First drawing with the new 1 of 70 / 1 of 25 game matrix will take place Oct. 31

Tickets for the redesigned Mega Millions multi-state game go on sale Saturday, October 28 for the drawing to be held on Tuesday, October 31.  Tickets will cost $2 per game. In addition to a new $40 million starting jackpot, other player-inspired enhancements include substantially improved odds for winning the $1 million second prize; a new Just the Jackpot wager option, and bigger average jackpots with faster roll ups.

Mega Millions President Debbie D. Alford said, “The current game enhancements reflect input received from Mega Millions players in all 46 participating lottery jurisdictions. We’re excited to deliver the opportunity to create more millionaires and to provide more opportunities to raise additional revenue for the beneficiaries of our member lotteries.”

New York Lottery Director Gweneth Dean said, “We’re thrilled to be able to offer the enhanced Mega Millions game to New Yorkers. From the new $40 million starting jackpot to the first-of-its-kind Just the Jackpot wagering option, we’ve put a lot of excitement back in the game.”

Players who select the new Just the Jackpot wager will receive two sets of Quick Pick numbers for $3 for two chances to win the top prize only.

Play slips for the redesigned Mega Millions game will be available at more than 17,000 New York Lottery retailers on October 28. To play the updated game, players must select a total of six numbers. Players must first select five numbers from one through 70 and a second number - the Mega Ball number - from a range of one through 25. The Quick Pick option will be available for players who want to play a randomly generated set of numbers. 

Mega Millions is one of the world’s biggest and most recognizable lottery games. Introduced as The Big Game in August 1996 with six member states, the game grew, becoming Mega Millions in May 2002. Mega Millions currently is played in 46 jurisdictions: 44 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The largest Mega Millions jackpot was a $656M prize split by three winners in Kansas, Illinois and Maryland in 2012.
 

About Mega Millions

Mega Millions drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. Easter Time, 10 p.m. Central Time. 9 P.M. Mountain Time, and 8 P.M. Pacific Time. For more information on Mega Millions, please visit: megamillions.com.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.27 billion in fiscal year 2016-2017 to help support education in New York State. The Lottery’s contribution represents approximately 14 percent of total state education aid to local school districts.

New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education. It takes into account both a school district’s size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of Lottery school funding.