National games
Powerball, Mega Millions and the smaller multi-state games are sold through state lotteries but run by national associations. The odds, prices and draw days are identical everywhere; the tax and claim rules follow the state where you bought the ticket.
6 reviewed · ranked by overall score · how we score
Powerball
A mainstream jackpot game with clearly published odds; the 1 in 24.87 any-prize figure is typical, and the 1 in 292M jackpot dominates the pitch.
All national games
Powerball
The multi-state $2 jackpot game: 1 in 292.2M for the top prize, 1 in 24.87 to win any prize.
Best for: Players who want the biggest jackpots and accept long jackpot odds.
Mega Millions
The $5 multi-state jackpot game with the multiplier included: 1 in 290.5M top prize, 1 in 23 any prize.
Best for: Jackpot chasers who prefer a single higher-priced play with the multiplier included.
Millionaire for Life
MUSL's nightly $5 game (from 22 Feb 2026): $1M a year for life, any prize 1 in 8.46.
Best for: Players who want frequent small wins and a lifetime-income top prize rather than a mega-jackpot.
Lotto America
MUSL's $1 game with a Star Ball: jackpot 1 in 25,989,600, any prize 1 in 9.63.
Best for: Budget players in participating states who want better odds and smaller jackpots.
Jackpot USA
MUSL's $20 multi-state progressive fast-play jackpot: no drawings, 1 in 1,000,000 for the jackpot.
Best for: High-stakes instant-game players in DC, Idaho or Ohio chasing a progressive jackpot.
Powerball Xs & Os
MUSL's $5 weekly NFL-logo game: pick 8 teams, rolling jackpot, any prize 1 in 12.16.
Best for: Football fans in participating states who want a once-a-week, mid-price game.
Who actually runs these games
Powerball is run by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), a nonprofit owned by its member lotteries. Mega Millions is run by a consortium of state lotteries. Neither sells tickets directly: you buy from your state lottery, which hands the game its share of sales. That matters when something goes wrong, because your contract is with the state, not the association.
How we score national games
Odds and value compare the published probability of any prize against ticket price, and the share of sales returned as prizes. Transparency rewards games that publish full odds tables, draw procedures and audit arrangements. Because these games are sold through 45 or more regulated lotteries, player protection and reputation scores lean on the game's own rules and recent history, not on any single state.
How we rate. Scored on a published six-criterion rubric. Every figure links to an official source and shows the date it was checked. We sell nothing. Methodology