You've been playing it all wrong: The ultimate guide to winning Mega Millions and Powerball
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Trying to pick between Mega Millions and US Powerball?
Both Mega Millions and Powerball are the top lottery games in the U.S. Not sure which lottery game is better?
We've made it simple for you. We compared them by giving a star to the better game in the following lineup of features.
Then we added up to see which one had more stars.
Let’s look at the list of features between the two to figure out which is the choice for you:
1. National Reach: Both games are played across multiple states in the U.S. Both games are available in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball is also played in Puerto Rico.
★ to Powerball for the extra place, Puerto Rico
2. Draw Days: Both lotteries have multiple draw days per week. Mega Millions draws are on Tuesdays and Fridays, while Powerball draws are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
★ to Powerball for the extra draw day, giving extra chances to win
3. Jackpot Structure: Both games are jackpot lotteries, meaning that if no ticket holder wins the jackpot, the prize rolls over to the next drawing and continues to grow.
★ to Powerball ★ to Mega Millions
4. Big Wins: Both lotteries are known for offering huge jackpots. In the past, jackpots for both Mega Millions and Powerball have reached over $1 billion. This highest jackpot has been a Powerball draw for $2.04 Billion.
★ to Powerball for highest draw record
5. Ticket Price: The standard price for a ticket for both games is $2.
★ to Powerball ★ to Mega Millions
6. Multiplier Option: Both games offer a multiplier feature - MegaPlier for Mega Millions and PowerPlay for Powerball - for an additional cost, which can increase non-jackpot prize winnings.
★ to Powerball ★ to Mega Millions
7. Two-Part Drawing Odds: Both games have a two-part drawing system. In Mega Millions, players pick 5 numbers from a set of 70 (white balls) and a Mega Ball number from a set of 25.
In Powerball, players select 5 numbers from a set of 69 (white balls) and a Powerball number from a set of 26.
So the odds of winning the jackpot in Mega Millions are 1 in 302,575,350, while the odds for Powerball are slightly better at 1 in 292,201,338.
★ to Powerball for slightly better odds of winning the jackpot
8. Fixed Prizes: Both games offer fixed prizes in addition to the jackpot. For example, matching just the Mega Ball or the Powerball will earn a small prize.
★ to Powerball ★ to Mega Millions
9. Annuity or Lump Sum: Jackpot winners in both lotteries have the choice of taking their winnings as an annuity paid out over 29 years or a lump-sum payment.
★ to Powerball ★ to Mega Millions
10. Charitable Contributions: Revenue from ticket sales for both Mega Millions and Powerball often goes toward state programs, including education and other public services.
★ to Powerball ★ to Mega Millions
11. Play Online: Depending on the state, these games allow players to purchase tickets online. These purchases are made through the official US state lotteries that use secure technologies for their websites.
Eight states make tickets available online for both games:
Georgia
Illinois
Kentucky
Michigan
New Hampshire
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Virginia
★ to Powerball ★ to Mega Millions
12. Biggest Jackpots: Here's a list of the top 10 jackpots. While the Powerball topped the biggest draw, both games have won 5 games each:
#1. $2.04 billion, 1 ticket, Powerball, Nov 7, 2022, CA
#2. $1.76 billion, 1 ticket, Powerball, Oct 11, 2023, CA
#3. $1.60 billion, 1 ticket, Mega Millions, Aug 8, 2023, FL
#4. $1.58 billion, 3 tickets, Powerball, Jan 13, 2016, CA, FL, TN
#5. $1.53 billion, 1 ticket, Mega Millions, Oct 23, 2018, SC
#6. $1.35 billion, 1 ticket, Mega Millions, Jan 13, 2023. ME
#7. $1.33 billion, 1 ticket, Mega Millions, Jul 29, 2022
#8. $1.08 billion, 1 ticket, Powerball, July 19, 2023, CA
#9. $1.05 billion, 1 ticket, Mega Millions, Jan 22, 2021, MI
#10. $768.4 million, 1 ticket, Powerball, Mar 27, 2019, WI
★ to Powerball for an equal number of wins + top position
AND THE RESULT IS…
After counting up the points, Powerball has 12 stars while Mega Millions trails with 7 stars.
Clearly, US Powerball takes the lead. Go with Powerball if you're aiming for the top pick!
