Mega millions
Mega Millions (originally known as The Big Game in 1996 and temporarily renamed The Big Game Mega Millions six years later) is an American multi-jurisdictional lottery game; As of January 30, 2020, it is offered in 45 states, the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands. The first (The Big Game) Mega Millions drawing was in 2002. What is now Mega Millions was initially offered in six states; The logo for all versions of the game after The Big Game is discontinued includes a golden ball with six stars to represent initial membership in the game, How to play mega millions.
What is the base price of a Mega Millions ticket?
When it was first introduced in 1996 as “The Big Game”, a ticket cost $1. Following a lottery format change in 2017, the standard Mega Millions entry cost will double to $2 when you buy an official ticket from a licensed dealer in the United States. For just $2 you have a chance to win some of the biggest jackpots on the planet!
How to play mega millions
For just $2, you can win the multi-million dollar MEGA MILLIONS® multi-state jackpot starting at $20 million. Match all 5 white balls and the Mega Ball to win the Jackpot! Match only 5 white balls and win $1,000,000; If your ticket includes a Megaplier®, you could win up to $5 million! Players can add an additional $1 per game to the Megaplier to multiply their non-jackpot winnings up to 5x!
To play, select a MEGA MILLIONS ticket from an authorized Florida Lottery retailer, use the Florida Lottery mobile app to generate a digital ticket, or purchase a QUICKTICKET™ at the checkout lane at select Lottery retailers.
To play at the dealer using a Playslip
Each ticket consists of five panels (AE). In each panel:
Pick five numbers from 1 to 70 in the top playing area or check the QP (Quick Pick) box and let the terminal pick some or all of your numbers at random.
Choose your Mega Ball number from 1 to 25 in the bottom playing area or check the QP box for the terminal to randomly select your Mega Ball number.
To win between two and five times more on non-jackpot wins, check the Megamultiplier box. Megamultipliers cost $1 more per game. Please note: The Megaplier field applies to quick tips played on all panels and tickets.
To play more than one draw with the same number, simply tell the dealer how many draws you wish to play in advance or select the number of draws in the Advance Play section of your ticket.
Check your selection carefully. Mega Millions tickets are non-cancellable.
Submit your completed ticket and pay the dealer ($2 per Mega Millions game or $3 per Mega Millions game with Megaplier). You will receive a ticket printed with your numbers, draw date and total ticket price. Mega Millions with Mega Multiplier tickets will display “Mega Multiplier Yes”.
Create a ticket using the mobile app
- Download the free Florida Lottery mobile app, available for iOS and Android users.
- Open the Florida Lottery mobile app and select “Mega Millions,” then scroll down and select the green “Pick Number” button.
- Select the number of draws you want to play. If None is selected, the default value will be 1.
- Choose five numbers from 1 to 70 or check the QP (Quick Pick) box and let the terminal randomly pick some or all of your numbers. You can also use “Shake to Play”, “Play My Favorites” or “Random Number” to select numbers.
- Choose your Mega Ball number from 1 to 25 or check the QP box for the terminal to have your Mega Ball number randomly selected. You can also use “Shake to Play”, “Play My Favorites” or “Random Number” to select numbers.
- To win between two and five times more on non-jackpot wins, check the Megamultiplier box. Megamultipliers cost $1 more per game. Please note: The Megaplier field applies to quick tips played on all panels and tickets.
- Check the Jackpot Combo box to get $2 Powerball, $2 Florida Lotto and $2 Mega Millions instant tickets on the next available drawing date.
- Select “Add panel” to add another playback.
- When finished, select the “Create Ticket” button and a QR code will appear.
- Show this QR code to the seller to scan. You will receive one ticket for each set of selected numbers and draw date(s). Please check your ticket before leaving the store. You are responsible for the accuracy of your ticket.
- Select “Add to Favorites” to keep your PlaySlip QR code for future sketches.
How to win
MEGA MILLIONS® drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday night, in which five out of 70 numbers (White Ball) and one Mega Ball number (Gold Ball) between 1 and 25 will be drawn at random. There are nine ways to win a Mega Millions prize by matching the winning numbers drawn in the official drawing for the date of the play. Match the Mega Ball with all five numbers to win the Jackpot or match any non-jackpot-winning combination to win other great cash prizes!
All MEGA MILLIONS prizes except the Jackpot are fixed payouts. The Jackpot prize will be shared between all Jackpot winning plays in all Mega Millions states. The Jackpot will be paid out in 30 prorated annual payments or one lump sum cash payment of the reduced amount. If there is no Jackpot winner, the Jackpot Pool money goes to the next MEGA MILLIONS drawing.
All Mega Millions prizes must be claimed in the state from where the ticket was purchased. Mega Millions prizes must be claimed within 180 days following the date of the draw win. Federal income taxes will be withheld from MEGA MILLIONS prizes as required by the Internal Revenue Code at the time payments are made. Any additional federal, state and/or local taxes will be the responsibility of the winner. Prizes up to $599 can be claimed at any authorized Florida Lottery retailer; Prizes ranging from less than $600 to $1 million can be claimed at any Florida Lottery district office; Prizes of $1 million or more must be claimed at Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee. Starting May 25, 2022, the names of lottery winners claiming prizes of $250,000 or more will be temporarily exempt from public disclosure
Where does your money go when you buy Mega Millions tickets?
Most people who play the lottery rarely wonder where their money is going and how it is being spent. So, if you were ever curious, we’ve got the answer!
Mega Millions allocates 50% of its ticket revenue to the lottery’s prize pool. The remaining half is used to pay the states’ retailer commissions, vendor fees, lottery administration and the state’s beneficiaries or good causes of the state’s choosing.
The revenue is split between the 44 states, Washington DC and the US Virgin Islands. Of those jurisdictions, 27 states earmark some or all of their lottery ticket revenue for education. Here’s how some states spend their lottery ticket revenue:
In 2019, the Texas Lottery transferred $1.617 billion to the Foundation School Fund, which supports a variety of educational programs and initiatives in the state of Texas, as well as $19.4 million to the Texas Veterans Commission.
Other states, such as Minnesota and Colorado, choose to contribute funds to organizations and trusts dedicated to preserving the state’s wildlife, parks, and trails.
According to the Pennsylvania Lottery website, they have contributed more than $30 billion to programs supporting senior citizens and older residents of the state.
While these good causes are not funded solely by revenue from Mega Millions tickets, as one of the nation’s largest multi-state lotteries, the lottery game goes a long way in supporting them.
Jackpot History 2022
- October 14, 2022 – $502 million ($252.0 million cash), shared by tickets sold in San Jose, California and Fort Myers, Florida.
- July 29, 2022 – $1.337 billion ($780.5 million cash) won by an unnamed partnership with a ticket purchased in Des Plaines, Ill.
- April 15, 2022 – $20 million ($11.9 million cash) won with a ticket purchased by an anonymous trust in Pegram, Tenn.
- April 12, 2022 – $110 million ($66.9 million cash) was won by a Minnesota couple with a ticket purchased in Ramsey, Minn.
- March 8, 2022 – $128 million ($85.8 million cash) won by Herman Kahn of Brooklyn, NY
- January 28, 2022 – Christine Wellenstein won $426 million ($292.9 million cash) with a ticket purchased in Woodland Hills, California.