The quick answer is no – matching only 2 numbers does not win a prize in Mega Millions or Powerball. The one exception is if one of those numbers is the Mega Ball or Powerball, in which case your 2 numbers would pay $4. Let‘s take a deeper look into winning with 2 numbers on these popular lottery games.
Understanding How Mega Millions Works
With jackpots starting at $20 million and frequently climbing over $500 million, it‘s no wonder Mega Millions creates such a buzz. And while hitting the jackpot requires matching all 5 white balls plus the Mega Ball, smaller prizes exist too.
In each Mega Millions drawing:
- 5 white balls are drawn from a pool of 70 numbers (1-70)
- The Mega Ball is drawn from a separate pool of 25 numbers (1-25)
To win the jackpot, you need to match all 5 white balls AND the Mega Ball. The odds of this are about 1 in 302 million!
Now, matching fewer numbers wins smaller prizes:
- Match 5 numbers but not Mega Ball – $1 million (1 in 12 million odds)
- Match 4 numbers and Mega Ball – $10,000 (1 in 931,000 odds)
- Match 4 numbers – $500 (1 in 38,000 odds)
- Match 3 numbers and Mega Ball – $200 (1 in 14,000 odds)
- Match 3 numbers – $10 (1 in 606 odds)
- Match 2 numbers and Mega Ball – $10 (1 in 701 odds)
- Match 1 number and Mega Ball – $4 (1 in 89 odds)
- Match only the Mega Ball – $2 (1 in 37 odds)
As you can see, matching just 2 white numbers alone does NOT win anything. You need to match the Mega Ball as well to win $10. Or match just 1 number and the Mega Ball for a $4 prize.
Long Odds of Matching 2 Numbers
With 70 white balls to choose from, the odds of randomly matching 2 of them are about 1 in 715. And with 25 Mega Balls, the odds of matching that are 1 in 25.
The combined odds of matching 1 white ball AND the Mega Ball are therefore around 1 in 17,900.
At twice weekly drawings, matching 1 number and Mega Ball should mathematically happen once every 5-6 years with random number choices. Of course, you can improve your chances by buying more tickets. But playing smart is better than simply buying more tickets.
How Florida Lottery Winnings Compare
Florida has its own state lottery games with better odds than massive multi-state games like Mega Millions.
For example, matching just 2 numbers in Florida Lotto pays $2. In Fantasy 5, matching 2 numbers wins a free ticket. And in Cash Pop, matching 1 number pays $2.
So while 2 numbers alone isn‘t a winner in Mega Millions or Powerball, Florida‘s own games do offer prizes for matching fewer numbers.
Powerball Also Pays $4 for 1 Number + Powerball
Powerball works very similar to Mega Millions. Players try to match 5 numbers from 1-69 plus the Powerball from 1-26.
And just like Mega Millions, the prize for matching just 1 number and the Powerball is $4.
So while 2 lone numbers doesn‘t win in either major jackpot game, pairing 1 number and the Powerball does pay $4. It‘s a small consolation prize, but better than nothing!
Your Chances Playing Powerball
With 69 white balls and 26 Powerballs, here are the odds of winning different prizes:
- Jackpot (5 + PB) – 1 in 292 million
- Match 5 only – 1 in 11 million
- Match 4 + PB – 1 in 913,000
- Match 4 only – 1 in 36,500
- Match 3 + PB – 1 in 14,300
- Match 3 only – 1 in 580
- Match 1 + PB – 1 in 91
As you can see, the odds of winning Powerball with 2 numbers mirror Mega Millions closely. Matching 1 number and Powerball happens about once every 3 months.
Boost Your Winnings With Power Play and Megaplier
Both Powerball and Mega Millions offer extras to increase non-jackpot winnings.
For an extra $1 per play, you can add:
- Power Play – Multiplies winnings by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or even 10x!
- Megaplier – Can multiply winnings by 2x, 3x, 4x, or 5x.
So matching 1 number and Powerball or Mega Ball normally pays $4. But with Power Play or Megaplier, you could win $8, $12, $16, or up to $40!
Let‘s look at some real examples:
| Date | Game | Tickets Matching 1 Number + PB/MB | Prize |
| 1/3/23 | Mega Millions | 67 | $4 |
| 12/28/22 | Powerball | 87 | $12 (3x Power Play) |
| 11/15/22 | Mega Millions | 62 | $16 (4x Megaplier) |
As you can see, Power Play and Megaplier can really boost the value of a $4 winner!
Quick Pick vs Choosing Your Own Numbers
When playing Powerball or Mega Millions, you have two options for selecting numbers:
- Quick Pick – The computer randomly picks your numbers
- Choose your own – You pick the 5 white balls and Powerball/Mega Ball
Many people have lucky numbers they always play. Others believe random Quick Picks have better odds. But mathematically, your chances of winning are exactly the same either way.
The one advantage of Quick Pick is it avoids duplicate numbers on your ticket. If you choose your own numbers, double check for duplicates so you don‘t waste money!
Most Common Numbers Drawn
Some numbers do seem to get drawn more often than others over the years. Here are the most common Mega Millions numbers based on statistics:
- 14 – Drawn 53 times
- 17 – Drawn 53 times
- 31 – Drawn 50 times
- 38 – Drawn 50 times
- 46 – Drawn 51 times
But Hot and Cold numbers don‘t actually affect your probability for an upcoming draw. Your odds are exactly the same whether you pick frequent numbers or those overdue for a draw.
Recent Drawings With 2 Number Winners
Here are some recent Mega Millions and Powerball drawings where tickets matching 2 numbers won a prize:
- 1/27/23 – Mega Millions – 41 tickets matched 1 number + MB for $4
- 1/25/23 – Powerball – 58 tickets matched 1 number + PB for $4
- 1/17/23 – Mega Millions – 36 tickets matched 1 number + MB for $4
- 1/9/23 – Powerball – 95 tickets matched 1 number + PB for $4
- 12/30/22 – Mega Millions – 57 tickets matched 1 number + MB for $4
As you can see, while not common, there are always at least a handful of tickets that win $4 or more by matching 2 numbers.
How Many Numbers Are Needed To Win Big?
While 2 numbers scores a small consolation prize, you‘ll need to match more to win the really big jackpots and prizes.
Here are the number of matches needed and odds of winning Mega Millions:
- Jackpot (5 + MB) – 1 in 302 million
- $1 Million (Match 5) – 1 in 12 million
- $10,000 (4 + MB) – 1 in 931,000
- $500 (Match 4) – 1 in 38,000
And for Powerball:
- Jackpot (5 + PB) – 1 in 292 million
- $1 million (Match 5) – 1 in 11 million
- $50,000 (4 + PB) – 1 in 913,000
- $100 (Match 4) – 1 in 36,500
So while scoring a free ticket or $4 is exciting, you realistically need 3, 4, or 5 accurate number picks to win big.
Should You Play Powerball or Mega Millions?
Which game gives you better odds and chances to win?
Powerball has better odds of winning smaller prizes like $7 for matching just the Powerball. But Mega Millions has significantly better jackpot odds at 1 in 302 million versus Powerball‘s 1 in 292 million.
Mega Millions also has more secondary prizes like $1 million for matching 5 numbers but no Mega Ball. And a higher $10,000 prize for matching 4 numbers and Mega Ball vs. Powerball‘s $50,000.
So while Powerball has an edge for small prizes, Mega Millions offers better overall odds across all prize levels.
Strategies to Increase Your Odds
While winning either game ultimately comes down to incredibly long odds, there are some smart play strategies that can increase your chances:
- Buy tickets when the jackpot is high – the extra sales means bigger prizes in lower tiers
- Join an office or pool to buy more tickets
- Take advantage of Power Play and Megaplier
- Avoid repeating numbers and use Quick Pick
- Focus your budget on just one game, not both
Many people also use key dates like birthdays to choose numbers. While it doesn‘t improve your odds, it does make the game more fun to play.
Key Takeaways on Winning With 2 Numbers
A few key points to remember about winning small prizes with 2 numbers:
- Matching just 2 white numbers does NOT win a prize
- Pairing 1 number and Mega Ball/Powerball wins $4
- Consider Power Play and Megaplier to boost winnings
- Focus on playing smart – not simply more tickets
- You realistically need 3+ matches and a Ball for big prizes
While the odds are overwhelmingly against winning huge jackpot prizes, smaller amounts are still up for grabs. Matching a couple numbers can net you a free ticket or small cash reward. So go ahead and indulge in the excitement and entertainment of playing Mega Millions or Powerball. Just remember to play responsibly and never wager more than you can afford to lose. Who knows – you might just get fantastically lucky!
