Nationwide changes to the popular game Mega Millions are coming this weekend for Lottery players. According to the Idaho Lottery, beginning tomorrow (Sat), Mega Millions will debut new features that include bigger prizes and a unique game play format. The price for each of the new tickets is $5.
As Mega Millions has experienced nationwide success, and billion-dollar jackpots become more common, there has been a growing request from players to share more of the prize money among more players. The new version of Mega Millions will do just that. The game will also provide additional benefits for Idaho public schools and buildings.
Each $5 ticket, or line of play, will include a randomly assigned individual multiplier number: 2-times, 3-times, 4-times, 5-times, or 10-times. Non-jackpot winning prizes will begin at a minimum of $10 or double the price to play; with the chance to win up to as much as $10 million for tickets that match all five of the first numbers, but not the Mega Ball.
Unless someone wins tonight’s $43 million jackpot, the jackpot from the current game will become the starting jackpot for the new game and continue to grow until someone wins it.
Idaho has sold Mega Millions since 2010. During that time, Idaho has recorded one jackpot winner on Mega Millions. Sixteen winners have won at least $250,000 each from playing Mega Millions. The game created eight instant millionaires in Idaho.
Draws for Mega Millions will still occur every Tuesday and Friday night at 9 pm Mountain Time. The first draw of the new game will be on Tuesday.
