What to Know
- Changes to the way the Mega Millions lottery is run have been proposed to the New York State Gaming Commission
- The changes would see the price of a Mega Millions ticket increase from $1 to $2
- They would also see the odds of winning the jackpot decrease
The cost of playing Mega Millions in New York is potentially set to double, while the odds of winning the jackpot would drop if a proposed series of changes go through.
A number of changes to the lottery have been proposed to the New York State Lottery Commission, with the changes meant to come into effect this fall.
The price of a Mega Millions ticket has been $1 since the first ticket was sold in 2002, the consortium said. But after 15 years, it is set to shoot up to $2 per ticket.
The way the numbers are selected is also set to change, with the odds of winning the jackpot, $10,000, $200, $20, $4 or $2 all dropping as a result.
The changes are meant to decrease the probability of winning a prize, a letter on the proposed changes presented to the New York State Gaming Commissioners by their staff says.
This is through increasing the total numbers that a person chooses from on their lottery ticket.
Local
Currently, players choose five numbers from 1 to 75 and one from 1 to 15. With the proposed changes, they'll choose five numbers from 1 to 70 and one from 1 to 25.
But the change is coming with a chance to win bigger, Mega Millions says.
The starting pot will increase from $15 million to $40 million, and will roll over more frequently, it says.
It also says players will have a much better chance of winning the $1 million prize, where you only need to match the 5 numbers chosen from 1 to 70.
The Gaming Commission's staff has recommended the commission accept the proposed changes, and the changes would likely begin October 28.
Here's the changing odds:
Jackpot (match 5 + 1): Odds of winning decreases from one in 258,890,850 to one in 302,575,350.
$1 million (match 5 + 0): Odds of winning increase from one in 18,492,204 to one in 12,607,306.
