Have you ever wondered if the state you live in could affect your chances of becoming a Mega Millions winner?
The odds of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 302.6 million. And yes, we all know that winning is a matter of luck and that every number has an equal chance of being drawn. But… could the state you play in make a difference?
The truth is that some states seem to have better luck than others when it comes to winning Mega Millions. States like New York and California have had over 30 Mega Millions jackpot, while others like Louisiana and Colorado haven’t had a single win.
So, does your luck depend on where you live? Are there states that have a better chance of winning Mega Millions? What’s the luckiest state when it comes to Mega Millions?
Well, if you’re wondering any of these questions, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll break down the ranking of states with the most Mega Millions winners. So you can see if your state is one of the lucky ones.
Which states participate in Mega Millions?
Mega Millions is one of the most popular lotteries in the US and offers some of the largest jackpots in the world. It’s available in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the US Virgin Islands.
However, not all states participate in Mega Millions, as some do not have lotteries and therefore do not have winners. The states that do not participate are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.
Here is a complete list of all the states where you can play Mega Millions.
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri and Montana
Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Which states has the most Mega Millions winners?
Since its launch in 2002, Mega Millions has awarded 217 jackpots, 34 of which were over $300 million. These jackpots have been spread across 28 states, but some states are luckier than others with more winners.
New York holds the title for the most Mega Millions winners with an impressive 43 jackpots won. California comes in second with 34 winners, followed by New Jersey with 20 wins.
Below is a list of the states with the most Mega Millions winners, ranked from highest to lowest based on official game data.
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Mega Millions winners by state
States | Year started in Mega Millions | Number of Jackpots Winners | Year of Last Win |
---|---|---|---|
New York | 2002 | 43 | 2023 |
California | 2005 | 34 | 2023 |
New Jersey | 2002 | 24 | 2024 |
Ohio | 2002 | 20 | 2019 |
Michigan | 2002 | 18 | 2021 |
Georgia | 2002 | 16 | 2016 |
Illinois | 2002 | 15 | 2024 |
Texas | 2002 | 14 | 2023 |
Maryland | 2002 | 11 | 2014 |
Virginia | 2002 | 9 | 2016 |
Washington | 2002 | 5 | 2016 |
Massachusetts | 2002 | 5 | 2023 |
Florida | 2013 | 5 | 2023 |
Pennsylvania | 2010 | 3 | 2021 |
Arizona | 2010 | 2 | 2021 |
Indiana | 2010 | 2 | 2016 |
Missouri | 2010 | 2 | 2019 |
North Carolina | 2010 | 2 | 2011 |
Tennessee | 2010 | 2 | 2022 |
Arkansas | 2010 | 1 | 2017 |
Idaho | 2010 | 1 | 2011 |
Kansas | 2010 | 1 | 2012 |
Maine | 2010 | 1 | 2023 |
Minnesota | 2010 | 1 | 2022 |
New Hampshire | 2010 | 1 | 2019 |
Rhode Island | 2010 | 1 | 2018 |
South Carolina | 2010 | 1 | 2018 |
Wisconsin | 2010 | 1 | 2020 |
Colorado | 2010 | 0 | N/A |
Connecticut | 2010 | 0 | N/A |
Delaware | 2010 | 0 | N/A |
District of Columbia | 2010 | 0 | N/A |
Iwoa | 2010 | 0 | N/A |
Kentucky | 2010 | 0 | N/A |
Louisiana | 2011 | 0 | N/A |
Mississippi | 2020 | 0 | N/A |
Montana | 2010 | 0 | N/A |
Nebraska | 2010 | 0 | N/A |
New Mexico | 2010 | 0 | N/A |
North Dakota | 2010 | 0 | N/A |
Oklahoma | 2010 | 0 | N/A |
Oregon | 2010 | 0 | N/A |
South Dakota | 2010 | 0 | N/A |
Vermont | 2010 | 0 | N/A |
West Virginia | 2010 | 0 | N/A |
U.S. Virgin Islands | 2010 | 0 | N/A |
Wyoming | 2014 | 0 | N/A |
For this list, we’re only focusing on data from 2002 onwards. Mega Millions actually started in 1996 as The Big Game and was only available in 6 states. It wasn’t until 2002 that the lottery updated its game matrix and changed the name to Mega Millions.
States with the least Mega Millions winners
While many states have been lucky enough to hit the Mega Millions jackpot, others haven’t been so lucky.
Of the 28 states that have won Mega Millions, nine have had only one winner. These states are: Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.
Other states like Arizona, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, and Tennessee have had two Mega Millions winners each.
However, 19 states have never had a Mega Millions jackpot winner. Does that mean they’re unlucky states? Do players in these places have less chance of winning?
Absolutely not! The lack of winners can be due to a variety of factors, such as ticket sales or how long the state has been participating.
For example, Mississippi only started selling Mega Millions tickets in 2020, which could explain why they haven’t had a winner yet. But as with any lottery, it’s only a matter of time before luck strikes.
On the other hand, New York has been part of Mega Millions since 2002 and has one of the highest participation rates. According to Statista, New York had the highest lottery sales in the country, generating over $10 billion in 2023.
With numbers like these, it’s no surprise that New York is the state with the most Mega Millions jackpot winners.
Close behind were Florida and California, with lottery sales of over $9.8 billion and $9.2 billion, respectively.
What are the top winning states for Mega Millions?
Okay… now that we know which states have the most Mega Millions winners, which state holds the record for the largest jackpot?
The largest Mega Millions prize in history – $1.602 billion – was won by a single player in Florida in 2023.
The second largest jackpot was won in October 2018 in South Carolina. One lucky player claimed a jackpot of $1.537 billion. And while this is the state’s only winner, it certainly made history!
Maine also only had one winner, but guess what? This was the 3rd largest Mega Millions jackpot ever. The prize was $1.348 billion.
So can we really call these states “unlucky”? I don’t think so!
Here are the ten states that have won the biggest Mega Millions jackpots:
- Florida: $1.602 billion (August 8, 2023)
- South Carolina: $1.537 billion (October 23, 2018)
- Maine: 1.348 billion (January 13, 2023)
- Illinois:1.337 billion (July 29, 2022)
- New Jersey: 1.128 billion (March 26, 2024)
- Michigan: 1.05 billion (January 22, 2021)
- Texas: 810 million (September 11, 2024)
- Kansas, Illinois and Maryland: $656 million (March 30, 2012)
- California and Georgia: $648 million (December 17, 2013)
- Illinois: 552 million (June 4, 2024)
If you want to know what the biggest lottery prize ever won in your state is, read our article: Biggest lottery prizes in every state: A Jackpot Journey
What is the best state in which to buy a Mega Millions ticket?
That depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re just looking for statistics and the number of winners, New York would probably be your first choice. After all, it’s the state with the most Mega Millions jackpot winners.
However, if you consider where you can win the most, New York might not be the best option. But why? The taxes.
Remember, all lottery winnings are taxable. If you win more than $5,000, the IRS automatically takes 24%. But that’s not all. Depending on where you live, you may also have to pay state taxes.
Most states tax lottery winnings at rates ranging from 2.9% to 10.9%. And guess what? New York has the highest state tax rate, with a 10.9% tax on your winnings.
Learn more: How lottery winnings are taxed?
So, which is the best state in which to play and win Mega Millions?
While every state gives you the same chance of winning, if we had to choose, California would stand out.
California it’s the second state with the most Mega Millions winners – 34 in total. It is also home to one of the biggest jackpots in history. And to top it all off, there are no state taxes on lottery winnings in California.
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Summing up…
And there you have it – the ranking of states with the most Mega Millions winners. Is your state in the top spots? Leave a comment and let us know if it’s one of the luckiest.
Feeling inspired to try your luck? Who knows-you could be the next lucky winner and help your state move up in the rankings!