Frequently Asked Questions about Mega Millions

Draws take place twice a week on a Tuesday and Friday night at 23.00 ET in Atlanta, Georgia.

Mega Millions launched in 1996 as 'The Big Game' with just six participating states. In 2002, its name was changed to Mega Millions and an increasing number of states have joined the game since that time.

Yes. The guaranteed minimum jackpot is $20 million.

You win prizes by matching the numbers on your ticket to those that are selected during the draw, with the more balls you match meaning the bigger the payout you win. There are nine winning prize tiers in Mega Millions, with prizes awarded for matching just the Mega Ball. To win the jackpot, a player must match all five main numbers plus the Mega Ball drawn. View the prizes available and odds of winning on the Mega Millions Prizes page.

Unfortunately not- you will need to head over to a participating state or jurisdiction to play.

Claim periods vary from state to state and are between 180 days and a year. Check the claim period for your state here. Players are also advised to check the rules of the state where the ticket was purchased as prizes not claimed within the specified time period will expire.

The minimum age to play Mega Millions varies from state to state and is between 18 and 21. Players wishing to purchase tickets online must be aged 18 or over.

Yes. Jackpot winnings are subject to both state and federal taxes which vary from state to state. Find out how much tax you would pay if you won a Mega Millions prize by visiting the Taxes page.

No. Mega Millions does not have a rollover limit or jackpot cap and will continue to roll over until a player matches all five main numbers and the Mega Ball drawn.

Find the winning numbers and a prize breakdown for each draw by visiting the dedicated page.

The Megaplier is an additional game which is offered at $1 per line, boosting the value of any non-jackpot prizes by 2 – 5x their non-Megaplier value. Players should be aware that the Megaplier is not available in California, as state law requires all lottery prizes to be pari-mutuel.

If you have received a letter, email, phone call, or text message saying that you have won a large amount of money and you haven’t purchased a lottery ticket, then it is a scam and you should not respond with any details. Scams can be reported to your state’s attorney general. Read more about scams.

Prizes must be claimed in the state where your ticket was purchased. If you played online, non-jackpot prizes are paid into your account. If you win the jackpot, you will be contacted by a representative after the numbers have been checked and you will then be guided through the claims process.

The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24. Find out more about Mega Millions prizes and odds by visiting the dedicated page.

The biggest jackpot won was $1.602 billion on August 8th 2023 and it was scooped by a single ticket purchased in Neptune Beach, Florida. Take a look at some of the other biggest Mega Millions winners here.

Mega Millions drawings and results are broadcast through many TV stations, including; WSB-TV 2 in Atlanta, CBS-8 in California and WABC-7 in New York.

At present, 45 states and two jurisdictions, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands, participate.

For tickets purchased through a retailer, the cut off time for purchases varies from state to state so please check with the lottery provider in your jurisdiction.

Find the latest statistical information including the most common numbers and most overdue numbers on the Mega Millions Statistics page.

If you win a Mega Millions jackpot, you will have the choice of receiving your winnings as a cash payout or as an annuity. You can learn about the two different options on the Cash vs Annuity page.

Just the Jackpot gives players two chances at winning the jackpot, rather than one. The price of Just the Jackpot ticket is $3 for two plays. Players must select five main numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25 to enter the drawings. If you choose the Just the Jackpot option, you will not be able to win secondary prizes that range from $2 to $1 million. You can learn more about Mega Millions Prizes on the dedicated page.

The most common winning Mega Millions numbers are available on the Statistics page.

The next Mega Millions jackpot is an estimated $453 Million.

If you win the Mega Millions jackpot, you can find out the steps to take to claim your winnings and how to protect your new fortune here.