The Mega Millions multistate lottery is getting a makeover in October with better overall odds and a million-dollar second prize.
If you match five numbers but not the Mega Ball, you will win $1 million, a prize that is quadrupled from the previous $250,000 amount.
If you match five numbers but not the Mega Ball, you will win $1 million, a prize that is quadrupled from the previous $250,000 amount.
The overall odds of winning any prize in the Mega Millions game will drop to 1 in 14.71 from 1 in 39.89. So you are slightly more likely to win something, even a buck, if you play. That means more players will win more often.
But your odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot prize will increase. The new odds will be 1 in 259 million up from 1 in 176 million, according to New York's Division of the Lottery.
"The cost of each New York Mega Millions game will remain $1," said Gardner Gurner of the Division of the Lottery. "We felt it was important to keep the price point at $1 to help differentiate Mega Millions from the $2 Powerball game."
Players will select five numbers from a field of 75 plus one additional number from a separate field of 15.
Mega Millions is played in dozens of states, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
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