Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) — The Mega Millions lottery is going to raise the price for a ticket from $2 to $5 next year.
This is just the second price increase for the lottery since it started in 2002. Mega Millions claims that the price increase will result in larger jackpots and higher odds for players. The current odds are around one in 300 million.
The higher ticket prices could lead to more money going to state loterries that fund many different government programs. Even so, some Syracuse residents are outraged at the change, such as Stephen Capousis.
“You’re always gonna give it a shot to change your life,” said Capousis. “I think two dollars is a lot easier to spend than five dollars for a lot of people as crazy as that may sound.”
Mega Millions operates in 45 American states, plus Washington, DC and the US Virgin Islands. The lottery’s main competitor is Powerball, whose tickets are sold for $2.