Oct. 22 drawing to bring sweeping changes to Mega Millions

ATLANTA — Mega Millions is growing and getting even better.

Starting with the Oct. 22 drawing, Mega Millions drawings will have larger, faster growing jackpots, million-dollar second prizes and better odds of winning any prize – all for the same $1 per play.

Minimum jackpots will increase from $12 million to $15 million, and jackpots will grow by at least $5 million after each drawing when the jackpot rolls. Tickets reflecting the changes will go on sale Oct. 19.

The enhancements also will feature second-tier jackpot prizes of $1 million, increasing from $250,000.

The Megaplier still is an additional $1, and players can win up to $5 million, increasing from $1 million.

Mega Millions drawings still will consist of five white balls and one Mega Ball, for a total of six winning numbers. The number of white balls will increase to 75, and the Mega Ball will decrease to 15.

Overall odds to win any prize are 1 in 15. Overall odds of winning the jackpot playing Mega Millions are approximately 1 in 259 million.

Mega Millions currently is played in 43 states plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are held Tuesday and Friday evenings at 11 p.m.

As with all other Georgia Lottery games, proceeds from Mega Millions will benefit education in the state of Georgia.

Since its first year, the Georgia Lottery Corp. has returned more than $14.8 billion to the state of Georgia for education. All Georgia Lottery profits go to pay for specific educational programs, including Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia’s Pre-K Program. More than 1.6 million students have received HOPE, and more than 1.3 million 4-year-olds have attended the statewide, voluntary prekindergarten program.

For more information on the Georgia Lottery Corp. and Mega Millions, please visit:

www.galottery.com, www.lotterybenefitsgeorgians.com and www.megamillions.com

WSBTV