April 7 & 8 Mega Millions and Powerball Changes FAQs
What changes are being made to the Powerball® and Mega Millions® games?
In Powerball: The jackpot for Saturday's (April 4) drawing remains an estimated $180 million annuity, $144.8 million lump-sum option. If the jackpot is won that night, it will reset to a guaranteed $20 million annuity for Wednesday's drawing (April 8). If there is no jackpot winner Saturday, April 4, the game's grand prize will roll to an estimated $190 million annuity for Wednesday. From that point on, the game's starting jackpot and the rate at which the jackpot increases will be based upon sales and interest rates, with no fixed minimums.
In Mega Millions: The jackpot for Friday's (April 3) drawing remains an estimated $121 million annuity, $96.7 million lump-sum option. If the jackpot is won that night, it will reset to a guaranteed $20 million for Tuesday's drawing (April 7). If there is no jackpot winner Friday, April 3, the game's grand prize will roll to an estimated $127 million annuity for Tuesday. From that point on, the game's starting jackpot and the rate at which the jackpot increases will be based upon sales and interest rates, with no fixed minimums.
Will there continue to be both an annuity option and a lump-sum option for the Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots?
Yes, both options will be available.
Why are the Powerball and Mega Millions games changing now?
The COVID-19 public health emergency has drastically changed normal consumer behavior, including ticket purchases in the Powerball and Mega Millions games. Powerball and Mega Millions and the prizes they offer are based upon mathematics. And there simply aren't enough ticket sales right now to continue the games in their previous formats.
Will the price of tickets change?
No, they will not change. The price of a Powerball ticket remains at $2, $3 if you add the Power Play option; and the price of a Mega Millions ticket remains at $2, $3 with the Megaplier.
Can I purchase tickets from home in Iowa?
There are many U.S. states where online lottery play is allowed as long as it is done by someone who is physically within the borders of that state. Here in Iowa, it would take a change in state law for lottery tickets to be purchased online, and that has not occurred yet.
How/when will I know what the Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots are before the drawing?
You should check all your normal sources for this information, like the Iowa Lottery website and app, signs at your local retailer and lottery billboards in your neighborhood. The amounts will be determined on a drawing-by-drawing basis and announced before the next upcoming drawing.
What are you doing for Iowa Powerball and Mega Millions players who bought a ticket before the changes were announced, and could I qualify?
As a goodwill gesture, we're offering free-play coupons that multi-draw players can use in future Powerball and Mega Millions drawings.
For Powerball: To be eligible, you must have purchased a multi-draw ticket in Iowa no later than 4 p.m. April 2 for a Powerball drawing held on April 8 or later.
For Mega Millions: To be eligible, you must have purchased a multi-draw ticket in Iowa no later than 4 p.m. April 3 for a Powerball drawing held on April 7 or later.
What do I have to do to receive a free Powerball play if I qualify?
Players with impacted multi-draw Powerball tickets should keep them for now because they are still eligible for any of the upcoming drawings for which they were purchased.
Below is a link to the form you'll need to complete and send to us to request free-play coupons:
Free Play Request Form
All requests must be postmarked no later than June 30, 2020.
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