in Mega Millions, ranging from the jackpot down to $2.
| Match | Win | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 of 5 + Mega Ball | JACKPOT* | 1:302,575,350 |
| 5 of 5 | $1,000,000 | 1:12,607,307 |
| 4 of 5 + Mega Ball | $10,000 | 1:931,002 |
| 4 of 5 | $500 | 1:38,792 |
| 3 of 5 + Mega Ball | $200 | 1:14,547 |
| 3 of 5 | $10 | 1:607 |
| 2 of 5 + Mega Ball | $10 | 1:693 |
| 1 of 5 + Mega Ball | $4 | 1:90 |
| 0 of 5 + Mega Ball | $2 | 1:37 |
How to Play Mega Millions
Playing Mega Millions is simple:
- Pick Five Numbers: Choose five numbers from 1 to 70.
- Pick One Mega Ball: Select one Mega Ball number from 1 to 24.
- Purchase a Ticket: Each ticket costs $5.
- Wait for the Draw: Mega Millions drawings occur every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 PM ET.
Winning & Jackpot Details
- The jackpot starts at $50 million instead of the previous $20 million.
- If no one wins, the jackpot rolls over and increases for the next draw.
- The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 290,472,336.
- There are nine ways to win, with prizes ranging from $10 to multi-million-dollar jackpots.
History of Megaball Jackpot
Here’s a history of Mega Millions jackpots that have reached $500 million or more:
Top Mega Millions Jackpots ($500M+)
- $1.602 billion – August 8, 2023 (Florida)
- $1.537 billion – October 23, 2018 (South Carolina)
- $1.35 billion – January 13, 2023 (Maine)
- $1.337 billion – July 29, 2022 (Illinois)
- $1.220 billion – December 27, 2024 (California)
- $1.130 billion – March 26, 2024 (New Jersey)
- $1.05 billion – January 22, 2021 (Michigan)
- $800 million – September 10, 2024 (Texas)
- $656 million – March 30, 2012 (Maryland, Illinois, Kansas)
- $648 million – December 17, 2013 (Georgia, California)
These jackpots represent some of the biggest wins in Mega Millions history, with several exceeding $1 billion. If you’d like more details on individual winners and their stories, you can check out the .
Claiming Your Prize
- Winners must claim their prize within 180 days (varies by state).
- If you win a jackpot, you can choose between lump sum cash or annuity payments.
- Some states allow winners to remain anonymous, while others require public disclosure.
Final Thoughts
Mega Millions continues to be an exciting lottery game with life-changing prizes. With the latest updates, players have more chances to win and enjoy bigger payouts. Whether you’re playing for fun or chasing the jackpot, make sure to check the latest rules and results before purchasing your ticket!
Here are the numbers from 1 to 70 in order of the most draws.
The following is the order of the most drawn Megaball numbers from 1 to 25 (the last number).
