The newly revamped Mega Millions matrix is providing what players wanted:  bigger jackpots!

Tonight’s jackpot has increased to $297 million thanks to heavy sales volume. The cash value for this jackpot is $158 million!

Mega Millions entered a new era on October 19, 2013, with a matrix change designed to create bigger jackpots, second-tier prizes of up to $5 million with the Megaplier feature, and better overall odds.  Key features for the new game are starting jackpots that increased from $12 million to $15 million and a second-tier prize four times higher, leaping from $250,000 to $1 million. Thanks to the reduced range of the gold Mega Ball numbers, now 1-15—eliminating 31 numbers—players now have a better chance overall to win a prize.

The Megaplier option is still available for an extra $1 per wager. The Megaplier increases all non-jackpot prizes by multiplying the original prize by variables of two, three, four or five. A match of the first five white balls plus the Megaplier option could promise a player a prize of $2 million to $5 million.

Mega Millions drawings are Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 p.m. Tickets are $1 each and must be purchased by 10:45 p.m. to be eligible for that night’s drawing.