Las Vegas, NV, September 15, 2025
News Summary
The Mega Millions lottery is set for significant rule changes, including a starting jackpot increase from $20 million to $50 million. The revised structure promises improved odds and higher non-jackpot winnings. The cash option for the latest drawing stands at $185.8 million, further enticing players. These adjustments aim to enhance the game’s appeal and sustain participation.
Major Changes to Mega Millions Increase Jackpots and Adjust Rules
Las Vegas, NV — Effective April 8, 2025, the Mega Millions lottery game announced significant rule modifications designed to enhance the game’s appeal and improve players’ chances of winning. These changes include a substantial increase in the starting jackpot, revised odds, and new features aimed at boosting prize payouts and jackpot growth potential.
Increase in Starting Jackpot and Overall Prizes
The initial jackpot for Mega Millions has been raised from $20 million to $50 million. This adjustment aims to attract more players by offering larger initial prizes, consequently leading to faster-growing jackpots. As of September 12, 2025, the jackpot has climbed to $400 million after no winners emerged in the latest drawing, which carried a cash option worth $185.8 million.
Changes to Prize Structure and Ticket Cost
Several key modifications have been made to the prize tiers and ticket pricing. The minimum prize for matching the Mega Ball, now called the gold Mega Ball, has increased from $2 to a range between $10 and $50. Additionally, players who match five white balls but not the Mega Ball are now eligible to win between $2 million and $10 million, an improvement over the previous flat $1 million prize.
The ticket price has also risen from $2 to $5, partly to support the enhanced features and larger jackpots. Each ticket purchase now includes a built-in prize multiplier that can range from 2X up to 10X, applying to non-jackpot prizes to multiply winnings for eligible matches.
Improved Odds and New Format
The odds of winning any prize have slightly improved from 1 in 24 to 1 in 23, encouraging more participants. The most notable change involves the jackpot odds, now standing at 1 in 290,472,336, compared to the previous odds of 1 in 302,575,350. This improvement is primarily due to the game’s new format, which limits the number of Mega Balls to 24 instead of 25.
Recent Drawings and Future Outlook
The latest drawing held on September 12, 2025, yielded winning numbers 17, 18, 21, 42, 64, and the Mega Ball 7. Since no one matched all numbers, the jackpot now rises to $400 million for the upcoming game. The *cash option* for the next drawing is valued at $185.8 million.
Previous notable jackpots in 2025 included a $348 million prize won in Virginia and a $112 million prize in Ohio, highlighting the game’s ongoing popularity and the increasing size of jackpots.
Game Schedule and Purchasing Options
Mega Millions drawings occur twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at strategic points such as convenience stores, gas stations, and in regions where online sales are available. Players can opt for the “Quick Pick” feature, which generates random numbers automatically, or select their own numbers manually.
With the recent modifications, players should note the replacement of the previous “Megaplier” add-on with the new built-in multiplier, designed to amplify non-jackpot winnings through multipliers ranging from 2X to 10X.
Summary
These rule changes position Mega Millions for larger jackpots and increased potential winnings, while slightly improving the odds of winning any prize. The combination of larger initial jackpots, enhanced prize features, and increased ticket prices aims to sustain player interest and encourage participation in one of the nation’s most popular lottery games.
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Additional Resources
- WKYC: Winning Mega Millions Numbers for $381 Million Jackpot
- USA Today: Mega Millions Winning Numbers September 12, 2025
- PJ Star: Mega Millions Numbers Tonight September 12, 2025
- Indy Star: Powerball Drawing Winning Numbers September 13, 2025
- Google Search: Mega Millions lottery
- Wikipedia: Mega Millions
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Mega Millions
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