| Lottery | Estimated jackpot | Next draw |
|---|---|---|
| US Powerball | $271M | Wednesday, September 16 |
| Mega Millions | $227M | Tuesday, September 15 |
| SuperEnalotto | €27M | Tuesday, September 15 |
| La Primitiva | €19M | — |
| EuroMillions | €17M | Tuesday, September 15 |
| France Loto | €8M | — |
| Oz Lotto | A$4M | — |
| BonoLoto | €2M | — |
Powerball and Mega Millions are America's two giant jackpot games, and since the Mega Millions relaunch of April 2025 they differ more than they ever have: Powerball costs US$2 per play with optional add-ons; Mega Millions costs US$5 with a 2×-10× multiplier built in. Mega Millions now has slightly better jackpot odds (1 in 290,472,336 vs 1 in 292,201,338), while Powerball draws three nights a week to Mega Millions' two and holds the all-time record with $2.04 billion.
Powerball vs Mega Millions at a glance
| US Powerball | Mega Millions | |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket price | US$2 (US$3 with Power Play, US$4 with Double Play too) | US$5, multiplier included |
| Number format | 5 from 1-69 + Powerball from 1-26 | 5 from 1-70 + Mega Ball from 1-24 |
| Jackpot odds | 1 in 292,201,338 | 1 in 290,472,336 |
| Any-prize odds | About 1 in 25 | About 1 in 23 |
| Draw nights | Monday, Wednesday, Saturday (10:59 pm ET) | Tuesday, Friday (11:00 pm ET) |
| Starting jackpot | Estimated US$20 million | Estimated US$50 million |
| Multiplier | Power Play, optional +US$1 (2×-10×, not in California) | Built into every play (2×-10×, random) |
| Match-5 second prize | $1 million ($2 million with Power Play) | $1 million base - $2-10 million after the multiplier |
| Minimum win | $4 | $10 |
| Record jackpot | $2.04 billion (November 2022) | $1.602 billion (August 2023) |
Price and value per line
Powerball is the cheaper entry: US$2 buys a line, and the add-ons are opt-in. Mega Millions made the opposite bet in 2025 — every line costs US$5, but the multiplier that used to cost extra (the retired Megaplier) is now automatic, the minimum win is $10 rather than $4, and the match-5 prize can reach $10 million instead of Powerball's $2 million cap. Per dollar staked you get more draws out of Powerball; per line won you tend to get bigger non-jackpot payouts from Mega Millions.
Which is easier to win?
Since the 2025 relaunch, Mega Millions — narrowly. Cutting the Mega Ball pool from 25 to 24 moved its jackpot odds to 1 in 290,472,336, about 0.6% better than Powerball's 1 in 292,201,338, and its any-prize odds (about 1 in 23) also edge out Powerball's (about 1 in 25). Both remain enormous long shots; the difference is real but shouldn't drive the decision by itself. The tier-by-tier numbers are in our Powerball odds guide and Mega Millions odds guide.
Jackpot size and speed
Powerball's three weekly draws mean more chances to enter and slightly faster rollover accumulation across a week; Mega Millions starts higher (an estimated $50 million to Powerball's $20 million) and its $5 price feeds the pool faster per ticket sold. The two games' record books are close — $2.04 billion against $1.602 billion — and both regularly cross the billion-dollar line.
Which should you play?
Pick Powerball if you want the lowest price per line, more draw nights, and control over whether to pay for add-ons. Pick Mega Millions if you want the multiplier on every line, the higher floor on small wins, and marginally better odds. Plenty of players simply enter whichever jackpot is currently larger — both games are sold at US retailers, official state platforms, and through lottery messenger services worldwide; see our guide to buying tickets online. And whichever you pick, the advertised jackpot is pre-tax — our lottery tax calculator shows what a win actually pays in your state.
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Frequently asked questions
Are Powerball and Mega Millions the same lottery?
No. They are two separate games run by different multi-state groups — Powerball by the Multi-State Lottery Association, Mega Millions by a consortium of its member lotteries — and most US jurisdictions sell both. The formats differ too: Powerball draws 5 numbers from 1–69 plus a Powerball from 1–26, while Mega Millions draws 5 from 1–70 plus a Mega Ball from 1–24.
Does Powerball or Mega Millions have better odds?
Mega Millions, slightly, since its April 2025 relaunch: jackpot odds of 1 in 290,472,336 vs Powerball's 1 in 292,201,338, and any-prize odds of about 1 in 23 vs about 1 in 25. Both remain extreme long shots — the gap is under one percent.
Which is cheaper, Powerball or Mega Millions?
Powerball: US$2 per play against Mega Millions' US$5. The comparison isn't one-for-one, though — the Mega Millions price includes a 2×–10× multiplier on non-jackpot prizes, which on Powerball is a separate US$1 Power Play add-on with a capped effect.
Which game has bigger jackpots?
Powerball holds the all-time record ($2.04 billion in November 2022, against Mega Millions' $1.602 billion in August 2023), but Mega Millions jackpots start higher — an estimated $50 million versus $20 million — so mid-cycle sizes are often comparable.
Can you play both Powerball and Mega Millions from outside the US?
Yes. Neither game requires US citizenship to win — only an official ticket bought in a US jurisdiction, which lottery messenger services arrange. Powerball draws Monday, Wednesday and Saturday; Mega Millions Tuesday and Friday; playing both covers five nights a week.
Why is Mega Millions more expensive than Powerball?
The April 2025 relaunch moved Mega Millions to US$5 per line and folded the old US$1 Megaplier into every ticket: each line now carries a random 2×–10× multiplier on non-jackpot prizes, the minimum win rose from $4 to $10, and jackpots start at an estimated $50 million. Powerball kept the US$2 base line and sells its extras (Power Play, Double Play) as optional add-ons.
Does Powerball have a Megaplier?
No — the Megaplier was Mega Millions' add-on, and it was retired in the April 2025 relaunch when the multiplier became part of every Mega Millions line. Powerball's closest equivalent is Power Play, an optional US$1-per-line add-on that multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2× to 10× (the jackpot is never multiplied).