Player Question: Are The Multipliers Really Random?

A player just sent us a question you may have wondered about as well when it comes to the multiplier option in our lotto games, and how that number is selected.

In Powerball®, the multiplier feature is called the Power Play®; in Mega Millions®, it’s the Megaplier®; and in Lotto America®, it’s the All Star Bonus® option.

In each of the games, adding that option to your play will multiply any prize you win (except the Match 5 prize in Powerball and the jackpot in any of the games) by the multiplier number in that night’s drawing.

If the multiplier is 2X, the prize you win will be doubled. If it’s 3X, the prize will be tripled, and so on. Each of the games has its own probability for the multiplier feature.

Let’s use a real-world example from the Powerball game: A Powerball ticket costs $2 per play, and you can add the Power Play multiplier option for an extra $1 per play. For the Powerball drawing involving your ticket, you match four of the first five numbers but miss the Powerball. The Power Play number that night is 4X. You normally would win $100, but because you added the Power Play option to your ticket, your prize would be multiplied to $400.

The details about the multiplier feature are included in the game rules for Powerball, Mega Millions and Lotto America. The multiplier option in each game is selected from its own pool of numbers that is separate from the rest of the drawing.

Here is how the numbers look for the Megaplier option: There are 15 numbers in the Megaplier pool. Of those 15 numbers, 5 are 2s, 6 are 3s, three are 4s, 1 is a 5. Here’s what that looks like in table form:

15 Total Numbers In Megaplier Pool
        2X = 5
        3X = 6
        4X = 3
        5X = 1

So, does it stand to reason that the Megaplier number will more often be a 2 or 3? Yes. But the other multipliers also have a shot.

Comments

[Mary Neubauer]

Hi, Dan. The situation referenced there is from about 3 1/2 years ago. Here is the blog we wrote about it back in September 2019: https://www.ialotteryblog.com/2019/09/settlement-website-phone-number-announced-for-claims-in-jackpot-lawsuit.html

[Dan King]

Better look again it was in the Des Moines Register and it involved the Tipton brothers someone sued the lottery and was awarded 2.9 million and the rest was to be awarded to other players who file a claim.

[Mary Neubauer]

Hi, John. You have presented a different take on the issue of "how." The multiplier number in each game is determined by a random-number generator drawing.

[John F. Johnson]

A player just sent us a question you may have wondered about as well when it comes to the multiplier option in our lotto games, and how that number is selected.

In the reply to the above inquiry you failed to answer the question, "how that number is selected".

I would like to know "how" the number is selected. For instance, Is it drawn out of a hat?; Is it a computer-generated number?; Is it a ball drop like the rest of the lottery numbers?

Thanks for clarifying this for us. I am a little dense when it comes to some things.

[Mary Neubauer]

Hi, Dan. I'm unaware of any current details like that.