What is the Difference Between Mega Millions and Powerball?

Mega Millions and Powerball are both popular lottery games that offer jackpots worth hundreds of millions of dollars, sometimes reaching even billions of dollars. They share many similarities, but there are also some differences between the two games:

1. Odds of winning the jackpot: The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, while the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302.6 million.
2. Ball selection: In Mega Millions, the first five balls are drawn from a pool of 70, and the "Mega" ball is drawn from a pool of 25. In Powerball, five balls are drawn from a pool of 69, and the "Powerball" is drawn from a pool of 26.
3. Ticket price: Both Mega Millions and Powerball tickets cost $2.
4. Multipliers: Both games offer optional multipliers, called the Megaplier in Mega Millions and Power Play in Powerball, which can increase secondary prizes for an additional fee. In Powerball, the multiplier goes up to 10 for jackpots of $150 million or less.
5. Number of states: Powerball is played in 45 states, Washington DC, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, while Mega Millions is played in the same states except for Puerto Rico, where Powerball is available but not Mega Millions.
6. Jackpot size trends: Powerball has set world records with its $2.04 billion and $1.586 billion jackpots, while Mega Millions has awarded a $1.602 billion jackpot.

Ultimately, the choice between Mega Millions and Powerball depends on personal preference, as the odds of winning and ticket prices are similar. However, Powerball has larger jackpots and more states participating in the game.

Comparative Table: Mega Millions vs Powerball

Here is a table comparing the differences between Mega Millions and Powerball:

Both Mega Millions and Powerball are played in multiple states across the United States, offering large jackpots that can change the lives of winners. The games have some similarities, such as the starting prize of $20 million for both, but they also have differences in the number of balls, the odds of winning the jackpot, the drawing days, and the multipliers available.