The Mega Millions lottery is set to undergo significant changes with the price of tickets increasing from $2 to $5 starting April 5, 2025. This decision by Mega Millions officials follows concerns over declining ticket sales and aims to improve players' odds of winning jackpots. While players will need to shell out more for their tickets, officials assure them of improved odds—though the specific new figures have yet to be disclosed.
According to Joshua Johnston, the director of the Washington Lottery and lead director of the group overseeing Mega Millions, the adjustments are made with the intent of revitalizing interest. Johnston stated, "The goal is to increase revenue and provide more money to state lotteries, which is in turn spent on a variety of government services." By increasing the ticket price and restructuring the game, Mega Millions hopes to attract more lottery players who may have previously shied away from the current jackpot size trend.
The Mega Millions format will see changes not only to ticket pricing but also to the jackpot structure. Currently, the starting jackpots are set at $20 million, and the odds of winning the jackpot with the present ticket cost are 302,575,350 to 1. Once the new price kicks in, players will select five numbers between 1 and 70 (the white balls) and one number between 1 and 25 (the gold Mega Ball). Players can expect larger starting jackpots, with the promise of faster growth than previously, though the exact mechanisms for these changes remain under wraps.
Meanwhile, the Powerball lottery continues to draw its fair share of attention, with its jackpot climbing to approximately $353 million for the drawing on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, and cash option at around $165.7 million. The winning numbers drawn were 11, 13, 28, 51, and 58, with the Powerball being 1, featuring a Power Play of 2X. Yet, no tickets were sold nationwide for the previous $336 million jackpot on March 10, indicating some fluctuation and unpredictability among players.
The odds of hitting the jackpot with Powerball are slightly more favorable at 292,201,388 to 1. A player purchasing the $2 ticket has about 1 in 11,688,053 odds of matching five numbers without the Powerball to win at least $1 million. The odds of claiming the third prize, worth at least $50,000, stand at 913,129 to 1. Powerball this week aims to keep player excitement alive, even without immediate ticket price adjustments.
On the same day as the Powerball drawing, the New Jersey Lottery also released results for its various draw games. Players had the chance to try their luck with games such as Pick-3 and Pick-4. For the midday Pick-3 drawing on March 12, the winning numbers were 6-2-2, with the Fireball being 7. The evening results showed winning numbers of 8-7-6, also with the Fireball as 7. Similarly, the Pick-4 midday had results of 0-1-3-8, and evening numbers were 1-4-8-0, both accompanied by Fireballs of 7.
The Jersey Cash 5 lottery yielded winning numbers of 02-06-09-17-31 with Xtra set at 04; the Cash4Life results were announced as 01-02-28-48-57, where the Cash Ball was 04. New Jersey Lottery games operate frequently, and these results exemplify the excitement and appeal of lottery play for residents.
Ticket purchasing continues to be easy for players, with options available at gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery outlets. Many retail stores, including some airport terminals, also offer lottery tickets. Digital options, like those provided by applications such as Jackpocket, allow for enhanced convenience and tracking of ticket purchases from home or on the go. Jackpocket stands as the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, ensuring players can easily choose their lottery games, pick numbers, and check winnings all via their phones or computers.
Despite the increased ticket prices, Mega Millions and Powerball officials aim to boost revenue and interest through unique changes and greater jackpot sizes. The market is poised for these shifts as players weigh the cost-benefit of their lottery encounters. With fewer players recently purchasing tickets, officials hope their changes will revitalize the experience, tapping back to days when high jackpots would draw out long lines at convenience stores.
While it remains to be seen if these changes will truly ignite interest as desired, one thing is certain—lotto enthusiasts will be watching closely and hoping for life-changing outcomes with every ticket purchased. Even with rising costs, the allure of hitting it big ensures lottery games will remain exciting avenues for many players.