Your Mega Millions ticket likely cost $3 because you opted to add the Megaplier feature to your standard ticket. While a basic Mega Millions ticket costs $2, the Megaplier option adds an additional $1, bringing your total cost to $3 per play.
Understanding the Base Price of a Mega Millions Ticket
A standard Mega Millions play, where you choose five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25, has a base price of $2. This price gives you a chance to win the jackpot or one of the other eight prize tiers. It's worth noting that the price of a standard Mega Millions game will increase to $5 starting in April 2025.
The Megaplier Option: Boosting Your Winnings
The Megaplier is an exciting add-on that can significantly increase your non-jackpot prize winnings.
What is Megaplier?
The Megaplier is an optional feature that multiplies any non-jackpot prize you win by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times. It's designed to enhance smaller winnings, making them much more substantial. Adding the Megaplier costs an extra $1 per play.
How Megaplier Works
When you purchase a Megaplier ticket, a Megaplier number (2X, 3X, 4X, or 5X) is drawn before the main Mega Millions numbers. If you win a non-jackpot prize, your prize amount is multiplied by that drawn Megaplier number. For example, if you win a $1,000 prize and the 5X Megaplier was drawn, your prize would become $5,000!
Here's how typical non-jackpot prizes can be multiplied:
| Original Prize (Example) | 2X Megaplier | 3X Megaplier | 4X Megaplier | 5X Megaplier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2 | $4 | $6 | $8 | $10 |
| $10 | $20 | $30 | $40 | $50 |
| $500 | $1,000 | $1,500 | $2,000 | $2,500 |
| $1,000,000 (Match 5) | $2,000,000 | $3,000,000 | $4,000,000 | $5,000,000 |
Availability
The Megaplier option is available in most jurisdictions where Mega Millions is played. Out of the 47 Mega Millions jurisdictions, all but California offer the Megaplier option to players.
Cost Breakdown at a Glance
Here's a simple breakdown of the current costs for a single Mega Millions play:
| Ticket Type | Current Cost |
|---|---|
| Standard Mega Millions Play | $2 |
| Mega Millions Play with Megaplier | $3 |
By choosing the Megaplier, you invest an extra dollar for the chance to significantly boost your non-jackpot winnings, making that $3 ticket a potentially more rewarding purchase.
