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Latest Mega Millions Results and Stats
How to Buy Mega Millions Tickets Online?
One of the biggest jackpot games and gives players a chance to win 9 different cash prizes. Did you know that the first Mega Millions draw was in 1996? This means that the online lottery site has been in the industry for over 25 years. But many people want to know how to buy Mega Millions online. So I’ve created this complete guide where you can find out more about starting jackpots, odds of winning and prices of tickets. Continue reading to find out how you can play the Mega Millions lottery online and more about payout rules. By reading this guide you’ll be able to make an informed decision on whether Mega Millions is worth the hype.
Mega Millions Highlights
- Ticket price: $2 per play and an additional $1 on (optional) Megaplier
- Starting jackpot: $20 million (Changed from $40 million in April 2020)
- Record jackpot: $1,537 Billion
- Jackpot odds: 1 in 302,575,350
- Any prize odds: 1 in 24
- Who Can play Mega Millions: Anyone who plays through online lottery sites
- Mega Millions drawings: Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 pm ET
Contents
How to Play Mega Millions Online?
You can either play Mega Millions online through the official lottery site in any of the 42 US states or through an authorized lottery site if you’re playing in a different country. With Mega Millions, each play will cost you $2. You can pick six numbers from two pools of numbers. Choose five numbers between one and 70 with the white balls and an additional number between one and 25 with the gold balls. You also have the choice of using the quick pick or easy pick feature so you don’t have to spend time picking your numbers. According to Mega Millions, the starting jackpot will vary depending on how many tickets are sold and will be stipulated before the draw. In some US states you may have the Megaplier option which will cost you an additional $1. This increases non-jackpot prizes between 2x and 5x. 
Mega Millions Rules
Here are the rules for Mega Millions:
- To win a jackpot, all six numbers on your lottery ticket must match the numbers that haven been drawn. They don’t have to be in order.
- For you to be entered into a draw you must purchase your lottery ticket before the draw.
- You may be subjected to federal or state tax on your winnings.
- You can choose either the annuity or lump sum option if you win the jackpot.
- In California you can’t remain anonymous if you win the lottery. In other states you may be able to conceal your name and location if you win the jackpot.
- If no one wins the jackpot the money will be added to the next draw.
Mega Millions Drawings
The Mega Millions draw is every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 PM ET. The first draw will be Megaplier for those who’ve chosen this option when purchasing tickets. Then five balls with numbers ranging between one and 70 will be drawn from the white pool. The last draw will be from the pool of gold balls ranging between one and 25. Only one ball will be drawn from the gold pool and this is known as your mega ball.
Mega Millions Prizes & Odds of Winning
After the Mega Millions drawing, prizes will be awarded to the various ticket holders with the matching numbers. Take a look at the table below to find out how much you can win according to the numbers matched and the odds of winning these prizes.
| Match | Prize | Odds of winning |
|---|---|---|
| Five white numbers + mega ball | Jackpot | 1 in 302,575,350 |
| Five white ball numbers | $1,000,000 | 1 in 12,607,306 |
| Four white ball numbers + mega ball | $10,000 | 1 in 931,001 |
| Four white ball numbers | $500 | 1 in 38,792 |
| Three white ball numbers + mega ball | $200 | 1 in 14,547 |
| Three white ball numbers | $10 | 1 in 606 |
| Two white ball numbers + mega ball | $10 | 1 in 693 |
| One white ball numbers + mega ball | $4 | 1 in 89 |
| One mega ball | $2 | 1 in 37 |
Mega Millions Payout
If you win the jackpot you can choose between the cash or the annuity option. For the cash option you’ll be paid out the lump sum of your winnings. The annuity option gives you one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments and each one will be 5% larger than the previous payment. For smaller prizes there are three ways you can claim your cash if it’s $599 or lower:
- Claim by mail
- Claim by lottery district office
- Visit a lottery retailer
The rules for payouts in California are different. Your money is paid out on a pari-mutuel basis. Prize money amounts may be different to the ones shown on the Mega Millions site. You can find out more about the payout rules in california by visiting http://www.calottery.com/draw-games/mega-millions
Biggest Mega Millions Winners
| Winner | Jackpot Amount | State | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anonymous | $1.537 billion | South Carolina | October 23, 2018 |
| Anonymous | $640 million | Illinois, Kansas, and Maryland | March 30, 2012 |
| Anonymous | $648 million | Georgia | December 17, 2013 |
| Anonymous | $543 million | San Jose | July 24, 2018 |
| Anonymous | $540 million | Indiana | July 8, 2016 |
Mega Millions FAQ
When are Mega Millions draws held?
Mega Millions draws are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 PM ET.
Can Mega Millions lottery be played online from overseas?
Yes, people from overseas can play Mega Millions on authorized online lottery sites that are legal in that country. Popular lottery sites where you can play Mega Millions are Lotto247 and LottoGo.
After the Mega Millions draw date, how long are the tickets valid for?
Most states in the US give you 180 days to claim your prize after the draw date. In other states, your ticket may be valid for up to a year.
What are the payout options for the Mega Millions jackpot?
You can get paid out a lump sum of your full jackpot amount. Or you can choose the annuity option where you get paid one immediate payment and 29 annual payments.
Are Mega Millions winnings subject to taxes?
Yes, you are subjected to local tax on Mega Millions winnings. The tax amount may vary depending on the US state you live in.
How much is a Mega Millions ticket?
A standard Mega Millions ticket costs $2 if you purchase from official vendors. You can pay an additional $1 for the Megaplier game option, if it’s available in your state or if it’s offered by the online platform you use. When you play using online lottery sites the cost may differ since you’ll also pay service fees.
How to win Mega Millions?
To win the Mega Millions jackpot you need to match six numbers. You pick five standard numbers between 1 and 70 and you also have to get the Mega ball correct, from the number range 1 - 25.
How many numbers in Mega Millions?
Mega Millions has two sets of numbers players need to pick from. The first set runs from 1 to 70 and the second set is 1 -25. Players pick six numbers in total, five from the first set and one from the second set.
How much is the Mega Millions jackpot?
The Mega Millions jackpot is a rollover prize that grows each time it’s not won. Each week’s sales create the prize pool and determine how much is added to the previous week’s rollover amount. There’s no jackpot cap.
Where to buy Mega Millions tickets?
You can buy physical Mega Millions tickets from authorized vendors in 45 US states, the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands. Some of these jurisdictions also offer websites and apps that sell Mega Millions tickets. Online lottery sites allow people from across the world to take part in the game as well.
How late can you buy Mega Millions tickets?
States have different cut off times for ticket sales, which range from 15 minutes to over an hour before the draw. When playing on online lottery sites, use provided countdowns to make sure you buy your ticket in time.
How to watch Mega Millions drawings?
In America, you can visit the WSB-TV studio in Atlanta and view a drawing in person. The operators also broadcast draws on TV and there are clips of these recordings available on YouTube.
How many number combinations are there in Mega Millions?
There are 302,575,350 number combinations in the Mega Millions game. This is why your odds of winning the jackpot when buying one ticket is 1 in 302,575,350.
Final Thoughts – Should You Play Mega Millions Online?
Mega Millions is one of the most popular lotteries in the world. Not only is it played by US locals but by players abroad too! It offers high jackpot prizes and it’s easy to claim smaller winnings. You can purchase tickets easily from any lottery retailers or agents in 42 US states including the District of Columbia and US Virgin Islands. Another advantage of playing Mega Millions is that ticket prices are incredibly cheap and you get to choose the Megaplier option to increase your prize money if you win by 2x or even 5x. If you play Mega Millions online you get to choose the quick pick option so you don’t have to spend time picking numbers. If you want to play Mega Millions online you can register with the lotteries in those jurisdictions to purchase tickets.
