Mega Millions, one of the most widely played Draw Games in Idaho, will have its first draw with new game updates tonight for the $55 million jackpot. There are significant changes to the structure of the game that will make it easier to win a prize, increase the second-level prize, increase the starting level jackpot, and create more million dollar winning experiences. The price of the game remains $1 per play, $2 for a ticket that includes the Megaplier option. Drawings will remain on Tuesday and Friday nights at 9:00 pm Mountain Time.
“For many years, players have been asking for more million dollar winning experiences while maintaining the ability to continue to play for large jackpots,” explained Jeff Anderson, Idaho Lottery Director. “Starting tonight night, Mega Millions will have its first draw to accomplish both goals. If these changes had been in place over the past three years, the Idaho Lottery would have created seven more millionaires and two multi-millionaires.”
The changes began immediately following Mega Million’s last draw on Friday, October 18, 2013. Mega Millions is a draw game where players match five regular numbers and one Mega Ball number. Among the noted changes to the game include the reduction in Mega Balls from 46 down to 15. To balance this, the game will add white numbers, so that a player will select five numbers from a pool of 75. The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 14.71. The overall odds of winning the jackpot are now 1 in 258.9 million.
Additional changes to the game include increasing the amount players can win by matching the first five numbers, but not the Mega Ball. The new prize for this “Match 5” prize is now $1,000,000. Players can also add Megaplier for an additional $1 per play. Megaplier multiplies non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, or now five times. If a player has a “Match 5” prize and the Megaplier option, and the Megaplier is 5 for that draw, the player will win $5,000,000.
Once a jackpot is won, the new starting amount will begin at $15 million and increase by a minimum of $5 million each draw until it is won. Ten advance draw tickets for Mega Millions are also available for the game.
Good luck and thanks for playing the Idaho Lottery!
