News Summary
As of April 8, 2025, Massachusetts has raised the price of Mega Millions tickets from $2 to $5, marking the first adjustment since the state joined in 2022. Despite a significant dip in ticket sales, the state lottery has reported a 71% increase in revenue. Enhancements to the game now offer better odds and higher minimum prizes, which may attract more players. The next Mega Millions drawing is set for Friday, with an estimated jackpot of $72 million.
Price Hike for Mega Millions in Massachusetts: What You Need to Know!
Boston residents, get ready for some exciting news! As of April 8, 2025, the price of Mega Millions tickets has gone up from $2 to $5. This change marks the first time Massachusetts has adjusted prices since joining the Mega Millions fun in 2022. It’s an adjustment that has caused a stir among players, causing a bit of a dip in sales, but hey, that’s the lottery game for you!
Ticket Sales Take a Hit
As the dust settles on this price change, it’s clear that fewer folks are throwing down their cash for a chance at the jackpot. For the April 8 drawing – which boasted a shiny jackpot of $54 million – only 100,297 tickets were sold. That’s a downer for ticket sales, showing almost a 30% decrease from the previous draw on April 4, which had 142,170 tickets sold for a $43 million jackpot. It seems that some players are still getting used to this new ticket price.
Revenue Surges
Interestingly, even with ticket sales slipping, the state lottery has seen rather impressive results in revenue! The April 8 drawing brought in a total of $841,185, which is a whopping 71% increase from the previous week’s revenue of $491,323. So, while fewer people are buying tickets, the added price seems to be boosting the state’s coffers.
Exciting Changes to the Game
The price increase comes with some nifty updates to the Mega Millions game itself. Massachusetts Lottery’s Executive Director announced enhancements that make the game more appealing to players. Now, winners can expect to take home over double the amount in prizes! With the recent changes, players have a better shot at winning, with new odds of 1 in 23 for any prize, a much-improved figure from 1 in 24.
Moreover, the minimum prize has jumped from just $2 to $10, creating more excitement for those who just want to try their luck. And if you’re lucky enough to snag one of those smaller prizes, don’t be surprised if you end up seeing random multipliers that could crank your humble $2 win into a delightful win of anywhere between $10 to $50. It’s a nice little twist that has players buzzing!
Chances of Hitting the Big Win
Don’t worry, jackpot lovers! The odds of winning the big prize have also improved, now sitting at 1 in 290,472,336, compared to the previous 1 in 302,575,350. Unfortunately, for the April 8 drawing, no one got to celebrate the big win this time around. The winning numbers were 10-16-50-60-61 with a Mega Ball of 17, but there were still some nice prizes awarded. Two lucky players snagged $2,000 each, and another took home $1,500, plus a slew of $1,000 winners!
The Buzz Around Bigger Jackpots
With the recent changes and price hike, expectations are high around the office of the Massachusetts Lottery. Fans of the game are showing more interest in those massive jackpots – you know, the ones that reach into the hundreds of millions. When those rolls around, players get back in the action with enthusiasm. The lottery aims to keep the momentum going, hoping players will embrace the adjustments and start buying tickets again.
What’s Next?
As for what’s on the horizon, the next Mega Millions drawing is set for Friday, with an estimated jackpot now at $72 million. It looks like there might be a ticket in your future, especially now that the prizes are sweeter and the odds are looking up. Stay tuned, because the world of Mega Millions in Massachusetts is becoming more thrilling than ever!
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- WROR: Sales Drop and Revenue Surge
- CBS News: Game Change and Ticket Sales
- Patch: Fewer Tickets Sold After Game Change
- MassLive: Ticket Price Hike Takes Effect
- Telegram: Changes to Jackpot Odds
- Wikipedia: Mega Millions
- Google Search: Mega Millions
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Mega Millions
- Google News: Mega Millions Massachusetts
Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER
BOSTON STAFF WRITER The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.
