Lottery boosts cash intake despite fewer Mega Millions ticket sales

In Massachusetts, the Mega Millions game has undergone a significant change which has altered both ticket sales and the revenue generated for the state Lottery. As of April 2025, the price of a Mega Millions ticket was raised from $2 to $5. This shift has resulted in a noted decrease in ticket sales, with approximately 100,297 tickets purchased for a recent drawing held on April 8, 2025, a drop of nearly 30% compared to the previous game where 142,170 tickets were sold. However, despite the drop in the number of tickets sold, the overall cash generated from the sales surged to $841,185, marking a remarkable increase of over 71% in comparison to the prior drawing that had a total wager amount of $491,323. This proves that while fewer people are playing, those who do are investing more money into the game. One of the changes to the Mega Millions game is the enhancement of winning odds. The new game has removed one of the Mega Balls, leading to better odds for jackpot winnings, though the chances of winning remain quite slim, sitting at 1 in 290,472,336. The adjustments made by the Massachusetts State Lottery management hope to promote greater player engagement and interest, especially during times of significant jackpot runs. Mark William Bracken, the executive director of the Massachusetts Lottery, expressed optimism that these new game features, including an added multiplier for non-jackpot prizes, would help foster a more appealing environment for potential players. In the recent drawing, tiers of prizes were available, and for the same amount previously won in the old game at $2, players can now receive much higher amounts, enhancing their chances of success in the revised lottery scheme. During the Tuesday drawing on April 8, the winning numbers were announced as 10-16-50-60-61, with a Mega Ball of 17. No jackpot winners emerged from the last draw in Massachusetts, although several players scored substantial prizes: two tickets were sold that earned $2,000, while others netted $1,500 and $1,000 prizes. Looking ahead, the Massachusetts Lottery is preparing for the next Mega Millions drawing scheduled for April 10, 2025, offering an estimated jackpot of $72 million. The increased jackpot could potentially influence greater interest in ticket purchasing, renewing hopes that the alterations to the game will not only increase cash flow for the state but also engage players in ways that sustain interest in future drawings.