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Game ChangeMega MillionsPUBLISHED
Mega Millions moved to a 24-ball Mega Ball pool on April 8, 2025
Published
Bottom Line: Since the drawing of April 8, 2025, Mega Millions has drawn its Mega Ball from a pool of 24 instead of 25. The five main numbers still come from a pool of 70, and results before that date must be read against the older format.
| Item | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Main numbers | 5 of 70 | 5 of 70 |
| Mega Ball | 1 of 25 | 1 of 24 |
| In effect | October 31, 2017 – April 7, 2025 | From April 8, 2025 |
Mega Millions changed its drawing matrix with the drawing of April 8, 2025. The five main numbers are still drawn from a pool of 70, and the Mega Ball is now drawn from a pool of 24 rather than 25.
The format it replaced had been in effect since October 31, 2017: five main numbers from 70 and a Mega Ball from 25, with a separate Megaplier structure. LotteryCorner's result-format records model both eras as date-bounded formats, so a drawing is always read against the rules that were in force on its draw date.
For players, the practical effect is about reading results correctly. A ticket or an archived result from March 2025 belongs to the older format; one from May 2025 belongs to the current one. LotteryCorner's result pages apply the format that matches each drawing's date, so historical results keep their original meaning.
The change is recorded in LotteryCorner's production-derived format definitions, which carry the effective dates for both eras. Anything this article does not state — prices, odds or prize structures — is outside what those records evidence, and we do not guess at it.
Why it matters
- A result from before April 8, 2025 is read against a 25-ball Mega Ball pool; one from after is read against 24.
- Archived drawings keep the format that was in force on their draw date — the change did not rewrite history.
- If a number pattern looks different across the boundary, the format change is the first thing to check.
Worth knowing
Worth Knowing: LotteryCorner's format records model Mega Millions as date-bounded eras — the 2017 format ran from October 31, 2017 through April 7, 2025, and the current format applies from April 8, 2025.
Where to go next
Join the discussion
When a game changes its matrix, what helps you most on a results page — a visible note on the boundary date, or a format label on every drawing?
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Related
Sources and corrections
- Primary source
- LotteryCorner result-format records (production-derived)
- LotteryCorner data used
- LotteryCorner result-format records — Mega Millions effective-date ranges (production-derived)
- Last checked
- Correction status
- No corrections.
- Reporter
- LotteryCorner Editorial Team
- Editor
- LotteryCorner Editorial Team
Play responsibly
Lottery games are entertainment with long odds, not a way to make money. Play with money you can afford to lose, and stop when it stops being fun. Every drawing is independent — nothing in this article changes the odds of any draw.