DELMARVA -- Officials with Mega Millions announced that starting Tuesday, April 8th, tickets would more than double in price; going from $2 to $5 a ticket.
When Laura Smallwood went to buy tickets at the Crossroads Food Mart in Salisbury Tuesday morning, she said she was disappointed in the price increase. Smallwood said she decided to opt out of purchasing a Mega Millions ticket due to the higher cost.
"It's ridiculous because people are having a hard enough time with the food prices going up and everything else," Smallwood said. "I'm gonna go to the Powerball because Mega Millions is too expensive."
Smallwood said the price hike will make the game less accessible for lower and middle-class players.
"It makes it harder when you're just trying to help yourself and your family by playing the game, and then they go and raise the cost," Smallwood said.
Brice Shockley also stopped by the store to buy lottery tickets on Tuesday and said he was put off by the higher price tag.
"It's pathetic," Shockley said. "I guess the scratch-offs will go up here shortly too. Everything's more expensive. It's getting to the point now where you can barely live, and you can barely survive."
Mega Millions officials said the higher prices aim to benefit players. According to officials, the higher ticket cost will boost the average jackpot amount, and help it grow more quickly.
Mega Millions officials also said the price increase allows them to increase the odds of winning the jackpot. The previous odds were reportedly 1 in 303 million, and have since gone down to 1 in 290 million due to fewer numbers in the pool, according to officials.
Tom Phippin, another Maryland player, said the new price tag is worth the increased odds.
"I'll absolutely keep playing," Phippin said. "It's really not that much cause if you win, you end up getting more."
That price increase is now effective nationwide. The next drawing for the currently 54 million-dollar Mega Millions jackpot is at 11 pm EST on April 8th, 2025.