**Mega Millions Ticket Prices to Double Beginning April 2025**

Lottery aficionados will need to dig a bit deeper into their pockets next year as the Mega Millions ticket price is set to increase significantly. Starting in April 2025, the cost per ticket will rise to $5, more than doubling the current $2 rate. This major change is part of a broader effort to create larger jackpots and enhance player excitement.

Since its inception in 2002, Mega Millions has made headlines with six billion-dollar wins, the latest being a $1.13 billion jackpot in New Jersey this past March. The upcoming changes aim to sustain this legacy by offering larger initial jackpots that grow more rapidly and improving the odds of winning. While intricate details about these changes are yet to be revealed, a Massachusetts State Lottery spokesperson indicated that more information would be forthcoming.

Currently, Mega Millions jackpots reset to $20 million after someone wins by matching all five numbers plus the MegaBall. The "new and improved" game will introduce enhancements such as built-in multipliers that can boost non-jackpot winnings by up to 10 times. For example, a player matching all five white balls could potentially win up to $10 million. Additionally, the updated game promises that every win will surpass the ticket cost, eliminating breakeven prizes.

Mega Millions' history dates back to 1996 when states including Massachusetts, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, and Virginia collaborated to create the Big Game. Over the years, the game has expanded to 45 states, with New York, Pennsylvania, California, Florida, and Texas being notable participants.

Contrastingly, Powerball, another popular lottery game available in 45 states, has no current plans to alter its format or ticket pricing, as confirmed by the Massachusetts State Lottery.

Joshua Johnston, lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, expressed optimism about the changes. "We expect more billion-dollar jackpots than ever before, creating more billionaires and many more millionaires as the jackpots climb. This game will continue the important legacy of supporting great causes everywhere Mega Millions is played," he stated.