Mega Millions vs Powerball: Which Has Better Odds?

America's two lottery giants go head-to-head. Both offer life-changing jackpots, both draw twice a week, and both have made countless millionaires. But when you're choosing which ticket to buy, which one gives you better value?

Jackpot Odds Comparison

Powerball has slightly better jackpot odds—about 10 million to one better. That's a small edge, but over millions of tickets, it matters.

Ticket Cost and Value

Both games cost $2 per play. Mega Millions' Megaplier and Powerball's Power Play both cost an extra $1 and can multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2x-5x. The multiplier features are roughly equivalent in expected value.

Secondary Prize Comparison

This is where differences emerge. Powerball's Match 5 (no Powerball) prize is fixed at $1 million. Mega Millions" Match 5 (no Mega Ball) is also $1 million. But the odds differ: Powerball's Match 5 odds are 1 in 11.7 million vs Mega Millions" 1 in 12.6 million.

The Verdict

Mathematically, Powerball has a slight edge due to better jackpot odds and better Match 5 odds. However, when Mega Millions has a significantly larger jackpot, the expected value calculation can flip. The smart play is to check current jackpot sizes and play whichever has the higher jackpot-to-odds ratio.

View our analysis for both: Powerball | Mega Millions