Mega Millions vs Powerball: Which Should You Play?

America's two biggest lottery games compete for your attention every week. Mega Millions and Powerball both offer life-changing jackpots, but they are not identical. Understanding the differences can help you decide which game fits your playing style.

Let's compare them head to head.

The Basics at a Glance

Both games follow a similar format, but those small differences in number pools create meaningful variations in odds and outcomes.

Jackpot Odds Comparison

Here is where things get interesting:

Powerball Jackpot Odds: 1 in 292,201,338 Mega Millions Jackpot Odds: 1 in 302,575,350

Powerball actually gives you slightly better odds of winning the top prize. The difference is about 10 million to 1, which sounds significant but is essentially negligible when you are dealing with odds this astronomical.

To put it in perspective: if you bought one ticket for each game, your Powerball ticket would be about 3.5% more likely to win the jackpot. Still incredibly unlikely either way.

Second Prize Comparison

The second prize (matching all main numbers but missing the bonus ball) shows a bigger difference:

Powerball Second Prize: $1 million at 1 in 11,688,053 odds Mega Millions Second Prize: $1 million at 1 in 12,607,306 odds

Powerball offers about 8% better odds for the million-dollar prize. If second-tier prizes matter to you, Powerball has a slight edge.

Overall Odds of Winning Any Prize

Your chances of winning something (any prize tier) are:

Powerball: 1 in 24.9 Mega Millions: 1 in 24

Mega Millions actually offers slightly better overall odds of winning any prize at all. The difference comes from how the lower prize tiers are structured.

Prize Structure Breakdown

Both games have 9 prize tiers, but the amounts differ:

Powerball Prizes:

• Jackpot: Varies
• 5 numbers: $1,000,000
• 4 + Powerball: $50,000
• 4 numbers: $100
• 3 + Powerball: $100
• 3 numbers: $7
• 2 + Powerball: $7
• 1 + Powerball: $4
• Powerball only: $4

Mega Millions Prizes:

• Jackpot: Varies
• 5 numbers: $1,000,000
• 4 + Mega Ball: $10,000
• 4 numbers: $500
• 3 + Mega Ball: $200
• 3 numbers: $10
• 2 + Mega Ball: $10
• 1 + Mega Ball: $4
• Mega Ball only: $2

Notice that Mega Millions pays more for mid-tier prizes (4 numbers without the bonus ball pays $500 vs $100), but Powerball pays more for the third tier ($50,000 vs $10,000).

Multiplier Options

Both games offer optional multipliers for an extra $1:

Power Play (Powerball):

• Multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x
• 10x only available when jackpot is under $150 million
• Second prize always becomes $2 million with Power Play

Megaplier (Mega Millions):

• Multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x, or 5x
• No 10x option
• Second prize always becomes $2, $3, $4, or $5 million based on multiplier

Power Play offers the potential for higher multiplication (10x vs 5x), but Megaplier can boost the second prize beyond $2 million.

Drawing Schedules

Powerball: Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 PM Eastern Mega Millions: Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 PM Eastern

Powerball recently added Monday drawings, giving you three chances per week instead of two. If frequency matters to you, Powerball offers more opportunities.

Historical Jackpots

Both games have produced record-breaking prizes:

Largest Powerball Jackpot: $2.04 billion (November 2022) Largest Mega Millions Jackpot: $1.537 billion (October 2018)

Powerball currently holds the record for the largest lottery jackpot in history. However, both games regularly produce jackpots in the hundreds of millions.

Which States Participate

Both Powerball and Mega Millions are available in 45 states plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The non-participating states are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.

If you can play one, you can almost certainly play the other.

The Verdict: Which Should You Play?

Here is our honest assessment:

Choose Powerball if:

• You want slightly better jackpot odds
• You prefer more drawing opportunities (3 per week)
• The 10x Power Play multiplier appeals to you
• You prioritize the third-tier $50,000 prize

Choose Mega Millions if:

• You like higher mid-tier prizes ($500 for 4 numbers)
• You prefer the Megaplier's potential for larger second prizes
• Tuesday and Friday drawings fit your schedule better

Or play both. Many lottery enthusiasts buy tickets for both games, especially when jackpots are high. At $2 per ticket, playing both once a week costs $4, which is reasonable entertainment spending for most budgets.

The Smart Approach

Regardless of which game you choose:

1. Set a weekly or monthly lottery budget
2. Stick to that budget no matter how high jackpots climb
3. Remember that both games are entertainment, not investment
4. Never spend money you cannot afford to lose

The "best" lottery is the one you enjoy playing responsibly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which lottery has better odds, Powerball or Mega Millions?

Powerball has slightly better jackpot odds (1 in 292 million vs 1 in 302 million). However, Mega Millions has marginally better overall odds of winning any prize (1 in 24 vs 1 in 24.9).

Can I play both Powerball and Mega Millions?

Yes. Both games are available in 45 states and several territories. You can purchase tickets for both games at the same retailers.

Which lottery has bigger jackpots?

Both games have produced billion-dollar jackpots. Powerball currently holds the record at $2.04 billion, but Mega Millions regularly matches or exceeds Powerball jackpot sizes.