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Multipliers Explained

Both games feature multiplier options designed to dramatically increase non-jackpot payouts. However, the costs and operational mechanics of these multipliers differ significantly.

Mega Millions: Built-in Multiplier

Price: Included in the base ticket cost ($5 per line).
Format: Every ticket prints with a pre-assigned random multiplier (2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X).
Effect: All non-jackpot prizes won are automatically multiplied by that number.
Match 5: The $1 million second-tier prize is always multiplied, so it pays $2,000,000 to $10,000,000.

Powerball: Power Play Add-on

Price: Optional add-on costing $1 extra ($3 total per play line).
Format: A single multiplier number (2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X) is drawn prior to the winning numbers.
Effect: Applies to all plays that purchased the Power Play option. The 10X multiplier is only active for jackpots of $150M or less.
Match 5 Cap: The second-tier prize ($1 million) is capped at a fixed $2,000,000 regardless of the multiplier drawn.

Multiplier Probability Distributions

Multipliers are not drawn with equal probability. The odds of each multiplier factor being applied are structured:

Powerball Power Play Odds (When 10X is Active)

2X: 24 in 43 (approx. 55.8%)
3X: 13 in 43 (approx. 30.2%)
4X: 3 in 43 (approx. 7.0%)
5X: 2 in 43 (approx. 4.7%)
10X: 1 in 43 (approx. 2.3%)

Mega Millions Multiplier Odds

2X: 15 in 32 (1 in 2.13, approx. 46.9%)
3X: 10 in 32 (1 in 3.2, approx. 31.3%)
4X: 4 in 32 (1 in 8, approx. 12.5%)
5X: 2 in 32 (1 in 16, approx. 6.3%)
10X: 1 in 32 (approx. 3.1%)
Average multiplier: exactly 3X. Assigned at random to every ticket, whatever the jackpot size.