Last week, it was announced that Powerball would make changes to its jackpot and between-drawing increases following the next jackpot win. At that time, no changes had been made to Mega Millions. However, today, the organizations and directors responsible for each of the two multi-state lottery games revised those plans and announced the following changes, effective immediately:

Mega Millions Changes

• The jackpot for tonight’s (Fri, Apr 3) Mega Millions drawing will remain guaranteed at $121 million
• If no one wins the jackpot tonight, Apr 3, it will increase to a value of $127 million for the Tue, Apr 7 drawing
• The next time the jackpot is won, whether Apr 3 or later, it will reset to $20 million. The jackpot will reset to $20 million only one time and when that jackpot is won, the new starting amount will be determined by game sales and interest rates. Guaranteed minimum jackpots will be eliminated
• Following the Apr 7 drawing, the growth of each subsequent drawing’s advertised jackpot will be determined by game sales and interest rates. Guaranteed minimum increases will be eliminated

Powerball Changes

• The jackpot for the Sat, Apr 4, drawing will remain guaranteed at $180 million
• If no one wins the jackpot on Apr 4, it will increase to a guaranteed $190 million for the Wed, Apr 8, drawing
• If the jackpot is won on Apr 4, however, it will reset to $20 million for the Apr 8 drawing
• Following the drawing on Apr 8, the growth of each subsequent drawing’s advertised jackpot will be determined by game sales and interest rates. Guaranteed minimum increases will be eliminated
• Guaranteed starting jackpot amounts following a jackpot win on or after Apr 8 also will be eliminated and will be determined by game sales and interest rates

Washington is one of 45 states in which Mega Millions and Powerball tickets are sold. These changes apply to all participating lotteries and are in response to:

• Increasingly-limited opportunities to purchase tickets given reduced operating hours of many authorized lottery retailers
• Multiple states enacting orders that are similar to Washington’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” directive
• Reduced interest rates due to the current public health crisis, which is limiting the rate at which jackpots can grow

Mega Millions drawings occur at 8:00 p.m. Pacific time every Tuesday and Friday. Ticket sales for each drawing are cut-off at 7:45 p.m. Pacific the day of the drawing, and resume at 7:46 p.m. Pacific with tickets being sold for the following drawing.

Powerball drawings occur at 7:59 p.m. Pacific time every Wednesday and Saturday. Ticket sales for each drawing are cut-off at 6:45 p.m. Pacific the day of the drawing, and resume at 6:46 p.m. Pacific with tickets being sold for the following drawing.

Washington’s Lottery will continue to update players of any relevant changes that may occur to these or any other games.

###

Press Contact
Dan Miller (Curator on behalf of Washington’s Lottery)
E-mail: dan.miller@curatorpr.com