Mega Millions vs Carolina Cash 5
Jackpot odds, current jackpot, ticket price, format and prize tiers — side by side.
| Mega Millions | Carolina Cash 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Jackpot odds | 1 in 302,575,350 | 1 in 962,598 |
| Current jackpot | $130 Million | $100K |
| Format (pick / pool) | 5 / 70 + 1 Mega Ball | 5 / 43 |
| Ticket price | $2.50 | $1.00 |
| Prize tiers | 9 | 4 |
| Draws per week | 2 | 7 |
| Draws in our archive | 2,257 since 2005 | 70 since 2026 |
| Biggest jackpot on record | $1.55 Billion (2023) | — |
| Region | USA | North Carolina |
| Results Generate | Results Generate |
🟢 Highlighted = shorter jackpot odds. Jackpot and price are in different currencies, so they are shown as-is, not ranked.
Mega Millions vs Carolina Cash 5
Both are lotteries where you pick a set of numbers and win the jackpot by matching them all. The table above compares the two on the things that actually differ — how long the jackpot odds are, how big the current pot is, what a line costs and how many prize tiers each pays.
Purely on jackpot odds, a single Carolina Cash 5 line is about 314 times more likely to hit its top prize than a single Mega Millions line (1 in 962,598 versus 1 in 302,575,350). That is arithmetic, not advice — the two games’ jackpots, prices and tiers differ too.
In Mega Millions you also pick 1 Mega Ball from a separate 1–24 pool — it is part of your line and of the jackpot itself. Carolina Cash 5 has no separate bonus ball — prizes come from the main numbers alone.
Remember the odds are fixed and independent of any past draw, and every combination is equally likely — a comparison like this is about the games, not a tip on what to play. You can look up either game’s full history and check any line for free on this site.
Frequently asked questions
Which has better odds — Mega Millions or Carolina Cash 5?
Carolina Cash 5 has the shorter jackpot odds — about 1 in 962,598, versus 1 in 302,575,350 for Mega Millions — so a single Carolina Cash 5 line is statistically more likely to hit the top prize. Jackpot size, ticket price and tiers differ too; the table above compares them.
What is the difference between Mega Millions and Carolina Cash 5?
Mega Millions draws 5 / 70 + 1 Mega Ball; Carolina Cash 5 draws 5 / 43. They also differ in jackpot odds, ticket price and prize tiers — the table above lays it out side by side.
Can I play both Mega Millions and Carolina Cash 5?
Yes — they are separate, independent lotteries with their own draws. Playing one has no effect on the other.