The first drawing of the new version of the Mega Millions game has delivered increased prizes for lottery players across the United States.

The first drawing under the game’s new prize matrix took place last week, with players winning fives times the value in prizes, equivalent to $3.4 million more than they would have under the old game matrix.

This is due to a new built-in multiplier that improves all winning non-jackpot prizes by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X or 10X, with last week’s drawing seeing 217,904 winners nationwide across the eight different non-jackpot prize tiers.

Combined, they won $4.3 million in total prizes compared to the $840,628 they would have taken home under the old game matrix.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled for our players and for how the new game is being received,” said Joshua Johnston, lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium. “As players are coming into grocery stores, convenience stores, and lottery offices today to collect prizes that are two, three, four, five and ten times what they’ve seen in the past, it’s putting a smile on their faces, because that’s real, everyday money to most people. This is why the game change matters; it’s providing value to our players at every prize level and at every drawing.”

Compared to the old game, the new Mega Millions features bigger prizes at every non-jackpot prize tier, improved odds to win the jackpot, better odds overall, a larger starting jackpot, faster-growing jackpots, and no break-even prizes.

Prizes in the new game range from $10 to $10 million, versus the $2 to $1 million in the old game.

Tickets for the new Mega Millions game now cost $5 per play, with the rise in ticket price marking only the game’s second price adjustment since the first ticket was sold more than 20 years ago.

“It’s also important to remember that launching the new Mega Millions is the culmination of three years’ worth of work and coordination across 47 jurisdictions, and it’s intended to be a fun game that gives players a chance to escape and dream,” continued Johnston. “We recognize that in today’s economic climate, players may be feeling unsettled about the price of everyday goods.

“Mega Millions is about entertainment, and players should always make sure their basic needs are met before purchasing a lottery ticket.”

Mega Millions is the only lottery game that has produced seven jackpot wins exceeding $1 billion each – all in different states.