Montana Lottery Commission Unveils Major Changes for Mega Millions

The redesign aims to enhance the game by improving the odds of winning and offering higher prize amounts, though it will come with an increased ticket price.

Higher Starting Jackpots and Potential for Larger Prizes

One of the most significant changes is the proposed increase in the Mega Millions ticket price from $2 to $5. This marks the first price hike since 2017 and includes the automatic addition of the Megaplier feature, which was previously an optional $1 add-on.

With the new $5 ticket, the Megaplier will be included, offering multipliers from 1X to 10X, although there is a 5-in-23 chance that the multiplier will be 1X, resulting in no prize multiplication.

The starting amount for jackpots will also see a substantial increase, rising from $20 million to $50 million. This change is designed to make the game more attractive to players and is expected to result in larger average jackpots, potentially increasing from $387 million to an estimated $694 million.

Additionally, this adjustment could lead to more frequent billion-dollar jackpots, significantly enhancing the game’s appeal.

Improved Odds and Game Modifications

To further boost the attractiveness of the game, several modifications are proposed to improve the odds of winning. The number of gold-colored balls, or Mega Balls, will be reduced from 37 to 34, while the number of white balls will remain at 70. These changes are expected to improve the odds of winning the jackpot from 1 in 302.6 million to 1 in 278.4 million. The overall odds of winning any prize will also improve, from 1 in 24 to 1 in 22.15.

Alongside these changes, the commission plans to update the game’s marketing materials, including new logos and play slips, to better reflect the revamped version of Mega Millions. These changes aim to create a cohesive and modern image for the game, aligning with the new features and improvements.

The proposed redesign will need approval from the nine other member states within the Mega Millions consortium, which includes California, Georgia, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, among others. Gretchen Corbin, the lead director of Mega Millions and CEO of the Georgia Lottery, will play a crucial role in the decision-making process.

If approved, these changes are set to evolve the Mega Millions game, aiming to increase player engagement through better odds and larger prizes.