You’re one of the 300+ million people playing the Mega Millions jackpot, but only one of you will go home with the big $40 million. The odds of winning the US Mega Millions is 1:302,575,350 and it seems like a far stretch. So, here’s a detailed guide to discover all the tricks of the Mega Millions organizers and go home with the jackpot.
Contents
What Are the Odds of Winning Mega Millions?
The chances of winning the jackpot are 1:302,575,350. However, your overall chance of winning a prize lies at 1:14.7. That’s because Mega Millions offers nine reward tiers. The two weekly draws give you a couple of chances to win the lottery every week. Mega Millions uses a two-drum concept, which proved to be exciting for players. If you are looking for an adrenaline rush, you can’t go wrong with this lottery!
How to Take Advantage of Knowing the Odds of Mega Millions
The initial requirement is to understand the rules. Mega Millions uses a 5/75 + 1/16 concept, which means it’s a two-drum matrix. Here are different ways how learning more about your odds in this game can help!
How to Use Math for Increasing the Odds of Winning
The laws of probability and statistics are often applied in different lottery strategies. For example, some players like to perform deep mathematical analysis when coming up with numbers for their tickets. Here are the most common tips they use:
How Lottery Syndicates Affect the Odds of Winning Mega Millions
Syndicates allow you to join other players and participate in the same draw together. Then, you combine the funds to purchase more tickets. The math is simple – the more tickets you buy, the better chances of winning. You’ll find that Mega Millions syndicates are among the most popular online.
Can Random Numbers Increase Your Odds?
If you use a randomizer, make sure to use the one offered by the official lottery vendor. Although they pick random numbers, some rules for creating a balanced combination still apply. Apart from choosing random options, you can go for your horoscope lucky numbers or any other you believe in bringing you good fortune.
Mega Millions Odds and Prizes Chart
Mega Millions makes playing fun with nine prize tiers. The majority includes the MegaBall from the second drum. You can win some rewards, including the second tier, by guessing the numbers from the main pot right. Here is the overview of your chances when playing Mega Millions!
| Requirements | Odds | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + MB | 1:302,575,350 | Jackpot (minimum $40 million) |
| 5 | 1:12,607,306 | $1 million |
| 4 + MB | 1:931,001 | $10K |
| 4 | 1:38,792 | $500 |
| 3 + MB | 1:14,547 | $200 |
| 3 | 1:606 | $10 |
| 2 + MB | 1:693 | $10 |
| 1 + MB | 1:89 | $4 |
| 0 + MB | 1:37 | $2 |
You have a shot of 302,575,350 to win the Mega Millions jackpot. As usual, the main reward requires guessing all numbers drawn correctly. The minimum guaranteed sum is $40 million, but it increases with each round. That’s how Mega Millions jackpots turned out to be some of the biggest lottery winnings ever. The second tier is $1 million, but you can increase it if you play the Megaplier. It’s how they call the multiplier in this game. Winning this prize requires beating the odds of 1:12,607,305. You are only a number short of winning the Mega Millions jackpot with this tier. You can expect $10K in return if you beat the odds of 1:931,001. It’s interesting that this reward tier is five times higher in US Powerball. If you miss a single number from the main pot, the “consolation” reward is $500. The odds of winning this tier are 1:38,792. You need to beat the odds of 1:14,547 to win this prize. It’s a demanding task, and the expected return is $200, which is about 100 times the ticket price. Having three numbers on your ticket means you guessed more than half of those drawn from the main pot. Your odds are 1:606, but you can only expect $10 as payment. This prize tier offers worse odds than the previous one. Your shot is 693 to 1 to guess this combination, and the prize is also $10. You have an 89 to 1 shot of guessing a single number from the main pot and the MegaBall. The payout is measly $4, but it’s better than nothing. There are fifteen numbers in the MegaBall pot. If you guess the one that will be drawn correctly, you’ll win $2. The odds to guess right and get your ticket money back are 1:37. The lottery is a game of luck, but it doesn’t mean people are unlucky for winning. Most people flunk at the lottery because they don’t find creative ways to play. They either pick predictable numbers like birth dates or age, making the most common played numbers low. Another reason is, if everybody could win the Mega Million jackpot, then it wouldn’t be fun. You have to research and extend your guessing muscles until you acheive a desirable result. Can I Pick Between Lump Sum and Aunnity Payment After Winning the US Mega Millions? If you win the jackpot, you can pick between one-time payments and annual installments. The one-time paymentwill turn out to be a small sum, but you’ll receive it at once. And don’t forget that lottery taxes apply to Mega Millions. Can I Play Mega Millions from Outside the US? Yes, you can play Mega Millionsfrom anywhere in the world. You can use some of the best lottery sites, so make sure to stick to them when playing online. Where Can I Check Mega Millions Results? Our Mega Millions Results page offers the winning numbers from the previous draw. You can also discover useful information, such as the current jackpot. Can Buying More Mega Millions Tickets Increase My Chances of Winning? If you buy more tickets, you significatly improve your chances of winning the lottery. Of course, there’s no guarantee of winning Mega Millions just by buying more tickets, but it’s better than buying only one. Mega Millions gathers millions of players from the entire world. The concept is exciting, and the prizes offered are among the biggest in the lottery world. Your shot of winning the jackpot at this game isn’t the most attractive, but the huge grand prize implies you should give it a shot. Feel free to try Mega Millions and see why players around the globe love it!
Why Don’t More People Win Mega Millions Jackpot?
How Easy Is It to Win Mega Millions Compared to Other Lotteries?
Lottery
Odds
Jackpot Prize
Highest Jackpot Won
Mega Millions
1:302,575,350
$40 million
$1.05 billion
US Powerball
1 in 292,201,338.00
$1.9 billion
$2.04 billion
Eurojackpot
1:140,000,000
€120 million
€120 million
Euromillions
1 in 139,838,160
€17 million
€54,304,297
FAQ
Takeaway
