Mega Millions created monstrous jackpots – but made them harder to win
Since no-one has won Friday's Mega Millions drawing for a $ 1 billion jackpot, the estimated price on Tuesday night will be a record of $ 1.6 billion. It is the biggest jackpot in American history. But lottery prizes were not always this ginormous.
Since 2002, Mega Million's jackpots paid millions in prizes around eight times a year, sometimes more than a dozen times. Some of these prizes have been as low as $ 1[ads1]2 million.
The price of the ticket has doubled
The tip of the Mega Millions ticket price, from $ 1 to $ 2, led to a major change in the starting amount. Each time there is a winner, the jackpot is reset to $ 40 million instead of $ 15 million.
And the number of balls and mega balls in the game changed significantly, increasing the chances of winning the second prize, even though it reduced those who hit the jackpot.
Odds are much higher.
With the ball changes, odds went to win the jackpot from 1 to around 258 million to 1 of around 302 million.
Lottery officials said moving was a mere response to players' conversations.