Mega Millions and Powerball are the two biggest lottery games in the United States. Both games boast multi-million dollar jackpots and offer life-changing prizes. But there are some key differences between Mega Millions and Powerball in terms of how the games work.
How Mega Millions Works
Mega Millions is played in 45 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To play, you pick six numbers – five main numbers between 1 and 70, and one Mega Ball number between 1 and 25. You can either pick your own numbers or do a Quick Pick and have the numbers randomly generated for you.
To win the Mega Millions jackpot, you need to match all six numbers drawn. The odds of hitting the jackpot are about 1 in 302 million. If more than one player wins the jackpot, the prize is split evenly among them. The jackpot starts at $40 million and increases each drawing until it is won.
In addition to the jackpot, there are eight other prize tiers in Mega Millions:
- Match 5 main numbers plus the Mega Ball to win the game’s second prize
- Match 5 main numbers to win $1 million
- Match 4 main numbers plus the Mega Ball to win $10,000
- Match 4 main numbers to win $500
- Match 3 main numbers plus the Mega Ball to win $200
- Match 3 main numbers to win $10
- Match 2 main numbers plus the Mega Ball to win $10
- Match 1 main number plus the Mega Ball to win $4
Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday evening at 11 p.m. ET. Tickets cost $2 per play. You can add the Megaplier option for an extra $1 per play to multiply your non-jackpot winnings (except the $1 million prize) by 2, 3, 4 or 5 times.
How Powerball Works
Powerball is played in 45 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The game involves choosing five main numbers between 1 and 69, and one Powerball number between 1 and 26.
To win the Powerball jackpot, you need to match all six numbers. The odds of this are about 1 in 292 million. Like Mega Millions, the jackpot is split between multiple winners and starts at $40 million, increasing for each drawing without a winner.
The nine Powerball prize tiers are:
- Match 5 main numbers plus the Powerball to win the second prize
- Match 5 main numbers to win $1 million
- Match 4 main numbers plus the Powerball to win $50,000
- Match 4 main numbers to win $100
- Match 3 main numbers plus the Powerball to win $100
- Match 3 main numbers to win $7
- Match 2 main numbers plus the Powerball to win $7
- Match 1 main number plus the Powerball to win $4
- Match the Powerball only to win $4
Powerball drawings take place every Wednesday and Saturday night at 10:59 p.m. ET. Tickets are $2 each, or $3 with the Power Play option which can multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 times.
Key Similarities
Although there are some differences, Mega Millions and Powerball share these key similarities:
- They are both national lottery games played across most of the U.S.
- Tickets for both games cost $2 per play
- For an extra $1 per play, you can multiply non-jackpot winnings
- Jackpots start at $40 million and roll over when not won
- Odds of winning the jackpot are extremely long – over 1 in 300 million
- Jackpots are split evenly if there are multiple winners
- Both games offer eight smaller prize tiers in addition to the jackpot
Key Differences
The most notable differences between Mega Millions and Powerball include:
- Mega Millions has 5 main numbers (1-70) and 1 Mega Ball number (1-25). Powerball has 5 main numbers (1-69) and 1 Powerball number (1-26).
- Mega Millions drawings are Tuesday and Friday. Powerball drawings are Wednesday and Saturday.
- The non-jackpot prizes in Mega Millions range from $2 to $1 million. Powerball prizes range from $4 to $1 million.
- With Mega Millions you can win $2 for matching just 1 number plus the Mega Ball. With Powerball you need to match at least 2 numbers plus the Powerball to win a prize.
- The Megaplier in Mega Millions multiplies prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x or 5x. The Power Play in Powerball multiplies prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x.
Which game has better odds?
Mega Millions and Powerball have similar overall odds of winning any prize, with about a 1 in 24 chance. But Powerball has slightly better odds for winning a prize of at least $1 million.
Here is a comparison of the odds for key prize levels:
| Prize | Mega Millions Odds | Powerball Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Jackpot | 1 in 302,575,350 | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| $1 million | 1 in 12,607,306 | 1 in 11,688,053 |
| Any $1+ million prize | 1 in 3,393,737 | 1 in 2,939,644 |
As you can see, the overall odds of winning the jackpot are very close. But Powerball has slightly better odds of taking home a $1 million or larger prize besides the jackpot.
Which game has bigger jackpots?
Mega Millions holds the record for the largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history – a whopping $1.537 billion won in October 2018. The previous record of $1.586 billion was set by Powerball in January 2016.
Here are the top 10 biggest jackpots for each game:
| Rank | Mega Millions | Powerball |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.537 billion | $1.586 billion |
| 2 | $656 million | $768.4 million |
| 3 | $648 million | $758.7 million |
| 4 | $543 million | $731.1 million |
| 5 | $536 million | $699.8 million |
| 6 | $533 million | $687.8 million |
| 7 | $522 million | $590.5 million |
| 8 | $451 million | $587.5 million |
| 9 | $437 million | $564.1 million |
| 10 | $414 million | $559.7 million |
Based on jackpot history, both games are capable of producing enormous jackpots over $500 million. Mega Millions holds the record, but Powerball has delivered some slightly bigger jackpots on average.
Which game is more popular?
By just about any measure, Powerball is more popular than Mega Millions in terms of number of tickets sold. This table shows some key metrics:
| Metric | Mega Millions | Powerball |
|---|---|---|
| Tickets sold per year | Around 208 million | Around 227 million |
| Tickets sold per drawing | Around 13 million | Around 20 million |
| Average jackpots | Around $50 million | Around $80 million |
On average, Powerball sells nearly 10 million more tickets per drawing. It also tends to have higher average jackpots, likely contributing to its greater popularity.
Key factors for popularity
There are a few possible reasons why Powerball tends to edge out Mega Millions in popularity and tickets sold:
- Larger average jackpots – Powerball jackpots grow faster on average due to game structure. Bigger jackpots spark greater interest.
- Better odds – The overall odds of winning any prize are nearly identical. But the odds for million-dollar secondary prizes are better in Powerball.
- Lower starting jackpot – Powerball starts at $40 million. The higher $50 million minimum jackpot for Mega Millions may discourage some players.
- Longer history – Powerball has been around since 1992 vs. 1996 for Mega Millions. Powerball is more entrenched in some markets.
Which game pays out more in prizes?
Although Powerball sells more tickets, Mega Millions pays out a higher percentage of sales in prizes. In Fiscal Year 2020, the payouts were:
- Mega Millions – 61.01% of sales paid in prizes
- Powerball – 59.46% of sales paid in prizes
The payouts can vary year to year, but Mega Millions has tended to pay around 1.5% more of its total sales back to players in the form of prizes. This may help explain its lower average jackpots.
Mega Millions vs. Powerball payouts
| Game | Ticket Sales | Prizes Paid | Payout % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Millions | $1.528 billion | $932 million | 61.01% |
| Powerball | $3.373 billion | $2.007 billion | 59.46% |
Which game is better for players?
There is no definitive answer to which game is “better” for players overall. Some key points:
- Mega Millions has slightly better odds for secondary prizes below the jackpot level. But Powerball has better odds of winning a $1+ million secondary prize.
- Powerball produces bigger jackpots more often. But Mega Millions still delivers enormous jackpots.
- Mega Millions pays back a higher percentage of sales in prizes. But Powerball generates more total prize money.
For casual players, both games are essentially equal in terms of overall chances of winning and potential prizes. Powerball tends to capture the public interest more with its larger jackpots, but Mega Millions is no slouch in that department either.
Playing both games
For those hoping to maximize their lottery chances, playing both Mega Millions and Powerball may be a strategy. Here are some upsides to playing both lottery games:
- Increase your chances of winning a jackpot – You double your chances of winning a huge jackpot when playing both games.
- More chances at secondary prizes – Having tickets in both games gives you more chances at winning secondary prizes worth $1 million or more.
- Hedge your bets – If you only play one game, you could miss out if the other game hits a huge jackpot.
- Take advantage of rollovers – No need to predict which game will roll over its jackpot more often.
The downside is that playing both games essentially doubles your lottery expenses. You need to decide if having two chances to win lottery prizes is worth paying for tickets from both games.
Mega Millions vs. Powerball: Key similarities and differences
To recap the main points:
Similarities
- Played in most U.S. states
- $2 ticket price
- Prize multiplication options
- Jackpots start at $40 million
- Enormous billion-dollar jackpots
- Eight smaller prize tiers
Differences
- Mega Millions has 5/70 main numbers, 1/25 Mega Ball
- Powerball has 5/69 main numbers, 1/26 Powerball
- Mega Millions drawings Tues/Fri, Powerball Wed/Sat
- Mega Millions prizes $2 to $1 million, Powerball $4 to $1 million
- Powerball better odds for secondary $1+ million prizes
- Powerball multiplied prizes up to 10x, Mega Millions up to 5x
Conclusion
In most respects, Mega Millions and Powerball are quite similar national lottery games. Both offer life-changing jackpots and solid secondary prizes. Powerball tends to capture the public’s attention more thanks to faster growing jackpots and better odds on million dollar prizes. But Mega Millions has delivered some of the biggest jackpots ever. For those wanting maximum lottery action, playing both games is an option to increase your chances of winning.
