Powerball and Mega Millions are the two most popular games worldwide. Both lotteries are the two biggest lotteries in the World. They offer jackpot prizes worth hundreds of millions or more. Each game is unique in itself, run by two different independent associations. However, their similarities and differences may appeal to different lottery players.
However, it gets confusing when trying to select the better one. This article explains the difference between Mega Millions and Powerball, such as the prizes, odds, and rules. Hopefully, it will help you select the best one for you.
Contents
- Differences Between Mega Millions and Powerball
- Mega Millions Vs. Powerball: Odds & Chances
- What Is the Jackpot for Mega Millions and Powerball?
- Mega Millions and Powerball Rules Compared
- Which Has Better Prizes, Powerball or Mega Millions?
- What States Have Powerball and Mega Millions?
- What do Powerball and Mega Millions Have in Common?
- Six Things to Know About Powerball and Mega Millions
- Mega Millions or Powerball: Who is The Winner?
- FAQs
Differences Between Mega Millions and Powerball
Mega Millions and Powerball have similar game rules, but they still retain many differences that separate them from each other. The differences between Mega Millions and Powerball are in the jackpot prizes, lottery odds, draw dates, multiplier option, and selection range.
| 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 | 1-25 | 1-26 |
| Multiplier | Megaplier | Power Play |
| Highest Multiplier | 5x | 10x |
| Jackpot Odds | 1 in 302,575,350 | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| Record Jackpot | $1.537 billion | $1.586 billion |
| Drawings per week | 2 | 3 |
| Price per ticket | $2 | $3 |
| How to Play | Choose five numbers between 1 to 70 and a Mega ball between 1 to 35 | Choose five numbers between 1 to 69 and a Powerball between 1 to 25 |
| Available to Play in |
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Mega Millions Vs. Powerball: Odds & Chances
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302,575,550, while the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338. These values show that it is not easy to win the jackpot of both games, but your chances of winning are slightly better in the Powerball lottery. Both games’ secondary prizes have better odds than almost the same.
The table below compares the odds of winning the Mega Millions against the Powerball lottery.
| Prize Tier | Match | Win | Mega Millions Odds | Powerball Odds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Millions Win | Powerball Win | ||||
| 1 | 5+1 | Jackpot (Starts at $20 million) | Jackpot (Starts at $20 million) | 1 in 302,575,350 | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| 2 | 5 | $1 million | $2 Million | 1 in 12,607,306 | 1 in 11,688,053,52 |
| 3 | 4+1 | $10,000 | $50,000 | 1 in 931,001 | 1 in 913,129 |
| 4 | 4 | $200 | $100 | 1 in 38,792 | 1 in 36,525 |
| 5 | 3+1 | $10 | $100 | 1 in 14,547 | 1 in 14,494 |
| 6 | 3 | $10 | $7 | 1 in 606 | 1 in 579 |
| 7 | 2+1 | $10 | $7 | 1 in 693 | 1 in 701 |
| 8 | 1+1 | $4 | $4 | 1 in 89 | 1 in 91 |
| 9 | 0+1 | $2 | $4 | 1 in 37 | 1 in 38 |
This table shows the odds of winning any prize in Mega Millions and Powerball.
| Game | Odds of Winning Any Prize |
|---|---|
| Mega Millions | 1 in 24 |
| Powerball | 1 in 24.9 |
Reading more about the odds of winning at Mega Millions would be best to find out how you can play the game better. Also, for Powerball, learning about the odds of winning Powerball can improve the gaming experience.
What Is the Jackpot for Mega Millions and Powerball?
Mega Millions and Powerball are known to award record-breaking jackpots. Some of the biggest lottery prizes in the World have come from these two games. For instance, Mega Millions awarded a whooping sum of $1.537 billion to a single player from Carolina on 23 October 2018. Likewise, Powerball has a record prize of $1.586 billion, awarded to three players in March 2012.
The jackpot prizes for the Mega Millions and Powerball vary based on ticket sales and will be announced before each draw. They start at $20 million and can roll over and grow to massive amounts.
| Mega Millions | Powerball | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Jackpot Prize | $20 Million | $20 Million |
| Highest Jackpot Prize | $1.537 Billion | $1.586 Billion |
Jackpot Trend: Mega Millions vs. Powerball (12 months)
Powerball has the bigger record jackpot. It awarded a big Powerball Payout of a $1.586 billion jackpot to three winners in January 2016.
However, the Mega Millions payout is also pretty huge. It has paid out more huge jackpots than Powerball. On 30 March 2012, it awarded a $656 million jackpot split by three winners. It paid its record jackpot of $1.537 billion on 23 October 2018. The second-largest jackpot in Mega Millions is $1.05 billion, awarded to a Michigan player on 22 January 2021.
Mega Millions and Powerball Rules Compared
The rules of the Mega Millions and Powerball are the same. In the Mega Millions, players are required to pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers. So first, they would select five white numbers between 1-70 and a Mega ball between 1-25. You win the US Powerball when you have an exact match with the numbers from the draws.
In the Powerball, players will choose five numbers between 1-69 for the white balls and another number between 1-26 for the Powerball. You will win the US Mega Millions when your selections accurately match the numbers from the draws.
| Mega Millions | Powerball | |
|---|---|---|
| Main Selection Range | 1-70 | 1-69 |
| Extra Pick | Mega Ball | Powerball |
| Extra Selection Range | 1-25 | 1-26 |
The Megaplier vs. The Power Play
The Megaplier and Power Play are multiplier options in Mega Millions and Powerball that a player can add to his ticket for an additional prize. It can increase the value of secondary prizes if they win. The multiplier value is selected at random during the draw. Both games offer multiplier values of 2,3,4 or 5. Powerball goes a step ahead to offer a multiplier value of 10 when the jackpot is still under $150 million.
The Megaplier and Power Play do not affect the jackpot. However, they multiply the secondary prizes by the value of the multiplier. Therefore, players who added a multiplier option to their ticket will get a multiplied secondary prize if they win.
There is one difference between the Megaplier and the Power Play. The Megaplier multiplies all secondary prizes, while the Power Play multiplies all secondary prizes apart from the top secondary prize. The Megaplier does not affect the top secondary prize because it has a limit of $2 million.
| Mega Millions | Powerball | |
|---|---|---|
| Multiplier | Megaplier | Power Play |
| Highest Multiplier | 5x | 10x |
Which Has Better Prizes, Powerball or Mega Millions?
When it comes to which lottery offers the better prize, you will find out that both lotteries can deliver massive amounts. Powerball and Mega Millions have awarded billions of dollars in jackpot winnings to winners. The top secondary prizes in both games are close in value with a minor difference.
You win the jackpot in both games if you match all five numbers from the draw and the unique number. After the jackpot, Mega Millions awards $1 million to the next place winner who matches five balls. If the winner uses the Megaplier, this prize can get as high as $5 million. The Powerball prize for matching five balls is also $1 million. It can grow to $2 million with the Power Play.
Here are the prize tiers and prizes for Mega Millions and Powerball
| Prize Tier | Match | Mega Millions Prize | Powerball Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 + 1* | Jackpot | Jackpot |
| 2 | 5 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 3 | 4+1* | $10,000 | $50,000 |
| 4 | 4 | $500 | $100 |
| 5 | 3+1* | $200 | $100 |
| 6 | 3 | $10 | $7 |
| 7 | 2+1* | $10 | $7 |
| 8 | 1+1* | $4 | $4 |
| 9 | 0+1* | $2 | $4 |
1* is the unique ball. It is called the Mega ball in Mega Millions, while it is called Powerball in Powerball.
Who Has Bigger Record Jackpots?
Powerball has the bigger record jackpot. It awarded a big Powerball Payout of a $1.586 billion jackpot to three winners in January 2016.
However, the Mega Millions payout is also pretty huge. It has paid out more huge jackpots than Powerball. On 30 March 2012, it awarded a $656 million jackpot split by three winners. It paid its record jackpot of $1.537 billion on 23 October 2018. The second-largest jackpot in Mega Millions is $1.05 billion, awarded to a Michigan player on 22 January 2021.
What States Have Powerball and Mega Millions?
You can play Powerball in 45 states in the U.S., along with Washington DC, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, it is unavailable in Nevada, Utah, Alabama, Alaska, and Hawaii.
Mega Millions is also available in 45 states in the United States of America, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgins Islands. However, it is unavailable in Nevada, Utah, Alabama, Alaska, and Hawaii.
| State | Do they have Powerball? | Do they have Mega Millions? |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | No |
| Alaska | No | No |
| Arizona | Yes | Yes |
| Arkansas | Yes | Yes |
| California | Yes | Yes |
| Colorado | Yes | Yes |
| Connecticut | Yes | Yes |
| Delaware | Yes | Yes |
| Florida | Yes | Yes |
| Georgia | Yes | Yes |
| Hawaii | No | No |
| Idaho | Yes | Yes |
| Illinois | Yes | Yes |
| Indiana | Yes | Yes |
| Iowa | Yes | Yes |
| Kansas | Yes | Yes |
| Kentucky | Yes | Yes |
| Louisiana | Yes | Yes |
| Maine | Yes | Yes |
| Maryland | Yes | Yes |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Yes |
| Michigan | Yes | Yes |
| Minnesota | Yes | Yes |
| Mississippi | Yes | Yes |
| Missouri | Yes | Yes |
| Montana | Yes | Yes |
| Nebraska | Yes | Yes |
| Nevada | No | No |
| New Hampshire | Yes | Yes |
| New Jersey | Yes | Yes |
| New Mexico | Yes | Yes |
| New York | Yes | Yes |
| North Carolina | Yes | Yes |
| North Dakota | Yes | Yes |
| Ohio | Yes | Yes |
| Oklahoma | Yes | Yes |
| Oregon | Yes | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes |
| Puerto Rico | Yes | No |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Yes |
| South Carolina | Yes | Yes |
| South Dakota | Yes | Yes |
| Tennessee | Yes | Yes |
| Texas | Yes | Yes |
| US Virgins Island | Yes | Yes |
| Utah | No | No |
| Vermont | Yes | Yes |
| Virginia | Yes | Yes |
| Washington | Yes | Yes |
| Washington DC | Yes | Yes |
| West Virginia | Yes | Yes |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Yes |
| Wyoming | Yes | Yes |
What do Powerball and Mega Millions Have in Common?
Powerball and Mega Millions have many things in common. Here are some similarities we can find in both games.
- They both require the player to select five balls and a special ball. They both have huge jackpot prizes.
- The past ten biggest lottery winners in the U.S. have come from both games – five from Mega Millions and five from Powerball.
- Another thing they have in common is the ticket price. Both games cost $2 to play.
- Adding a multiplier option on both games also costs an extra $1.
- They both have the same starting jackpot of $20 million.
Six Things to Know About Powerball and Mega Millions
Powerball and Mega Millions are among the biggest lotteries in the U.S. and the World. Everybody who enters the draw has an equal chance of winning the jackpot prizes, but the odds of winnings are so high that the jackpot can keep rolling over without any winner. Here are some things to know about Powerball and Mega Millions.
- Mega Millions started on 6 September 1996. Powerball had its first draw on 22 April 1992.
- Drawings for Mega Millions are done every Tuesday and Friday. At the same time, Powerball drawings happen on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
- You can play the Powerball and Mega Millions anywhere in the World. You do not have to be in the U.S. to play these games.
- Jackpot prizes in Powerball and Mega Millions can be claimed as a one-time payment or split into 30 annual payments, which increase by five percent yearly.
- Your chances of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are slimmer than catching two fouls at a baseball game.
- You can join Powerball Syndicates or Mega Millions Syndicates for an improved chance of winning.
Mega Millions or Powerball: Who is The Winner?
Mega Millions and Powerball are great lottery games with huge prizes that you change your life if you get lucky. There really isn’t a better option as both games are very similar in gameplay, odds, and prizes. It depends on you, the player. 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!
FAQs
Are Mega Millions and Powerball Rigged?
No, Mega Millions and Powerball are not rigged. The 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, Powerball is easier to win than Mega Millions since it has higher odds than Mega Millions.
Is Mega Millions and Powerball the Same Thing?
No, they aren’t the same thing. Both lotteries may have similar gameplay, odds, and prizes. However, they are run by totally different organizations.
Which Has Better Odds, Mega Millions or Powerball?
Powerball has better odds. The odds of winning Powerball is 1 in 292,201,338, while the odds of winning the Mega Millions is 1 in 302,575,350.
Where can I play Mega Millions or Powerball?
You can play Mega Millions and Powerball on popular lottery websites like theLotter, LottoAgent, WinTrillions, LottoGo, and Lottofy.
Where can I find the winning Powerball or Mega Millions number?
You can find the winning Powerball or Mega Millions number 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 number here at Lottery ‘n Go via our Powerball results and Mega Millions result page.
