Powerball and Mega Millions are the two most popular games worldwide, with huge jackpot prizes but, at the same time, unique in their own way. We know it can be complicated to evaluate which one is better between those two, so we brought our tips to help you find your perfect pick.
This article explains the differences and similarities between Mega Millions and Powerball, including prizes, odds, and rules. Hopefully, it will help you select the best one for your next drawing.
- Mega Millions has changed to better odds than Powerball since August 2025.
- The secondary prizes in Mega Millions are more rewarding.
- Powerball is always cheaper than Mega Millions.
- Jackpots tend to roll over more rapidly at Powerball.
- Both games hold pros and cons that each player must consider.
Contents
- Differences Between Mega Millions and Powerball
- Mega Millions Vs. Powerball: Odds & Prizes
- Jackpot Size and Payout Structure Comparison
- Powerball VS MegaMillions
- Mega Millions and Powerball Rules and Formats Compared
- Popularity and Player Demographics
- Pros and Cons of Each Lottery: Powerball or Mega Millions?
- Mega Millions or Powerball: Who Is The Winner?
- FAQs
Differences Between Mega Millions and Powerball
Even though they look similar with two draw drums and immense jackpots rolling over, Mega Millions and Powerball differ in the jackpot prizes, lottery odds, draw dates, ticket cost, and selection range.
It is true that it may seem like a lot, but here is a summary table that can help you get a better idea of those characteristics:
| Mega Millions | Powerball | |
|---|---|---|
| Draw Dates | Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 pm E.T. | Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 pm E.T. |
| Main Selection Range | 1-70 | 1-69 |
| Extra Pick | Mega Ball | Powerball |
| Extra Selection Range | 1-24 | 1-26 |
| Multiplier | From 2x to 10x | Power Play |
| Highest Multiplier | 10x | 10x |
| Jackpot Odds | 1 in 290,472,336 | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| Record Jackpot | $1.602 Billion | $2.04 billion |
| Drawings per week | 2 | 3 |
| Price per ticket | $5 | $2 |
| How to Play | Choose five numbers between 1 to 70 and a Mega ball between 1 to 24 | Choose five numbers between 1 to 69 and a Powerball between 1 and 25 |
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Mega Millions Vs. Powerball: Odds & Prizes
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 290,472,336, while the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338. These numbers show that it is not easy to win the jackpot of both games, but your chances of winning are slightly better in the Mega Millions lottery.
However, we need to look at the bigger picture and consider the multiplier and secondary prizes. Our table below shows and compares the odds of winning every prize in Mega Millions and Powerball:
| Prize Tier | Match | Win | Mega Millions Odds | Powerball Odds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Millions Win | Powerball Win | ||||
| 1 | 5+1 | Jackpot (Starts at $50 million) | Jackpot (Starts at $20 million) | 1 in 290,472,336 | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| 2 | 5 | $2 million (2x) | $2 Million | 1 in 12,629,232 | 1 in 11,688,053,52 |
| 3 | 4+1 | $20,000 (2x) | $50,000 | 1 in 893,761 | 1 in 913,129 |
| 4 | 4 | $1,000 (2x) | $100 | 1 in 38,859 | 1 in 36,525 |
| 5 | 3+1 | $400 (2x) | $100 | 1 in 13,965 | 1 in 14,494 |
| 6 | 3 | $20 (2x) | $7 | 1 in 607 | 1 in 579 |
| 7 | 2+1 | $20 (2x) | $7 | 1 in 665 | 1 in 701 |
| 8 | 1+1 | $14 (2x) | $4 | 1 in 86 | 1 in 91 |
| 9 | 0+1 | $10 (2x) | $4 | 1 in 35 | 1 in 38 |
The starting jackpot and the majority of Mega Millions prizes are better than Powerball’s, but remember that the ticket cost is also higher. You can find more about your actual chances and how you can improve them by reading our guide on the odds of winning at Mega Millions and the article about the odds of winning Powerball.
The Mega Millions Multiplier vs. The Power Play
The multiplier feature in Mega Millions and Powerball allows secondary prizes to be much larger, up to 10x. The multiplier value is selected at random during the draw, and it is automatically added in Mega Millions but paid for in Powerball.
While you need to pay an extra $1 to add PowerPlay and have the chance of a multiplier between 2x and 10x, the Mega Millions multiplier is always implied. All its secondary prizes start at 2x.
| Mega Millions | Powerball | |
|---|---|---|
| Multiplier | Mega Millions Multiplier | Power Play |
| Cost | Included in the ticket | $1 |
| Minimum Multiplier | 2x | 2x |
| Highest Multiplier | 10x | 10x |
Jackpot Size and Payout Structure Comparison
Mega Millions and Powerball are known to award record-breaking jackpots. Mega Millions awarded a whopping sum of $1.602 billion to a single player from Florida on August 8, 2023. On the other hand, Powerball has a record prize of $2.04 billion, awarded in November 2022.
They currently start at $50 million and $20 million, respectively, and can roll over and grow to massive amounts without any limits.
| Mega Millions | Powerball | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Jackpot Prize | $50 Million | $20 Million |
| Highest Jackpot Prize | $1.602 Billion | $2.04 Billion |
Mega Millions changed its rules to start with a value that is 2.5x higher than Powerball’s starting jackpot. However, its slightly easier odds may also mean that the jackpot can be paid earlier and not roll over that much.
When the jackpot is scored, the payout options are similar to both games, including taxes and discounts for the lump sum. If you want an exact amount, check out the Powerball payout and the Mega Millions payout calculators.
Powerball VS MegaMillions
Mega Millions and Powerball Rules and Formats Compared
In order to win the US Mega Millions, you need to match five numbers and the Mega Ball, and the same to win the US Powerball. However, their format is different due to the total number pool:
| Mega Millions | Powerball | |
|---|---|---|
| Main Selection Format | 5/70 | 5/69 |
| Extra Pick (Obligatory) | Mega Ball | Powerball |
| Extra Selection Format | 1/24 | 1/26 |
In short, in Powerball, players need to choose five numbers between 1 and 69 for the white balls and another number between 1 and 26 for the Powerball.
Popularity and Player Demographics
Both Mega Millions and Powerball are immensely popular in the United States, plus other countries that play them via international lottery platforms. Similar to what happens to their apparently similar lottery characteristics, there are minor differences in how they perform.
For example, in 2021, Mega Millions did a little bit better with US$4.0 billion in sales, with a steady growth of 44%, while Powerball had a 31% improvement at US$3.8 billion, according to La Fleur.
Although more recent numbers that include the newest Mega Millions format are not available, we can expect an even better performance from that game.
When it comes to the people who play those games, a study from Texas Lottery Comission in 2024 can help us get an idea of how they compare in terms of demographics:
- 61.4% of the over 1,600 people interviewed affirmed they played Mega Millions in the past year, against 51.9% for Powerball.
- Both games share very similar percentages for playing weekly (~15%) and monthly (~25%).
- The estimated expenditure per play is also similar at $16.15.
- 45.4% of the respondents had played Mega Millions for over 5 years, and 46.3% Powerball, showing how loyal people are to those games.
While we lack studies considering the whole country or people from all around the world, that data can help us understand how enthusiastic people are about both games. The differences are small or near zero, and they both sustain high popularity.
Pros and Cons of Each Lottery: Powerball or Mega Millions?
Considering all their individual characteristics as lottery games, we have listed the pros and cons of each game in a comparison to support your decision:
| Lottery | Powerball | Mega Millions |
|---|---|---|
| ✅ Pros |
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| ❌ Cons |
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While the decision is pretty personal, keep in mind that you should always check the jackpot to play for the better prize. In the end, we are always playing for the jackpot anyway.
Mega Millions or Powerball: Who Is The Winner?
Mega Millions and Powerball are great lottery games with huge prizes that can change your life if you get lucky. However, Mega Millions has slightly better odds and much better secondary prizes, while Powerball has a jackpot that grows more rapidly and a ticket for half the cost.
Therefore, they both hold strong characteristics that can make them a good choice. If you play on a budget, just go with which one is more accessible for you. And if you still can’t decide which to pick, try both of them out. Who knows? You might win at any of them!
FAQs
Are Mega Millions and Powerball Rigged?
No, Mega Millions and Powerball are not rigged. Their lottery system is controlled by computer software programmed to generate all numbers randomly. Therefore, there is no way to know the exact numbers that will be drawn before the draw.
Is Mega Millions or Powerball Easier to Win?
Mathematically, Mega Millions is easier to win than Powerball because it has better odds. However, the difference is not really remarkable.
Which Has Better Odds, Mega Millions or Powerball?
Mega Millions has better odds for the jackpot. The odds of winning Powerball is 1 in 292,201,338, while the odds of winning Mega Millions is 1 in 290,472,336.
Where Can I Play Mega Millions or Powerball?
You can play Mega Millions and Powerball on popular lottery websites like theLotter, Lotto Agent, WinTrillions, LottoGo, and Lottofy.
Where Can I Find the Winning Powerball or Mega Millions Number?
You can find the winning Powerball or Mega Millions numbers on the lottery website where you played the game. All lottery websites have a result page for players to check past lottery results. You can also check the winning numbers here at Lottery ‘n Go via our Powerball results and Mega Millions results pages.
