Mega Millions is one of the top international lotteries in the world. It is famous for its huge jackpot, which starts at $40 million and can roll over to millions and even billions of dollars. It was established on August 31, 1996, and had its first draw on September 6, 1996. At this point, it was known as the “Big Game.” However, the organizers eventually changed the name to Mega Millions in May 2002.
Do you want to play the Mega Millions? This guide contains step-by-step information on how to play the Mega Millions lottery and other vital information that will help you in the lottery.
Contents
- Do You Play Mega Millions Online [Step by Steps]
- How To Play Mega Millions Quick Pick?
- How Much Does It Cost To Play Mega Millions?
- How Late Can You Buy a Mega Million Ticket?
- When Does the Mega Millions Play
- What States Can You Play Mega Millions
- How Do You Win Mega Millions
- Mega Millions Payout
- What States Don’t Have Mega Millions
- Odds of Winning Mega Millions
- What Happens if You Win the Mega Millions
- FAQs
Do You Play Mega Millions Online [Step by Steps]
There are three ways to play the Mega Millions online – Lottery agent sites, Lottery betting sites, and the Official Mega Millions website. Lottery agent sites serve as an intermediary between you and the lottery organizers. You buy the tickets over their website, and they purchase them on your behalf from the lottery organizers. TheLotter is a famous example.
Lottery betting sites work a little differently from lottery agent sites. They allow you to bet on the outcome of the Mega Millions lottery instead of actually participating in it. You can also head to the official Mega Millions website to buy tickets for the game.
The process of playing on all platforms is the same. You will need a good internet connection, a phone or a laptop, and a payment method. Here is a step-by-step guide that explains it.
Find a Trustworthy Lottery Website
The first step is to find a reliable lottery website that offers the Mega Millions game. You will come across many options, and finding the best one for you may get confusing. This is why you should take your time to select the best. Our recommended lottery agent to play the Mega Millions is TheLotter. They offer an enjoyable and secure gaming experience.
Important Note We already listed the most recommended lottery sites, and you can also get some discounts.
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Create an Account
You will need to create an account before you can play the game. First, visit the official lottery agent website and follow the prompt. You will be redirected to an account registration page to sign up. It involves providing personal information such as your name, age, and email address. Then you will verify your account by clicking the link sent to your mail. Once your account is verified, you can proceed.
Fund Your Account
The next step is to fund your accounts before you can buy tickets and start playing. Proceed to the deposit page and choose a payment method that works for you. Most lottery agent sites offer various payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, e-wallets, and cryptocurrencies.
Proceed to the Lotteries Page to select Mega Millions
After paying and verifying that the payment reflects on your account balance, go to the lottery section and choose Mega Millions.
Make your Lottery Selection
Mega Millions requires players to select five numbers between 1 and 70 and a Mega Ball number between 1 and 70. After making your selection, click “Play” to finalize the transition. It costs $2 per entry into the game. You win the lottery if you can match all the six numbers.
Players can also add the Megaplier feature to multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times. It costs $1 to use the Megaplier.
Wait for the Draw
Mega Millions draws are held on Tuesday and Friday at 11;00 pm Eastern Time. We recommend that you follow the draw so you can immediately know if you win the jackpot or qualify for a prize in lower prize tiers.
Claim Your Prize
The overall odds of winning a prize in Mega Millions is 1 in 24. Confirm if you made any matches from the draw and whether you qualify for a prize. If it is a small prize, it can be credited directly to your account. However, you will have to claim it in person if it is a jackpot or the second place prize.
How To Play Mega Millions Quick Pick?
The Mega Millions Quick Pick is a random number generator that lets the computer system generate random numbers for the lottery selection. It selects five random numbers between 1 and 70 as the main balls and a random number between 1 and 25 as the Mega Ball.
How Much Does It Cost To Play Mega Millions?
It costs $2 to play the Mega Millions. If you decide to use the Megaplier for an extra $1, the overall Mega Millions prize will be $3. The table below compares the prize of the Mega Millions to other lotteries.
Lottery | Prize |
---|---|
Mega Millions | $2 |
Powerball | $2 |
EuroMillions | €2.50 |
EuroJackpot | €2 |
SuperEnalotto | €1 |
Mega Millions also offers a unique plan called Just the Jackpot. This plan allows players to play specifically for the jackpot at a reduced price. With this plan, you can pay for two plays with $3. However, you will only be eligible for jackpot prizes and cannot win secondary prizes.
How Late Can You Buy a Mega Million Ticket?
You can buy the ticket for the Mega Millions lottery up until fifteen minutes before the draw. That is until 10:45 pm on Tuesdays and Fridays. You can also start buying tickets for the next draw as soon as the draw is completed.
When Does the Mega Millions Play
Mega Millions draw starts at 11 pm on Tuesday and Friday Eastern Time. It is broadcast live, and you can watch the Mega Millions drawing on various TV stations, including WGN-TV, ABC-7NY, FOX 29, WSB-TV, and CBS-8. You can also watch the draw on the Mega Millions YouTube page.
Draw Day | Time | Channels to watch the draw |
---|---|---|
Tuesday | 11 pm ET | WGN-TV, ABC-7NY, FOX 29, WSB-TV, CBS-8, WRBL,WXSP-TV, WMKG-TV 28, WLUC-TV |
Friday | 11 pm ET | WGN-TV, ABC-7NY, FOX 29, WSB-TV, CBS-8, WRBL,WXSP-TV, WMKG-TV 28, WLUC-TV |
What States Can You Play Mega Millions
You can play the Mega Millions lottery in 45 states in the USA, plus the US Virgin Islands and the Districts of Columbia.
The table shows the areas in the United States of America where you can play the Mega Millions.
How Do You Win Mega Millions
You win the Mega Millions jackpot by matching all six numbers from the draw. First, you choose five numbers from a pool between 1 to 70. Then you choose the Mega Ball from a pool between 1 to 25. Finally, if you want to add the Megaplier, choose the seventh number from a pool ranging from 2 to 5. Any number you get becomes the Megaplier number.
Anyone who matches at least the Mega Ball in the draw qualifies for a prize. To predict the winning numbers, players employ a variety of methods. Here are some of the ways that players use to win the lottery.
- Do your research before the lottery – Try to learn as much as you can about the rules of the Mega Millions and how to play the game. This will give you an easy time playing the game and make it easy to win.
- Use the luckiest numbers in Mega Millions – Check Mega Millions past results to find the luckiest numbers in Mega Millions – the numbers that appear the most in the draw. It can give an idea of the best numbers to play in the lottery.
- Use Quick Pick – The quick pick randomly generates numbers for the draw. This option saves you time and helps to create your lottery selection instantly.
- Employ Lottery Strategies – You can employ lottery strategies like the Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, and the Wheeling System to create combinations with a high chance of appearing in the draw.
- Lucky Numbers – Using your lucky numbers in the Mega Millions can bring luck to you. Your birth date, anniversary date, or any numbers with a positive association can put the odds in your favor.
Mega Millions Payout
There are nine possible prizes in the Mega Millions lottery. The first prize, which is the jackpot, goes to the player who matches all the six numbers, including the Powerball. Other secondary prizes are awarded to players who match fewer numbers in the draw.
The table below shows the nine prize tiers in the Mega Millions.
Match | Prize |
---|---|
Five Matches + Mega Ball | Jackpot |
Five Matches | $1,000,000 |
Four Matches + Mega Ball | $10,000 |
Four Matches | $500 |
Three Matches + Mega Ball | $200 |
Three Matches | $10 |
Two Matches + Mega Ball | $10 |
One Match + Mega Ball | $4 |
Mega Ball | $2 |
What States Don’t Have Mega Millions
The states of Alabama, Alaska, Hawai, Nevada, and Utah do not offer the Mega Millions lottery. Unfortunately, this means that you can’t buy tickets in these states. However, you can still buy lottery tickets online through lottery agent sites like TheLotter.
States Where You Can’t Play Mega Millions | |||
---|---|---|---|
Alabama | Alaska | Hawaii | Nevada |
Utah |
Odds of Winning Mega Millions
The overall odds of winning any prize in Mega Millions is 1 in 24. The table below shows the odds of winning from the nine prize tiers in the Mega Millions.
Prize Tiers | Odds of Winning |
---|---|
Five Matches + Mega Ball | 1 in 302,575,350 |
Five Matches | 1 in 12,607,306 |
Four Matches + Mega Ball | 1 in 931,001 |
Four Matches | 1 in 38,792 |
Three Matches + Mega Ball | 1 in 14,547 |
Three Matches | 1 in 606 |
Two Matches + Mega Ball | 1 in 693 |
One Match + Mega Ball | 1 in 89 |
Mega Ball | 1 in 37 |
What Happens if You Win the Mega Millions
If you win the lottery, you will get paid to your lottery account if it is a small prize. But if it is the jackpot or the second place prize, you will have to claim it in person. Jackpot winners will get two options – to claim a lump-sum payout or an annuity. If they choose the lump-sum payout, they will get their entire jackpot at once. The annuity options spread the payment over 29 years, with the lottery winner receiving five percent more each year than the previous year.
FAQs
Are Mega Million prizes taxable?
Yes, Mega Millions prizes are taxable. You will have to pay a certain percentage of your winning as federal, state, and local taxes. Federal tax is set at 24 percent for residents and 30 percent for non-US residents. State tax lies between 2.9 percent to 8.82, depending on the state. Finally, local taxes, if applicable, is usually from 1 percent to 5 percent.
How long do I have to collect a Mega Millions prize?
Each state has its own rules on the time you have to claim your Mega Millions prize. Ideally, you have between 90 days to one year from the draw date to collect your Mega Millions prize.
Where can I get results for the Mega Millions?
The results for the Mega Millions draw are announced on the draw. You can follow the draw on the Mega Millions official YouTube page or on television. You can also get results for the Mega Millions on the lottery agent’s website, newspaper, or stores that sell the ticket.
Can a group of people share a Mega Millions prize?
Yes, a group of people can share a Mega Millions prize. If more than one person accurately matches all six numbers in the draw and wins the jackpot prize, they will share it.
Do You have to go public if you win the Mega Millions?
Yes, you must go public if you win the Mega Millions in most states. Lottery winners cannot remain anonymous because Mega Millions lottery winners have to reveal their identity to claim their prizes in all the states except Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, Ohio, and North Dakota.