Raise your hand if you like big jackpots. Go ahead, raise it – I know you’d love to win one of those billion-dollar prizes. And who can blame you? We all have the same dream… That’s why today we’re recommending you play one of the biggest lotteries in the U.S and the world: Mega Millions.
Mega Millions is one of the largest and most popular lotteries in the world, with jackpots that often reach billions of dollars. In fact, it’s the only lottery in the world to have awarded four jackpots of more than $1 billion.
So how do you play Mega Millions? And most importantly, how do you win Mega Millions?
Here’s everything you need to know to enjoy this exciting lottery game and give yourself a shot at the big one. Let’s get started!
Key points about playing Mega Millions
- Mega Millions ticket cost: $2.00
- Megaplier price: $1
- Drawings: Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 pm E.T
- Jackpots: Starting at $20 million, determined by ticket sales
- Odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot: 1 in 302.6 million
- Overall odds of winning any prize: 1 in 24
- Largest Mega Millions jackpot: $1.602 billion won in Florida on August 8, 2023
What is Mega Millions and how does it work?
Mega Millions is one of the largest and most popular lotteries in the United States. It began on August 31, 1996 as “The Big Game” with drawings held twice a week.
At that time, only six states – Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and Virginia – could play. But that didn’t last long, because as Mega Millions grew in popularity, more states wanted in on the action.
In 2002, the lottery was renamed Mega Millions, and states like New York, Ohio, and Washington joined the game. Today, Mega Millions is available in 45 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Why do people like playing Mega Millions? Well the answer is simple – the prizes.
The Mega Millions jackpot starts at $20 million and grows with each drawing that has no winner. The largest Mega Millions jackpot ever was won in Florida on August 8, 2023 and was a whopping $1.602 billion. It’s the thrid largest jackpot in the U.S.
Step-by-step guide to playing Mega Millions
So how to play Mega Millions? Well, it’s really easy. You select 5 numbers from 1 to 70 for the white balls and 1 number from 1 to 25 for the Mega Ball. You can either pick your numbers manually or choose the Quick Pick option for random numbers.
Once you have your numbers, simply pay for your ticket and wait for the drawing. Each Mega Millions ticket costs $2 and the drawings are every Tuesday and Friday at 11pm E.T.
You don’t even need to watch the drawing live – just use the Lottonia App to check if you’ve won the Mega Millions. Lottonia will automatically check the winning numbers and notify you if any of your numbers match.
To win the Mega Millions jackpot you need to match all five white balls in any order plus the Mega Ball. But don’t worry, that’s not the only juicy prize you can win with Mega Millions!
How much can you win when you play Mega Millions?
When you play Mega Millions, you’re not just dreaming of hitting the jackpot – although that’s what we all hope for.
In addition to the Grand Prize, Mega Millions offers 8 different prize levels, ranging from $2 to $1 million, depending on how many numbers you match.
For example, if you match 4 of the white ball numbers and the Mega Ball, you’ll win $10,000. Pretty cool, right? Your chances of winning this prize are 1 in 931,001.
Did you know that you can also win by just matching the Mega Ball? Your odds of winning a prize just by matching the Mega Ball are 1 in 37.
Here’s a breakdown of all the Mega Millions prizes and your odds of winning each one.
| Match | Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Five numbers + The Mega Ball | Jackpot | 1 in 302,575,350 |
| Five numbers | $1,000,000 | 1 in 12,607,306 |
| Four numbers + The Mega Ball | $10,000 | 1 in 931,001 |
| Four numbers | $500 | 1 in 38,792 |
| Three numbers + The Mega Ball | $200 | 1 in 14,547 |
| Three numbers | $10 | 1 in 606 |
| Two numbers + The Mega Ball | $10 | 1 in 693 |
| One number + The Mega Ball | $4 | 1 in 89 |
| The Mega Ball | $2 | 1 in 37 |
Source: Mega Millions official website
What is the Megaplier and how does it increase your Mega Millions winnings?
But wait… there’s more! The prize amounts we’ve mentioned don’t have to be the final numbers. When you play with the Megaplier option, you can multiply your Mega Millions winnings.
How, you ask?
The Megaplier is a multiplier feature that can increase your non-jackpot prizes up to 5 times. Before each Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday and Friday nights, a Megaplier is drawn from a pool of 15 balls. The breakdown is as follows:
- 5 balls marked 2X
- 6 balls marked 3X
- 3 balls marked 4X
- 1 ball marked 5X
Depending on which number is drawn, your prize will be multiplied by this amount.
And here’s the thing – the Megaplier only applies to secondary prizes, not the jackpot. But let’s face it, the jackpot is already huge, so can you imagine multiplying it by 5?
To play Mega Millions with the Megaplier option, just check the Megaplier box on your ticket and pay an extra $1. But is it really worth it to play with the Megaplier?
We’ve put together a table of Mega Millions prizes and multipliers so you can see for yourself if that extra dollar is worth it!
| Match | Regular Prize | 2X | 3X | 4X | 5X |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Numbers | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $3,000,000 | $4,000,000 | $5,000,000 |
| 4 Numbers + Mega Ball | $10,000 | $20,000 | $30,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 |
| 4 Numbers | $500 | $1,000 | $1,500 | $2,000 | $2,500 |
| 3 Numbers + Mega Ball | $200 | $400 | $600 | $800 | $1,000 |
| 3 Numbers | $10 | $20 | $30 | $40 | $50 |
| 2 Numers + Mega Ball | $10 | $20 | $30 | $40 | $50 |
| 1 Number + Mega Ball | $4 | $8 | $12 | $16 | $20 |
| Mega Ball | $2 | $4 | $6 | $8 | $10 |
How to play the Just the Jackpot Mega Millions?
First of all, what exactly is the Just the Jackpot option and how can it make your Mega Millions play more exciting?
Just the Jackpot is an extra feature in Mega Millions that allows you to play for the jackpot only. This option costs an additional $1, bringing the total price of your ticket to $3. For that price, you get two jackpot-only plays.
Keep in mind, however, that as the name implies, this option is jackpot or nothing. Even if you match some of the other prize numbers, you won’t win unless you hit the jackpot.
Unfortunately, Just the Jackpot isn’t available in all participating states. Currently only 11 states offer this option. These states include:
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- Virgia
- Wyoming
Where to play Mega Millions?
Are you ready to play? Wait, before we go any further, let’s make sure you know in which states this lottery game is available.
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.
FAQs
Can I play Mega Millions online?
Only 11 states currently allow players to buy and win Mega Millions tickets online.
Can tourists play Mega Millions?
Absolutely! You don’t have to be a resident or citizen to play or win Mega Millions. The only requirements to play Mega Millions are that you are of legal age and that you are physically located in the U.S. at the time of purchase.
Learn More: What if foreigners win the U.S lottery?
What do I do if I win the Mega Millions jackpot?
You have two options for claiming your prize: a lump sum or an annuity.
- If you choose the annuity, you’ll receive an immediate payment, followed by 29 annual payments over 30 years, with each payment increasing by 5%.
- If you choose the lump sum, you’ll receive a single cash payment equal to the jackpot prize.
Who won the last Mega Millions Jackpot?
The last Mega Millions jackpot was won in September 2024 by a player in Texas who matched all 6 numbers for a massive $810 million prize.
Want to see the latest Mega Millions results? Check out our post: Did anyone win Mega Millions last night?
Which states win Mega Millions the most?
Since 2002, 28 states have claimed at least one Mega Millions jackpot. New York leads the way with 43 total jackpot wins. Here is a breakdown of Mega Millions jackpot winners by state.
Is Mega Millions better than Powerball?
Honestly, both lotteries are amazing and offer huge prizes to players. Choosing between them depends on your personal preference. But don’t worry – we’re here to help you decide!
Here is everything you need to know about Mega Millions vs Powerball.
Summing up…
Now that you know how to play Mega Millions, you’re ready to join the millions of people who try their luck every week. One last thing – remember to play responsibly and stick to a budget. Never spend more than you can afford to lose.
Don’t forget to download the Lottonia App to pick your numbers and stay up to date with real-time results.
And if you try your luck with Mega Millions, let us know how it goes.
See you soon – good luck!