When you pick a lottery you want to participate in, the first thing you need to do is to compare the jackpot sizes. That means you do not have to play Mega Millions or Powerball all the time (although their jackpots are among the biggest most of the time, you should always check all current jackpots!).
Assuming that the price you pay per ticket is a constant, logic dictates that the higher the jackpot amount is, the better your chances are. This is not about the mathematical odds of picking the correct five main numbers plus the additional numbers required – those odds are a constant, too – defined by the setup of the lottery itself. We are talking about what you could call your expected value – how much do you get IF you win. And that does depend on the size of the jackpot. So it is the size of the jackpot vs. your expenses for a ticket that counts.
How big are the Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots for the next draw?
On our site, you can easily check the current size of the jackpots in the column on the right. This column lists all available jackpots, for all lotteries in the World. So, if there is another lottery offering a higher jackpot than Powerball or Mega Millions today, then you ought to pick that lottery and buy a ticket. You can always come back and get a Powerball ticket another time. Or, if your mind is set on winning Mega Millions, why not buy multiple tickets, both for the current highest jackpot and for Mega Millions?
Some international lotteries may not have jackpots the same size as the big US lotteries, but mostly there is a reason for it – which is that their odds to have the numbers right for the top-tier price are more favorable, which is why the jackpots are being won more frequently and never get into the 200 Million range. But that also means for you that winning big is not as much of a long shot, which might work to your advantage.
You have the option of booking your ticket for multiple draws
Once the Powerball jackpot, for example, has reached a certain amount (like $ 300 Million or more), more players jump at the chance and buy tickets. Once that starts, it is not uncommon for the jackpot to increase by $100 Million from draw to draw. Remember, the highest jackpot in history was over $1,5 billion! Also, take into account that we offer discounts for buying multiple tickets, so picking the option of covering multiple draws is also a good decision from an economical point of view.
That said, making sure to have a ticket for the next draw and the draw after that is a very good idea. You do not want to let your ticket expire before the jackpot has peaked and has been cracked! Imagine your winning numbers could be drawn just the week after you decided not to renew your ticket – that would be a disaster!
To sum it up, always aiming for the current Powerball and/or Mega Millions jackpot only makes no sense at all. Check the list of our lotteries and find out which jackpot is the highest as of today, and give it a try!