Have you ever heard of Mega Millions? It’s no surprise if you have – Mega Millions is one of the most popular lotteries in the United States. Since its launch in 2002, it has expanded to 45 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The reason for its popularity? Those incredible jackpots that often reach sky-high amounts. But how much does a Mega Millions lottery ticket really cost? Is it worth investing your money in this lottery?
Stick with us as we break down everything you need to know about buying your Mega Millions lottery ticket and how you can use additional options to increase your winnings.
How much does a Mega Millions lottery ticket cost?
A Mega Millions lottery ticket costs $2. This price stays the same whether you choose the Quick Pick option, where the computer randomly selects your numbers, or if you prefer to pick your own numbers.
Once you buy your Mega Millions lottery ticket, it’s important that you keep it in a safe place. Surprisingly, many players lose their winnings simply by misplacing their ticket. Without the ticket, there’s no prize, so be sure to keep it in a safe place that only you or someone you trust can access.
To help you remember the numbers you played and easily keep track of your drawings, consider using an app like Lottonia. With Lottonia App you can store and manage all your lottery bets in one place, making it easy to keep track of your numbers and drawings.
How to play Mega Millions?
To play the Mega Millions Lottery, all you have to do is buy a ticket and choose a total of 6 numbers. The first 5 numbers must be from 1 to 70, and the sixth number is the Mega Ball, which ranges from 1 to 25. If all the numbers on your ticket match the numbers drawn, you win the Mega Millions jackpot!
The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302.6 million, which may seem like a long shot, but over the years many players have managed to achieve this big dream.
For more details on the latest winners, see “Did anyone win the Mega Millions last night?
But remember, buying a Mega Millions ticket doesn’t just give you a shot at the jackpot. In addition to the Grand Prize, Mega Millions offers 8 other prize categories, which means there are more chances to win, even if you don’t match all the numbers.
| Match | Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 numbers + The Mega Ball | Jackpot | 1 in 302,575,350 |
| 5 numbers | $1,000,000 | 1 in 12,607,306 |
| 4 numbers + The Mega Ball | $10,000 | 1 in 931,001 |
| 4 numbers | $500 | 1 in 38,792 |
| 3 numbers + The Mega Ball | $200 | 1 in 14,547 |
| 3 numbers | $10 | 1 in 606 |
| 2 numbers + The Mega Ball | $10 | 1 in 693 |
| 1 number + The Mega Ball | $4 | 1 in 89 |
| The Mega Ball | $2 | 1 in 37 |
Mega Millions extra play options
The Mega Millions Lottery offers two extra play options for those who want to increase their chances of winning: Megaplier and Just the Jackpot. Let’s take a look at what these options are and how much they cost.
Megaplier: Is it worth paying extra?
Megaplier is an extra option that allows you to increase the value of your secondary Mega Millions prizes. For just an extra dollar, Megaplier can multiply those prizes up to 5 times, which can make a big difference.
Is it worth it to pay more for your Mega Millions lottery ticket? That depends on your interests, your budget and your mood. What’s certain is that that extra dollar could turn into a significant win.
For example, if you win the third prize of $50,000 and you had a Megaplier on your ticket, your prize will be multiplied by the Megaplier number drawn. If the multiplier is 3, your prize would increase to $150,000. Not bad for an extra dollar!
Learn more about the Megaplier and how to get the most out of your Mega Millions lottery tickets.
Just the Jackpot: What is it and how much does it cost?
Just the Jackpot is another option that you can add to your Mega Millions ticket for an extra dollar. This option gives you an extra chance to win the big jackpot on the same ticket. However, this option only applies to the Jackpot, so you won’t be eligible for the secondary prizes.
Just the Jackpot is perfect if you’re really confident about your 6 lottery numbers and want to play them more than once. Instead of paying $4 for two Mega Millions lottery tickets, you can pay just $3 and save a dollar.
However, Just the Jackpot is not available in all states. To see if it’s available in your state, check the list of states that offer this option on the official lottery website.
Where and how to buy Mega Millions lottery tickets?
To buy a Mega Millions ticket, you need to go to a licensed lottery retailer. These retailers may include supermarkets, gas stations, convenience stores, and other licensed outlets.
You can easily find the retailers closest to your location with the Lottonia App.
What about buying Mega Millions tickets online? Some states allow residents to play the lottery online through official lottery apps or subscriptions. But it’s important to remember that to play Mega Millions online, you must be of legal age and physically present in the state where you are buying. Interstate lottery sales are not allowed, and this rule applies to all lottery games, including Mega Millions.
And do you have to be a US resident to play Mega Millions? No, you don’t have to be a US resident. The only requirements to buy Mega Millions lottery tickets are that you are of legal age and physically present in the country.
When are the Mega Millions drawings?
The Mega Millions drawings are every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 PM ET. But with Lottonia, you don’t have to worry about keeping track of the drawing; the app does that for you. Once you register your tickets, Lottonia will notify you if any of your numbers match the numbers drawn and you’ve won a Mega Millions prize.
How late can you buy Mega Millions lottery tickets?
Usually Mega Millions ticket sales end one or two hours before the drawing. However, in some states like Indiana, Georgia and Connecticut you can buy tickets up to 15 minutes before the drawing.
Be sure to check the specific hours for your state lottery to avoid missing any drawings.
Summing up…
Here’s everything you need to know before you buy your Mega Millions lottery tickets:
- The standard ticket price is $2.
- Adding the Megaplier, which multiplies the value of non-jackpot prizes, costs an additional $1, bringing the total price of your Mega Millions ticket to $3.
- Adding the Just the Jackpot option also costs an additional $1. This option allows you to play the jackpot twice on the same ticket. The total cost of this option is also $3.
- In some states, you can play Mega Millions online. However, in most places you’ll have to visit an authorized lottery retailer to buy your tickets.
- You can choose your own Mega Millions numbers or opt for Quick Pick.
- Mega Millions drawings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11pm ET.
- With Lottonia, you can manage and track all of your Mega Millions bets. Plus, you’ll get drawing results right to your phone.
So, are you ready to buy a Mega Millions ticket? Leave a comment below and let us know if you’re going to give this lottery a try.
See you next time. Good Luck!