Mega Millions to Make Some Changes This Fall
The multi-state Mega Millions lottery game is following in the steps of Powerball and shaking up the formula a bit. The changes take effect this fall.
The redesign of Mega Millions will mean a bigger starting jackpot and better overall odds of winning a prize. Pennsylvania Lottery Director Todd Rucci says there’s no change in the price, it will remain one dollar.
The starting jackpot will be 15 million dollars, up from the current 12 million and it will add at least 5 million dollars each time it rolls.
Players will choose the first five numbers from a bigger pool of 75 numbers compared to the current 56. The Mega Ball pool will shrink from 46 to 15 numbers. The overall odds of winning any prize will improve, but the odds of winning the jackpot will increase.
The changes take effect October 22nd. After the July 23rd drawing, advance play draws will decrease until the last drawing under the game’s current design.
Rucci says the changes are expected to produce three times as many winners overall, while producing bigger jackpots more often.
After changes were made in Powerball in early 2011, Rucci says they saw a great increase in sales. They hope for the same results with the Mega Millions changes.
