Lottery Comparison
Compare the two big multi-state lotteries Powerball and Mega Millions right here. Both games have paid out billion-dollar jackpots and created millions of winners across the U.S., but they still differ in many ways. The lottery comparison below highlights all the key features of Powerball, Mega Millions and Lotto America, including jackpot amounts, the cost to play, game format and odds.
Powerball and Mega Millions are able to offer such gigantic prizes because tickets are sold virtually everywhere in the U.S. Games that are run by individual lotteries, or smaller multi-state offerings such as Lotto America, do not have the player pool to put up such large prizes.
Other factors such as the price of a ticket or the odds of winning make other games appealing in a different way, so there are various considerations when you think about what you want to play. The comparison includes Lotto America alongside Powerball and Mega Millions.
| Powerball | Mega Millions | Lotto America | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draw Day / Time | Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59pm ET | Tuesday and Friday at 11pm ET | Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:15pm ET |
| Game Format | 5/69 + 1/26 | 5/70 + 1/25 | 5/52 + 1/10 |
| Number of Participating States | 48 | 47 | 13 |
| Odds of Winning the Jackpot | 1 in 292,201,338 | 1 in 302,575,350 | 1 in 25,989,600 |
| Overall Odds of Winning a Prize | 1 in 24.9 | 1 in 24 | 1 in 9.6 |
| Minimum Jackpot | $20 Million | $20 Million | $2 Million |
| Biggest Ever Jackpot | $2.04 Billion | $1.602 Billion | $40.03 Million |
| Next Jackpot | $103 Million | $944 Million | $18.51 Million |
| Cost of Entry | $2 | $2 | $1 |
| Does it have a Multiplier? | Power Play can be added for an extra $1 | Megaplier can be added for an extra $1 | All Star Bonus can be added for an extra $1 |
