Mega Millions
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Hot and Cold Numbers
Five Hot Numbers
- 19
- 26
- 33
- 61
- 68
Five Cold Numbers
- 2
- 5
- 21
- 22
- 30
One Hot Mega Ball Number
- 25
One Cold Mega Ball Number
- 1
Jackpot History
Prizes and Odds
Match | Prize | Odds |
---|---|---|
5 + Mega Ball | Jackpot | 1 in 302,575,350 |
5 | $1,000,000 | 1 in 12,607,306 |
4 + Mega Ball | $10,000 | 1 in 931,001 |
4 | $500 | 1 in 38,792 |
3 + Mega Ball | $200 | 1 in 14,547 |
3 | $10 | 1 in 606 |
2 + Mega Ball | $10 | 1 in 693 |
1 + Mega Ball | $4 | 1 in 89 |
0 + Mega Ball | $2 | 1 in 37 |
Overall chances of winning any prize in Mega Millions are 1 in 24.
Megaplier Multiplier Prizes
Match | Original Prize | 2x | 3x | 4x | 5x |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $3,000,000 | $4,000,000 | $5,000,000 |
4 + Mega Ball | $10,000 | $20,000 | $30,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 |
4 | $500 | $1,000 | $1,500 | $2,000 | $2,500 |
3 + Mega Ball | $200 | $400 | $600 | $800 | $1,000 |
3 | $10 | $20 | $30 | $40 | $50 |
2 + Mega Ball | $10 | $20 | $30 | $40 | $50 |
1 + Mega Ball | $4 | $8 | $12 | $16 | $20 |
0 + Mega Ball | $2 | $4 | $6 | $8 | $10 |
Megaplier Odds
Megaplier | Odds |
---|---|
2x | 1 in 3 |
3x | 1 in 2.5 |
4x | 1 in 5 |
5x | 1 in 15 |
Schedule
Tuesday | Friday | |
---|---|---|
Draw Time | 11:00 p.m. ET | 11:00 p.m. ET |
Sales Stop | Varies by state | Varies by state |
10 Biggest Mega Millions Jackpots
Rank | Jackpot | Numbers | Date Won |
---|---|---|---|
1st | $1.537 Billion |
|
Oct 23, 2018 |
2nd | $1 Billion |
|
Jan 22, 2021 |
3rd | $656 Million |
|
Mar 30, 2012 |
4th | $648 Million |
|
Dec 17, 2013 |
5th | $543 Million |
|
Jul 24, 2018 |
6th | $536 Million |
|
Jul 08, 2016 |
7th | $533 Million |
|
Mar 30, 2018 |
8th | $522 Million |
|
Jun 07, 2019 |
9th | $451 Million |
|
Jan 05, 2018 |
10th | $437 Million |
|
Jan 01, 2019 |
Things to Know
- Mega Millions is played in 45 states in the U.S. as well as the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- It was introduced in 1996 as the Big Game and then relaunched in 2002 as The Big Game Mega Millions temporarily, before being renamed Mega Millions.
- The largest Mega Millions jackpot ever won was $1.537 billion in 2018.
- California doesn’t offer the Megaplier.
- New York and California have had the most winners for Mega Millions.
How to Play
- Pick five numbers from 1 to 70.
- Pick a Mega Ball number from 1 to 25.
- Decide whether to play the Megaplier for an extra $1.
- Check if you’ve won.
Ticket Cost
- $2 per play.
- $1 to add the Megaplier.
Advanced Draws
Mega Millions players have the option of purchasing tickets for draws in advance. However, the maximum number of draws varies by jurisdiction. Here’s a complete list of the participating jurisdictions and their corresponding limits on advance draw purchases for Mega Millions.
State | Advanced Draws |
---|---|
Arizona | up to 10 |
Arkansas | up to 20 |
California | up to 10 |
Colorado | up to 26 |
Connecticut | up to 26 |
Delaware | up to 10 |
District of Columbia | up to 20 |
Florida | up to 26 |
Georgia | up to 26 |
Idaho | up to 10 |
Illinois | up to 25 |
Indiana | up to 10 |
Iowa | up to 10 |
Kansas | up to 15 |
Kentucky | up to 26 |
Louisiana | up to 20 |
Maine | up to 20 |
Maryland | up to 15 |
Massachusetts | up to 15 |
Michigan | up to 30 |
Minnesota | up to 14 |
Mississippi | up to 26 |
Missouri | up to 15 |
Montana | up to 24 |
Nebraska | up to 24 |
New Hampshire | up to 20 |
New Jersey | up to 8 |
New Mexico | up to 20 |
New York | up to 26 |
North Carolina | up to 26 |
North Dakota | up to 9 |
Ohio | up to 10 |
Oklahoma | up to 10 |
Oregon | up to 20 |
Pennsylvania | up to 26 |
Rhode Island | up to 26 |
South Carolina | up to 20 |
South Dakota | up to 9 |
Tennessee | up to 10 |
Texas | up to 10 |
U.S. Virgin Islands | N/A |
Vermont | up to 20 |
Virginia | up to 26 |
Washington | up to 10 |
West Virginia | up to 24 |
Wisconsin | up to 8 |
Wyoming | up to 20 |
History
Mega Millions is a massive U.S. lottery with jackpots that are frequently in the range of hundreds of millions of dollars. Read on for a brief history of this ever-popular game.
- 1996
- The Big Game was launched in Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Virginia.
- One draw was held every Friday.
- Game Matrix: 5/50 + 1/25.
- The first draw took place in September 1996.
- 1998
- Tuesday was added as a new draw day in February.
- 1999
- New Jersey started selling tickets.
- New game matrix: 5/50 + 1/36.
- The cash payout option was introduced.
- 2002
- The Big Game was temporarily renamed The Big Game Mega Millions before it was changed to Mega Millions.
- The first draw took place on May 17.
- Ohio, New York, and Washington started selling tickets.
- New game matrix: 5/52 + 1/52.
- 2003
- Texas started selling tickets.
- A new multiplier called the Megaplier was launched only in Texas.
- 2005
- California started selling tickets.
- New game matrix: 5/56 + 1/46.
- 2010
- By the end of January, 23 more states started selling tickets.
- Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, Arizona, Maine, Colorado, South Dakota, and the U.S. Virgin Islands joined Mega Millions.
- 2011
- Louisiana started selling tickets.
- Megaplier became available in all the participating jurisdictions except California.
- 2013
- Florida started selling tickets.
- New game format: 5/75 + 1/15.
- 2014
- Wyoming started selling tickets.
- 2017
- New game format: 5/70 + 1/25.
- The starting jackpot was set at $40 million.
- Just the Jackpot variation was added in all the participating jurisdictions.
- 2020
- Mississippi started selling tickets.
- The starting jackpot guaranteed value was removed, and it is now dependent on the ticket sales and interest rates.
- The $5 million minimum jackpot increase on rollovers was removed.
FAQs
How do I play Mega Millions?
Pick five numbers from 1 to 70 and a Mega Ball number from 1 to 25, or select Quick Pick. Add the Megaplier option for a chance to multiply any non-jackpot winnings.
What is the Quick Pick option?
The Quick Pick play generates random numbers to use in the draw so that you don’t have to come up with your own.
What is the Mega Ball number?
It’s the sixth number on your ticket, ranging between 1 and 25. Matching it wins you at least $2.
What is the Mega Millions Megaplier?
A Megaplier number from 2 to 5 is drawn on the night of every Mega Millions draw. Players who select the Megaplier option have their non-jackpot prizes multiplied by that number. All the states offer the Megaplier option except for California. The Megaplier costs an additional $1.
What are the payout options for the Mega Millions jackpot?
If you win a Mega Millions jackpot, you can choose to have it paid out across 29 years as an annuity or all at once.
Why is the cash lump sum on a Mega Millions jackpot less than the advertised annuity option?
The cash lump sum is the money available for the jackpot that is generated from the sale of Mega Millions tickets. The annuity option accounts for this amount as well as the extra cash generated by the investment made in government bonds over 29 years.
When are Mega Millions draws held?
Mega Millions draws take place on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 p.m. ET, 8:00 p.m. PT, 10:00 p.m. CT, and 9:00 p.m. MT.
Where do the Mega Millions draws take place?
Draws are held in Atlanta, Georgia, at WSB-TV.
If I buy my Mega Millions ticket in one state, can I redeem my prize in another state?
No. Mega Millions is sold by individual state lotteries, so you must redeem your winning ticket in the state in which it was purchased.
Where is Mega Millions played?
Mega Millions is played in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, 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, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
How do I know if I’ve won a Mega Millions play?
Check the Lottery USA homepage or our Mega Millions page. You can also use our Mega Millions number checker.
Do you have more Mega Millions questions? Contact us, and we’d love to help you out.