Powerball vs Mega Millions: Which Lottery Should You Play?

Powerball vs Mega Millions: The Ultimate Showdown

Both Powerball and Mega Millions offer life-changing jackpots, but which game should you play? Let's break down everything you need to know.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Powerball	Mega Millions
Ticket Price	$2	$2
Main Numbers	5 from 1-69	5 from 1-70
Bonus Ball	1 from 1-26	1 from 1-25
Jackpot Odds	1 in 292.2 million	1 in 302.6 million
Overall Win Odds	1 in 24.9	1 in 24
Drawings	Mon, Wed, Sat	Tue, Fri
Multiplier	Power Play ($1)	Megaplier ($1)
Starting Jackpot	$20 million	$20 million

Jackpot Odds Comparison

Powerball

• Jackpot odds: 1 in 292,201,338
• Pick 5 numbers from 69 + 1 Powerball from 26

Mega Millions

• Jackpot odds: 1 in 302,575,350
• Pick 5 numbers from 70 + 1 Mega Ball from 25

Winner: Powerball (slightly better jackpot odds)

Overall Winning Odds

Powerball

• Any prize: 1 in 24.9
• Smallest prize ($4): Match just the Powerball

Mega Millions

• Any prize: 1 in 24
• Smallest prize ($2): Match just the Mega Ball

Winner: Mega Millions (slightly better chance of winning something)

Prize Structure Comparison

Second Prize ($1 Million)

Game	Match	Odds
Powerball	5 numbers (no Powerball)	1 in 11,688,054
Mega Millions	5 numbers (no Mega Ball)	1 in 12,607,306

Winner: Powerball (better odds for $1 million)

Third Prize

Game	Match	Prize	Odds
Powerball	4 + Powerball	$50,000	1 in 913,129
Mega Millions	4 + Mega Ball	$10,000	1 in 931,001

Winner: Powerball (better prize AND odds)

Multiplier Options

Power Play (Powerball)

• Cost: $1 extra
• Multipliers: 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x
• 10x available when jackpot < $150 million
• Match 5 prize: Always $2 million with Power Play

Megaplier (Mega Millions)

• Cost: $1 extra
• Multipliers: 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x
• Match 5 prize: Multiplied ($2-5 million)

Winner: Tie (both offer similar value)

Record Jackpots

Powerball Records

$2.04 billion (November 2022) - California

$1.76 billion (October 2023) - California

$1.586 billion (January 2016) - 3 winners

Mega Millions Records

$1.537 billion (October 2018) - South Carolina

$1.348 billion (January 2023) - Maine

$1.337 billion (July 2022) - Illinois

Winner: Powerball (larger record jackpots)

Availability

Powerball

Available in 45 states + DC, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands

Mega Millions

Available in 45 states + DC, US Virgin Islands

Winner: Tie (nearly identical availability)

Drawing Schedule

Powerball

• Monday at 10:59 PM ET
• Wednesday at 10:59 PM ET
• Saturday at 10:59 PM ET

Mega Millions

• Tuesday at 11:00 PM ET
• Friday at 11:00 PM ET

Benefit: Play BOTH for 5 chances per week!

Which Should You Play?

Play Powerball If:

• You want slightly better jackpot odds
• You prefer larger potential jackpots
• You want the better $1 million and $50,000 prizes
• You like the 10x multiplier option

Play Mega Millions If:

• You want slightly better overall winning odds
• You prefer Tuesday/Friday drawings
• You want variety from Powerball

Best Strategy: Play Both!

Since drawings are on different days, you can play both games for the maximum number of chances to win.

Mathematical Analysis

Expected Value Comparison

When jackpots are at minimum ($20 million):

• Both tickets have negative expected value
• House edge is significant in both games

Break-Even Jackpot

Mathematically, the break-even point (when expected value = $2) is approximately:

• Powerball: ~$584 million jackpot
• Mega Millions: ~$605 million jackpot

Note: These calculations don't account for ticket splitting or taxes

Smart Play Tips

Budget first - Only spend what you can afford to lose

Play both games - Diversify your lottery "portfolio"

Consider pools - Join office or friend pools for more tickets

Check results - Millions go unclaimed each year!

Use Quick Pick - 70-80% of winners use random selection

The Bottom Line

Both games offer similar value and entertainment. Powerball has slightly better odds and larger jackpots, while Mega Millions offers a slightly better chance of winning any prize.

Our recommendation: If you're only playing one game, choose Powerball for the better overall prize structure. But playing both games on different days maximizes your entertainment and chances! Remember: The lottery should be fun, not a financial strategy. Play responsibly!