Playing Mega Millions just got more expensive.
The price of a ticket for the popular multistate lottery has risen from $2 to $5, marking a significant change for players hoping to strike it rich. Lottery officials say the price hike will help boost overall revenue and allow for more frequent billion-dollar jackpots. Alongside the increased cost, the game’s odds of hitting the jackpot are improving—from 1 in 303 million to 1 in 290 million. Additionally, the starting jackpot will now be set at $50 million, more than double the previous baseline of $20 million.
Drawings for Mega Millions continue to take place twice a week.
