Mega Millions tickets to jump up to $5 in April 2025

CLEVELAND (WJW) – Mega changes are coming to the Mega Millions lottery game in April 2025. Ticket prices will increase 150%, from $2 to $5 with the hopes of creating bigger prizes with better odds for players.

“Bigger, better, faster, more,” Mega Millions Consortium Lead Director Joshua Johnston said. “Right? Like bigger jackpots, faster growing jackpots, better odds, more millionaires and billionaires.”

Johnston said the improved odds will be announced closer to spring but will be better than 1 in 302.6 million, and the jackpot will start higher than the $20 million current standard. A built-in multiplier will factor into every play as well.

“If you win, not the jackpot, but if you win a lower tier prize where you match five of your numbers or four, three or two, you will win more than the cost of your ticket, at least more than the cost of your ticket,” Johnston said. “Potentially upwards of $10 million.”

This is only the second price adjustment in Mega Millions history, the last coming in 2017.

Going from $2 to $5 is a bit of a sticker shock for some folks, but many still plan to play.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Diane Bruno said. “I mean, our chances to win more money. You know, it’s a gambling thing, so it’s a chance I’ll take.”

“I’m still in,” Jean Sandy said. “I probably wouldn’t buy as many tickets, but I would probably still spend the same amount. Like if I were going to spend $10, I’d just get two tickets instead of five tickets like it used to be.”

Some aren’t sold that the price hike will equate to more winnings.

“I think that’s a big rip off because you don’t win enough,” Paul Keeton said. “You know, it’s like even they said, ‘oh, yeah, you get a bigger chance.’ But there’s still… no guarantee you’re going to win anything.”

“It’s about the same price as eggs,” Jim Bob said. “You got a dozen eggs; you got your Mega Millions.”

Since Mega Millions launched in 2002, it has produced six winners of billion-dollar jackpots. Since the last change in 2017, more than 1,200 players have become millionaires, an average of 3 millionaires per week.

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