Attention, lottery players. There are plenty of ways to win BIG without hitting the jackpot. Multipliers like the Megaplier for Mega Millions and Power Play for Powerball are a low-risk way to add some oomph to your potential winnings. In fact, Jackpocket players in 2022 won $39,600,000 in multiplier bonuses.
Here's how it works: For an extra $1 per game, you can add the multiplier to your ticket, which will multiply your prize amount—not including the jackpot—by up to 10 times, depending on the game. The “multiplier” number is announced along with the winning numbers after the drawing.
Adding the optional multiplier won’t boost your odds of winning, but it will boost your winnings if you do. For Mega Millions, the possible multiplier numbers are 2X, 3X, 4X, and 5X. For Powerball, they are 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, and 10X. Other games with multipliers? Lotto America, Lotto Texas, and Pick-6 in New Jersey!
So, is adding the multiplier worth it? Take a look at these winner stories, and you be the judge.
1. When an Ohio player went from millionaire to MULTI-millionaire
An Ohio lottery player matched 5 of 5 regular numbers on their ticket just missing the Mega Ball. That would usually be a $1 million prize, but this lucky player had opted to add the Megaplier to their ticket. A $1 million win turned into $3 million—and the rest is history.
2. Anytime the 10X(!) multiplier is drawn for Powerball
The very special 10X multiplier is in play whenever the Powerball jackpot is under $150 million. A recent winner in North Carolina played some fortune cookie numbers that came with his order of fried shrimp and rice. He matched 4 out of 5 regular numbers AND the Powerball, for a $50,000 payday.
Thanks to ticking that Power Play box on his ticket, his prize jumped TEN times to $500,000.
3. When $50K turned into $150K in a New York minute
Jackpocket player Ferney in New York picked his own lottery numbers and matched 5 of 6 regular numbers plus the Powerball. The 3X Power Play turned a $50,000 win into a $150,000 windfall.
Our winner said, “The multiplier is what made the prize so big. That $1 made a $150,000 return. I always add the multiplier. Why not?”
Ferney from New York has a win to be thankful for! 🎉
— Jackpocket (@Jackpocket) November 25, 2021
“It came at a really great time. We have a newborn and a struggling business that got hit hard this year. It really brought our spirits up. All the money will go back towards the business and my employees.” pic.twitter.com/C2ImK8Xcdk
4. When a lottery pool won a cool $5 million
In a lottery pool, a bigger win means everyone gets a bigger slice of the prize. A group of 20 co-workers at a medical supply company in Rhode Island joined forces for Mega Millions back in 2016. The “Billy Bunch Microgroup” purchased the Megaplier feature on their ticket, which ended up multiplying their $1,000,000 prize by five. With a $5,000,000 total prize, each member of the group was able to take home $250,000 to put toward retirement, a new car, or a much-needed vacation.
5. When a woman accidentally bought the wrong ticket…but still became a millionaire
A Powerball winner in North Carolina missed the Wednesday night ticket cut-off by one minute, so her ticket went through for the Saturday drawing instead. Her lucky $3 Power Play ticket matched five out of five regular numbers to win $1 million in Saturday's drawing. Her prize was doubled to $2 million when the 2X multiplier was drawn. Happy accidents!
Do you add the multiplier when you play? Let us know @Jackpocket.
