All news

Here's what happened in Massachusetts after Mega Million's price increase

Fewer players and more cash in Massachusetts in the wake of Mega Millions changes.

A Massachusetts Lottery retailer printing a Mega Millions ticket.
A Massachusetts Lottery retailer printing a Mega Millions ticket. Photograph credit to CBS Boston.
Halley Bondy

Massachusetts boasts the highest per capita lottery players by far, but they're clearly not unflappable when it comes to increasing prices.

Mega Millions rolled out major changes on Tuesday, more than doubling its ticket prices from $2 to $5. The lottery also announced higher odds of winning and other features to offset sticker shock.

It's still early to analyze overall player behavior due to the changes, but the Massachusetts State Lottery has already observed some palpable differences in the past few days.

Fewer tickets sold

On April 4, before the changes took place, 142,170 tickets were sold for a chance to win a $43 million jackpot, according to the Massachusetts State Lottery in an interview with WBZ-TV.  On April 8, when the changes took effect, 100,297 tickets were sold for a chance to win a $54 million jackpot.

That marks a 30% decrease in ticket sales after the changes despite a higher jackpot.

More cash

But Mega Millions isn't hurting in Massachusetts - even if some players are ditching the game. Though fewer tickets were sold, the state raked in significantly more cash after the changes went into effect.

The April 4 drawing incurred $491,323 in sales, while the April 8 drawing brought in $841,185, an increase of 71%.

Lottery proceeds benefit local aid in various cities and towns, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

What were the changes?

In addition to increasing ticket prices, Mega Millions odds are now higher because one of the Mega Balls has been removed from the draw. Odds of winning the jackpot are now around 1 in 290.4 million, as opposed to a previous 1 in 302.6 million - a slight increase, while the odds of winning any prize jumped from 1 in 24 to 1 in 23. A random multiplier of 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X will be automatically added to smaller prizes. The minimum prize is now $10.

Joshua Johnston, lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, stated:

Players who had won $2 in the old game will now take home $10, $15, $20, $25, or $50 under this game. Those who had won $500 under the old rules will now take home $1,000, $1,500, $2,000, $2,500 or $5,000 in this new game.

These changes took place nationally on April 8.

This is the game's second price adjustment since the game was launched 20 years ago, according to the statement.

What's next?

Nobody won Tuesday's big jackpot drawing, but five Massachusetts winners took home a $2,000 prize, a $1,500 prize, and three $1,000 prizes, with multipliers applied. The next draw is Friday, when the estimated jackpot will be $72 million.

Mark William Bracken, the executive director of the Massachusetts Lottery, told CBS News he's hopeful based on Tuesday's results. Bracken said:

As a result of the game's enhancements, including the built-in multiplier on all non-jackpot prizes, players took home more than double the amount in prizes compared to the previous drawing.

Comments

0
Loading comments

Related articles

The Massachusetts Lottery and Aristocrat Gaming logos over a white background.
Massachusetts Lottery makes long-awaited deal for online platform

Massachusetts-sponsored online lottery games could be available next summer.

Halley Bondy profile pic

Halley Bondy

New York Lottery signs on the window of a lottery retailer.
Gaming officials target lottery bulk buyers in New York's rule change

State regulators aim to block bulk-buying lottery operations in New York.

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher

Megan and Greg Armstrong with their $1 million Massachusetts Lottery checks.
$1M wins run in the family for Massachusetts couple

Megan Armstrong won $1M, years after her husband claimed the same prize. Is this the luckiest couple in town?

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

A Powerball ticket surrounded by dollar bills.
Powerball's $605 million jackpot offers hope to cash-strapped states

Will this Powerball jackpot end the lottery revenue drought?

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher

Recent articles

View All
The Responsible Gaming Education Month 2025 logo over a white background.
States step up responsible gaming efforts as September campaign starts

States launch targeted messages to protect at-risk gamblers during Responsible Gaming Education Month.

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher

GIANT Food Stores, 3175 Cape Horn Road, Windsor Township.
Three states strike it rich with Labor Day Cash 5 jackpots

From $349K to nearly $875K, three lucky tickets turned the holiday into a jackpot.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

A  New Jersey Lottery billboard displaying a $1 billion Powerball jackpot, and a $277 Mega Millions jackpot.
Powerball jackpot soars to $1B for Labor Day

Powerball's 39-drawing streak climbs toward a stunning jackpot.

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher

The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation, during a July 8, 2025, meeting.
The Texas Lottery is changing management on Labor Day

A new managing body will take over on Monday. Here's what this means for lottery players in the state.

Halley Bondy profile pic

Halley Bondy