Mega Millions is a thrilling lottery game that offers players the chance to win life-changing sums of money.
If you’re new to the game or want a refresher on how it works, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to play, how to pick your numbers, and what prizes are up for grabs.
How to play Mega Millions
Step 1: Purchasing a ticket
The first step to playing Mega Millions is purchasing a ticket.
Each play costs $2.
You can buy tickets in person at gas stations, grocery stores, and other authorized retailers.
In some areas, you can also purchase them online through platforms like Jackpocket, where you can conveniently choose your numbers and track your ticket.
Step 2: Choosing your numbers
Once you have your ticket, you’ll need to choose your numbers.
You’ll pick six numbers in total:
- Five numbers from a pool of 1 to 70 (these are the white balls).
- One number from a pool of 1 to 25 (this is the gold Mega Ball).
If you don’t want to choose the numbers yourself, you can opt for a quick pick where the lottery’s random number generator selects the numbers for you.
Step 3: Mega Millions drawings
Mega Millions drawings are held twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. ET.
You’ll need to match all six of the winning numbers to claim the jackpot.
If no one wins, the jackpot rolls over and grows larger for the next drawing.
Step 4: Understanding the prizes
While the jackpot is the main attraction, there are a total of nine ways to win a prize.
The jackpot varies depending on sales and is announced before each drawing.
Prizes range from the jackpot all the way down to $2.
The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 24, making it more achievable to win something than you might expect.
Megaplier and Just the Jackpot
Megaplier: For an extra $1 per play, you can activate the Megaplier feature, which multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times.
Before each drawing, a Megaplier number is chosen from a set of balls, and this determines the multiplier for any non-jackpot prizes won.
Just the Jackpot: In some states, players can choose to play for only the jackpot with a special “Just the Jackpot” option.
For $3, you get two chances to win the jackpot, but no other prize levels are available with this option.
What happens if you win?
If you win the Mega Millions jackpot, you’ll need to decide between two payout options:
Annuity Option: This provides an immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments, with each payment increasing by 5% to help keep up with inflation.
Cash Option: You can also choose a lump sum payment, which is the entire jackpot prize pool paid out at once.