Both games hand out nine-figure jackpots. Both cost $2 per play. Both have drawings twice a week. The differences come down to a few numbers — and they matter a lot less than you might think. Here's the actual comparison, plus a free number picker for both games.
| Powerball | Mega Millions | |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket cost | $2 per play | $2 per play |
| Number ranges | 5 from 1–69 + 1 Powerball from 1–26 | 5 from 1–70 + 1 Mega Ball from 1–25 |
| Drawing days | Monday, Wednesday, Saturday | Tuesday, Friday |
| Starting jackpot | $20 million | $20 million |
| Jackpot odds | 1 in 292,201,338 | 1 in 302,575,350 |
| Overall win odds | 1 in 24.9 | 1 in 24 |
| Available in | 45 states + DC, PR, USVI | 45 states + DC, USVI |
| Multiplier option | Power Play ($1 more, up to 10×) | Megaplier ($1 more, up to 5×) |
Powerball has been running since 1992. To play, you pick 5 numbers from 1 to 69, and 1 "Powerball" number from 1 to 26. Match all six and you win the jackpot. There are nine ways to win a prize in total, from matching just the Powerball (1 in 91) up to the jackpot.
Drawings happen on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday nights, usually around 10:59 PM Eastern Time. The jackpot starts at $20 million and grows by a minimum of $2 million per draw if there's no winner. The largest Powerball jackpot ever was $2.04 billion, won in California in November 2022.
Mega Millions started in 1996 as "The Big Game" and was renamed Mega Millions in 2002. To play, you pick 5 numbers from 1 to 70, and 1 "Mega Ball" number from 1 to 25. Match all six and you win the jackpot. Like Powerball, there are nine prize tiers.
Drawings happen on Tuesday and Friday nights, also around 11:00 PM Eastern Time. The jackpot also starts at $20 million and rolls over when there's no winner. The largest Mega Millions jackpot was $1.6 billion, won in South Carolina in October 2018.
Odds are the only place where the two games meaningfully differ, and even there the difference is tiny.
| Prize tier | Powerball | Mega Millions |
|---|---|---|
| Match 5 + bonus ball (jackpot) | 1 in 292M | 1 in 303M |
| Match 5 | 1 in 11.7M | 1 in 12.6M |
| Match 4 + bonus | 1 in 913K | 1 in 931K |
| Match 4 | 1 in 36.5K | 1 in 38.8K |
| Match 3 + bonus | 1 in 14.5K | 1 in 14.5K |
| Match 3 | 1 in 580 | 1 in 606 |
| Match 2 + bonus | 1 in 701 | 1 in 693 |
| Match 1 + bonus | 1 in 92 | 1 in 89 |
| Match 0 + bonus | 1 in 38 | 1 in 37 |
| Overall | 1 in 24.9 | 1 in 24 |
The takeaway: Mega Millions is very slightly better if you want to win something (1 in 24 vs 1 in 24.9). Powerball is very slightly better if you want to win the jackpot (1 in 292M vs 1 in 303M). Both differences are under 4% — nowhere near enough to matter in practice.
If you're going to play regularly, there's a marginal argument for Powerball: the slightly better jackpot odds and the higher multiplier cap (10× via Power Play vs 5× via Megaplier) give you a tiny edge in expected value. But "tiny" here is doing a lot of work — we're talking about a difference measured in fractions of a cent per dollar spent.
A few persistent misconceptions about both games:
You're not. Each drawing is independent. The balls don't have memories. The odds of winning on your 100th ticket are exactly the same as on your 1st.
Numbers aren't overdue. They don't get scheduled. Every ball has the same chance of being drawn each time, regardless of what's come before.
This one is partially true. If you win and other people picked the same numbers, the jackpot is split among all winners. Numbers like 7, 11, 21, and dates (1–31) are more commonly played, so picking numbers above 31 can theoretically reduce the chance of sharing a jackpot. But this affects the payout if you win, not your odds of winning.
10 tickets means 10 times the chance — which sounds better than it is. Going from 1 in 292 million to 1 in 29 million still leaves you at odds roughly comparable to being struck by lightning twice in the same year. The math scales linearly, but the base is so small that multiplying it doesn't get you to a useful probability.
The advertised jackpot is the annuity total — spread over 30 years. The cash lump-sum option is typically about 60% of that. Which is better depends on your tax situation, investment strategy, and personal circumstances. Most financial advisors recommend the lump sum for flexibility, but it's a real trade-off worth discussing with a professional.
If you do decide to play, the Lottery Number Picker generates random numbers for both games. It's cryptographically fair — every combination has exactly the same chance of being picked, and it can generate thousands of sets without repeating if you need to fill out multiple tickets.
A few options that matter:
The picker also supports EuroMillions, Lotto 6/49, and UK Lotto — plus a custom mode where you can set the ranges yourself.
Lottery tickets are entertainment, not an investment. The expected return on a $2 Powerball ticket is roughly $0.60 — meaning you're paying $2 for about 60 cents of expected value. That's fine as a small occasional purchase for the fun of imagining, but it's a terrible long-term "strategy."
If you find yourself playing more than you planned, chasing losses, or spending money you can't afford, please reach out to a problem-gambling service. In the US, the National Council on Problem Gambling operates a 24-hour helpline at 1-800-522-4700. In the UK, GamCare provides support at 0808 8020 133.
Play responsibly, and only with money you won't miss.