Our Mega Millions Megaplier Guide
When playing Mega Millions, you might have noticed the option to add the Mega Millions Megaplier to your purchase. If you've ever wondered whether or not to make use of this optional ticket add-on, this is exactly the guide for you. We'll walk you through what the Megaplier is, what it does, and the various reasons for and against adding it to your next order.
What is the Mega Millions Megaplier?
The Mega Millions Megaplier is an optional feature you can add on to your regular Mega Millions ticket for a small fee. If you've opted for the Megaplier and happen to win a non-jackpot prize, your winnings will be multiplied by up to 5 times, depending on which Megaplier number gets randomly selected for that draw.
For example, if you match 5 main numbers that would normally earn you the second-tier prize of $1 million. The Megaplier would then multiply that prize to a total of between $2 and $5 million - quite a big difference for a very small price.
How much does Mega Millions cost per ticket with Megaplier?
Adding the Megaplier costs half the price of one line, so you can think of playing a line with the Megaplier as purchasing a line and a half.
The Megaplier cost per ticket stays the same, regardless of which Megaplier number gets chosen, so whether the Megaplier ends up multiplying a prize by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times it will still cost that same small fee.
How does the Megaplier work?
The Megaplier is selected similarly to any other number in a lottery, although the drawing takes place before the main Mega Millions draw. The Megaplier number is selected from a pool of 15 balls.
You can see the exact odds for the Megaplier drawing in the table below:
|
2 times the prize won (2X)
|
5
|
1 in 3
|
|
3 times the prize won (3X)
|
6
|
1 in 2.5
|
|
4 times the prize won (4X)
|
3
|
1 in 5
|
|
5 times the prize won (5X)
|
1
|
1 in 15
|
|
TOTAL
|
15
|
|
How much more is a Megaplier prize?
The Megaplier doesn't impact the Mega Millions jackpot at all, but it can have quite a substantial effect on all other prizes.
Check out the full range of what the Megaplier can do in this table:
|
5 + MB*
|
Jackpot
|
Jackpot
|
Jackpot
|
|
5
|
$1 million
|
$2 million
|
$3 million
|
|
4 + MB
|
$10,000
|
$20,000
|
$30,000
|
|
4
|
$500
|
$1,000
|
$1,500
|
|
3 + MB
|
$200
|
$400
|
$600
|
|
3
|
$10
|
$20
|
$30
|
|
2 + MB
|
$10
|
$20
|
$30
|
|
1 + MB
|
$4
|
$8
|
$12
|
|
0 + MB
|
$2
|
$4
|
$6
|
|
5 + MB*
|
Jackpot
|
Jackpot
|
|
5
|
$4 million
|
$5 million
|
|
4 + MB
|
$40,000
|
$50,000
|
|
4
|
$2,000
|
$2,500
|
|
3 + MB
|
$800
|
$1,000
|
|
3
|
$40
|
$50
|
|
2 + MB
|
$40
|
$50
|
|
1 + MB
|
$16
|
$20
|
|
0 + MB
|
$8
|
$10
|
Prize amounts here don't take into account any relevant taxes. Actual winnings may be smaller.
*Mega Ball
Is the Megaplier worth it?
The Megaplier doesn't change your odds of winning Mega Millions, so it's important to keep in mind that it won't guarantee you any prizes.
However, if you do win a non-jackpot prize, the Megaplier can significantly upgrade that prize. At the end of the day, it's a choice between a slightly cheaper ticket versus a - potentially - much bigger prize if that ticket does turn out to be a winning one.
Only you can decide what's the best choice for you, but now that you have all the facts about the Megaplier you can put that information to good use when you purchase lottery tickets on TheLotter Oregon.