Rushmore State News

South Dakota Lottery players will soon encounter changes to the Mega Millions game. Starting Saturday, April 5, tickets for an enhanced version of Mega Millions will be available. The updated game introduces bigger prizes at each non-jackpot prize tier, improved odds, larger starting jackpots, and faster-growing jackpots.

The revamped prize structure will debut in a drawing on Tuesday, April 8, at 10 p.m. CT/9 p.m. MT. "Improved overall odds – Overall odds to win any prize will improve to 1:23 from 1:24 due to the removal of one gold Mega Ball from the game," stated the release. Additionally, "Odds to win the jackpot will improve to 1:290,472,336 from 1:302,575,350."

A significant change is the increased starting jackpot, which will reset to $50 million after a win, rising from the current $20 million. The Mega Millions Consortium predicts that average jackpot wins in the new game will exceed $800 million, compared to approximately $450 million before. Non-jackpot awards will be doubled with a multiplier ranging from 2X to 10X.

Minimum prizes start at $10, ensuring every ticket surpasses the $5 cost per play. The game's price increases to $5, marking only the second adjustment in over 20 years and the first since 2017.

If no jackpot is won by April 4, it will carry into the new game format. The game, sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands, provides 70 percent of its net revenue to the State’s General Fund and 30 percent to the State’s Capital Construction Fund.