The two biggest lotteries in the United States are the Mega Millions lottery and the Powerball lotto. But which is more ideally suited for your needs? In this article, we will dive into the two lotteries, compare and contrast them, and discover just that.
Who can play the lotteries?
Naturally, with both lotteries being open to players based in the USA, residing in the country is always a plus. However, with the advent of online lottery ticket websites, you can technically play either lottery from anywhere in the world. In terms of land-based ticket buying, the Mega Millions is open to players riding in 44 US states.
The Powerball lotto is actually open to players from 47 states. Both include players from the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, but only the Powerball lotto is open to players in Puerto Rico.
How do they work?
A total of 75 balls as well as 15 bonus balls are used in the Mega Millions lottery. The bonus balls count as a Megaplier, and when they are added to all winning combinations bar the jackpot, your prizes can be multiplied. Players will need 5 of the winning standard 75 balls on their lottery ticket to win the jackpot.
The Powerball lotto features a total of 59 standard balls and 35 Powerballs, of which the player needs to match 5 standard balls and the Powerball to win the jackpot. This lottery also contains a Power Play multiplier, which works in much the same manner as in the Mega Millions draw.
Your chances of success
Even though the criteria for winning the jackpot seems less harsh in the Mega Millions draw (since you only need to match the 5 numbers alone), you actually have a less chance of winning it than the Powerball. This is because the Mega Millions features more standard balls, ergo more possible winning combinations. At present, there is a 1 in 258,890,850 chance of winning the Mega Millions. The Powerball lotto on the other hand, gives you a 1 in 175,223,510 chance of success.
What can you win?
The largest ever win recorded in the Mega Millions was $640 million, which was won in 2012. Generally speaking, the top prize is guaranteed to be worth at least $15 million, with tickets costing around $1 to play, without the Megaplier option.
By contrast, the Powerball lotto costs $2 to play, and the jackpot is guaranteed to be worth at least $10 million. The biggest ever Powerball lotto prize is $223.7 million, which was won in 2012 by a ticket holder from Michigan.
So which lottery should I play?
Players who want to stand a better chance of success would do well to play the Powerball lotto. However, if you fancy a slightly cheaper game and one with far greater prizes (albeit with a lesser chance of success), then Mega Millions draw could be the ticket for you. There are pros and cons to each lottery, but both are incredibly popular and well-run lottery games.
Leave a Reply