# Prize Structure Megapot offers 10 winning prize tiers, giving you many ways to win beyond just the jackpot. With 1 in 4 tickets winning something, your chances of walking away with a prize are better than you might expect. *** ## How Tickets Work Each ticket costs $1 USDC and contains: * **5 normal numbers** (selected from 1-30) * **1 bonusball** (selected from a separate, dynamic range) You can pick your own numbers or use Quick Pick for random selections. Either way, your ticket is minted as an NFT that you own. *** ## Prize Tiers There are 10 winning combinations, ranging from matching just the bonusball to hitting the full jackpot: | Normal Matches | Bonusball | Premium Allocation | Description | | -------------- | --------- | ------------------ | ------------------------------ | | 5 | Yes | 40% | The big one - match everything | | 5 | No | 6% | All 5 normal numbers | | 4 | Yes | 6% | 4 normals + bonusball | | 4 | No | 6% | 4 normal numbers | | 3 | Yes | 6% | 3 normals + bonusball | | 3 | No | 12% | 3 normal numbers | | 2 | Yes | 12% | 2 normals + bonusball | | 2 | No | 0% | 2 normal numbers | | 1 | Yes | 12% | 1 normal + bonusball | | 1 | No | None | 1 normal | | 0 | Yes | 0% | Bonusball only | | 0 | No | None | None | **What does NOT win:** * No matches at all (0 normal numbers, no bonusball) * 1 normal number only (no bonusball) *** ## How Payouts Are Calculated Megapot uses a two-part payout system that combines guaranteed minimums with premium payouts. Here is how it works: ### Step 1: Guaranteed Minimums Each winning tier (except no-win combinations) has a guaranteed minimum payout per ticket. This means if you win, you are assured at least a baseline prize. ### Step 2: Calculate Total Guarantees Before distributing premiums, the system calculates all potential winners across the ticket pool. This includes any unpurchased ticket combinations. ### Step 3: Create the Premium Pool After all guaranteed payouts are set aside, what remains becomes the "premium pool." This is the extra prize money available on top of the guaranteed minimums. ### Step 4: Distribute Premium Payouts Each tier is assigned a percentage of the premium pool based on how many numbers you matched. Higher tiers receive a larger share of the premium. ### Step 5: Final Payout Your total payout = Guaranteed minimum + Your ticket's share of the premium for your tier *** ## What About Duplicate Numbers? Since players can choose their own numbers, multiple tickets might share the same winning combination. Here is how that affects payouts: **Guaranteed portion**: Every winning ticket receives the full guaranteed minimum, regardless of duplicates. If 10 tickets share the same winning numbers, all 10 get the guaranteed payout. **Premium portion**: The premium for that tier is split among all winning combinations (including unpurchased tickets) for that tier *plus* duplicate tickets. More duplicates mean a smaller premium share for each. **What this means for you**: Picking unique number combinations can result in larger payouts if you hit a premium tier, since you would not be splitting the premium with others who chose the same numbers. *** ## Understanding Your Odds ### Why Odds Vary Your odds of winning depend on two factors: 1. **Normal numbers**: Always selected from 1-30 2. **Bonusball range**: This is dynamic and adjusts based on prize pool size ### Dynamic Bonusball Range The bonusball range changes to keep the system sustainable: * **Larger prize pool** = Wider bonusball range = Harder jackpot odds * **Smaller prize pool** = Narrower bonusball range = Better jackpot odds This adjustment ensures the prize pool can cover expected payouts while still offering meaningful prizes. ### The Numbers * **1 in 4 tickets** wins something across all tiers * **Lower tiers** (matching just the bonusball or 1-2 numbers) have reasonable odds * **Jackpot odds** are long, as with any major lottery ### Compared to Traditional Prize Games Megapot returns approximately 70% of ticket sales as prizes, compared to 50% or less for many traditional operators. This means more of each dollar goes back to winners. However, like any lottery, the jackpot remains a long shot. The difference is that Megapot is transparent about the odds, and you can verify exactly how every drawing works on-chain. *** ## Expected Value We believe in being upfront: like all lotteries, Megapot has a house edge. For every $1 ticket: * **\~70%** is returned as prizes to winners * **\~20%** goes to Backers (who fund the prize pool) * **\~10%** goes to Referrers (who help grow the community) This means the expected return per ticket is approximately $0.70. You are paying for the chance to win, not for a guaranteed return. The difference from traditional games: instead of ticket revenue leaving the ecosystem, that 30% goes directly to community members (Backers and Referrers) who make Megapot possible. *** ## Prize Pool Size and Payouts The size of the prize pool directly affects your potential winnings: * **Larger pool** = Bigger prizes across all tiers * **More tickets sold** = More revenue = Larger pool The jackpot grows as more players participate. The current jackpot is always displayed before you buy, so you know exactly what is at stake. *** ## Key Takeaways 1. **10 winning tiers** - Many ways to win beyond the jackpot 2. **1 in 4 tickets wins** - Better odds of winning something 3. **Guaranteed minimums** - Every winner gets at least the baseline 4. **Premium payouts** - Extra winnings on top of guarantees 5. **Unique numbers matter** - Avoid duplicates for potentially larger premiums 6. **\~70% back to winners** - More than traditional operators return 7. **Transparent odds** - Everything is verifiable on-chain *** ## Next Steps * [How to Play](https://docs.megapot.io/getting-started/how-to-play) - Buy your first ticket * [Provably Fair](https://docs.megapot.io/getting-started/provably-fair) - How randomness is generated * [The Ecosystem](https://docs.megapot.io/learn/the-ecosystem) - How Players, Backers, and Referrers work together