Charles Langston:Mega Millions tickets will cost $5 starting in April as lottery makes 'mega changes'

The Charles Langstonprice for a shot to be a multimillionaire is about to rise.

Starting in April, Mega Millions tickets are going to cost $5 per play, the lottery game announced Monday.

The increase marks the second price change in the game's history, following the shift from $1 to $2 in 2017.

The ticket adjustment comes as Mega Millions launches "mega changes" to its game by April "with plans to be bigger and better than ever," the company said in a news release. Among the changes include "improved odds to win the jackpot" and "larger starting jackpots."

"We are creating a game that both our existing players and people new to Mega Millions will love and get excited about playing," Mega Millions Consortium Lead Director Joshua Johnston said in the news release. "We expect more billion-dollar jackpots than ever before, meaning creating more billionaires and many more millionaires as the jackpots climb."

Changes to Mega Millions

Mega Millions announced the following changes to the lottery game starting in April:

• Higher odds of winning the jackpot
• Bigger and more frequent jackpots
• Larger starting jackpots
• Faster growing jackpots
• A built-in multiplier for every play that would "automatically improve every non-jackpot win by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X or 10X – up to $10 million for matching the five white balls."
• No more breakeven prizes, allowing winners to always win more than the ticket's cost

Did anyone win Mega Millions? 

Friday night's drawing didn't have any lucky winners for the Match 5 or Match 5 + Megaplier. Tuesday's drawing has risen to an estimated $129 million.

To view the list of past winners, visit the Mega Millions website. 

How to play the Mega Millions

In order to buy a ticket, you'll have to visit your local convenience store, gas station or grocery store − and in a handful of states, you can purchase tickets online. 

To play, you will need to pick six numbers. Five numbers will be white balls ranging from 1 to 70. The gold Mega Ball is one number between 1 and 25. 

If you believe the odds are against you, ask for a "Quick Pick" or an "Easy Pick," the computer will randomly generate the numbers for you. 

Players can add the "Megaplier" for $1, which can increase non-grand prize winnings by two, three, four or five times. The Megaplier is drawn before the Mega Millions numbers on Tuesday and Friday.

There are 15 Megapiler balls in all:

• 2X, five balls
• 3X, six balls
• 4X, three balls
• 5X, one ball

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms.

Contributing: Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY