Apollo AI Research Desk · · 7 min read
Powerball and Mega Millions are the two biggest lottery games in the US. They look similar, but the details differ.
| Powerball | Mega Millions | |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket price | $2 | $5 |
| Main numbers | 5 from 1–69 | 5 from 1–70 |
| Extra ball | Powerball from 1–26 | Mega Ball from 1–24 |
| Draw days | Monday, Wednesday, Saturday | Tuesday, Friday |
| Jackpot odds | About 1 in 292.2 million | About 1 in 290.5 million |
| Multiplier | Optional Power Play add-on | Built into every ticket |
Mega Millions changed its format in April 2025. Game rules can change again, so always confirm on the official game website or your state lottery site.
Which one should you play?
Neither has meaningfully better jackpot odds. The choice comes down to ticket price, draw days and which multiplier setup you prefer.
Apollo AI focuses on daily and pick-5 games, not these multi-state jackpots. For those, our Combination Builder page explains what a generated set can and can't do.
Keep your game's history organized. Apollo AI costs $147 once and includes a 14-day money-back guarantee.
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