Mega Millions is one of the only two lotteries in the world to have awarded multiple jackpots exceeding 1 billion dollars! It’s biggest prize, a $1,602 billion jackpot won in August 2023 by a ticket bought in sunny Florida is the second largest jackpot in the world, only trailing the massive $2.04 billion Powerball prize. Mega Millions’ second biggest prize, a $1.537 billion jackpot, scooped in October 2018 by a player from South Carolina, is the fourth biggest in history.
How to Play Mega Millions Online
There are many different play options available with Mega Millions outside the US. You can opt for a messenger service like theLotter that will purchase official tickets on your behalf. Depending on your country of residence, you might have to use bet-on services such as Lottoland. In this case, you would be betting on the results of the Mega Millions draw.
Both types of lottery operators offer several different and exciting ways to play. For example, you can purchase syndicate shares to play with a group of other players owning hundreds of tickets together, thereby increasing everyone’s chances of winning. There are also bundles which contain your own personal tickets as well as shares purchased through syndicates.
On sites like theLotter you can as well enter Mega Millions draw a unique systematic ticket that allows to play all combinations of up to 11 numbers . These options can vastly increase your winning odds.
The Mega Millions play format is quite simple:
- The 5 main numbers are chosen from a drum of 1-75.
- The Mega Ball is an additional number chosen from a separate drum of 1-15.
- If you match five numbers plus the Mega Ball you win the jackpot. Second place prize is awarded to those who match all five regular numbers . The payout for the second prize is of at least $1 million.
When are the Mega Millions Draws?
The Mega Millions lottery hold two weekly draws, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 23:00 EST.
When you play Mega Millions online, you have smart solutions to never miss a draw. For instance, you can buy a multi-draw where you play multiple consecutive draws; as opposed to a simple one-time entry draw. You can also start a subscription, which will enter you in every consecutive draw.
How Big is the Mega Millions Jackpot?
Following the change of rules of October 2017, the Mega Millions lottery was offering a starting jackpot of $40 million. However, the coronavirus pandemic brought a new change. Until further notice, the starting jackpot stands at $20 Million. Its amount may vary based on sales and is announced before each drawing.
But, this is not a reason for the Mega Millions jackpot not to reach amazing heights. While the Mega Millions’ 2nd biggest jackpot of $1,537 billion dates from 2018, it’s record prize – $1.602 billion – was won in August 2023. Its fourth biggest jackpot of $1.05 billion ($776.6 million cash) was scooped in January 2021. The same year also saw another top 10 jackpot worth $515 million. The third biggest jackpot of $1.34 Billion ($780.5 Million cash) entered the Hall of Fame on July 29, 2022.
So, what are you waiting for? Start playing right now and you could be the next Mega Millions winner.
Mega Millions Prizes and Odds
The Mega Millions lottery offers amazing payouts through its 9 category of prizes. The jackpot is certainly the most hunted for prize, given the mouth-watering amounts that it reaches. But, the second prize is not to be neglected either as its value is of at least $1 million and it can get as high as $5 million for those who play with Megaplier.
The overall chances of winning any Mega Millions prize is of 1 in 25. The odds of scooping the Mega Millions jackpot might seem frightening (1 in 302,575,350), but that’s not the only way to become a millionaire. You have 1 in 12,607,306 chances of winning the 2nd prize.
| Prize Divisions | Match | Prize | Winning Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ + 🟠 | Jackpot | 1:302,575,350 |
| 2nd Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ | $1,000,000 | 1:12,607,306 |
| 3rd Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪ + 🟠 | $10,000 | 1:931,001 |
| 4th Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪ | $500 | 1:38,792 |
| 5th Prize | ⚪⚪⚪ + 🟠 | $200 | 1:14,547 |
| 6th Prize | ⚪⚪⚪ | $10 | 1:606 |
| 7th Prize | ⚪⚪ + 🟠 | $10 | 1:693 |
| 8th Prize | ⚪ + 🟠 | $4 | 1:89 |
| 9th Prize | 🟠 | $2 | 1:37 |
Mega Millions Megaplier
An interesting optional feature offered by the Mega Millions lottery is the Megaplier. This is a multiplier that boosts the value of all secondary prizes. Depending on the value of the multiplier for the draw, prizes won on tickets with Megaplier can increase up to 5 times.
This way, the second prize worth $1 million on a regular ticket, can become $2, 3, 4 or 5 million if the Megaplier option was checked upon purchase. The Megaplier does not apply to the jackpot.
| Prize Divisions | Match | Prize | Prize w/ Megaplier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ + 🟠 | Jackpot | Jackpot |
| 2nd Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ | $1,000,000 | $2-5 million |
| 3rd Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪ + 🟠 | $10,000 | $20-50,000 |
| 4th Prize | ⚪⚪⚪⚪ | $500 | $1-5,000 |
| 5th Prize | ⚪⚪⚪ + 🟠 | $200 | $400 – $1000 |
| 6th Prize | ⚪⚪⚪ | $10 | $20 – $50 |
| 7th Prize | ⚪⚪ + 🟠 | $10 | $20 – $50 |
| 8th Prize | ⚪ + 🟠 | $4 | $8 – $20 |
| 9th Prize | 🟠 | $2 | $4 – $10 |
Mega Millions Record Jackpots
The Mega Millions was the first lottery to have ever passed the half billion dollars threshold. It was, for a long time, the holder of the world record for highest jackpot with the $656 million jackpot won in March 2012 on three tickets.
Currently the record jackpot stands at $1.602 BILLION, which is also the second biggest jackpot in the world for a single ticket AND the third biggest lottery jackpot in the world!
Mega Millions Online Winners
Below is a sample list of the biggest online Mega Millions winners. As you can see most of them have decided to remain anonymous:
- September, 2017 – Nataliia from Ukraine won $1 million (theLotter)
- April, 2012 – B.G. from Spain won $250,000 (theLotter)
- May, 2011 – N.B. from Switzerland won $250,000 (theLotter)
- June, 2011 – Katie from Lancaster (UK) won $250,000 (Wintrillions)
- December, 2011 – Enrique Ramez from Ecuador won $250,000 (Wintrillions)
Taxes on Mega Millions Prizes
All those who win Mega Millions prizes have to pay taxes. The amount of taxation depends on the amount of the prize as well as on the state where the ticket was purchased. There are two types of taxes paid on American lottery prizes: federal and state.
- Prizes of up to $599.99 are exempt from taxation.
- For prizes bigger than $600, US residents have to pay a federal tax of 25%, while for non US residents the federal tax is of 30%.
- State taxes have different values. You should also know that some states such as California, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming do no tax lottery wins at all.
FAQs about Mega Millions
Yes, you can. You can use the services of a lottery courier that will purchase Mega Millions tickets on your behalf. Alternatively, you can play on a bet-on platform, where you place a bet on the results of the next Mega Millions draw.
Yes! The whole process is 100% safe as long as you use a reliable lottery services provider. Lottery messengers will provide you a scanned copy of your ticket as proof of purchase, while for bet-on platforms you will have to rely on reputation.
If you win the Mega Millions jackpot, you can opt for one of the two options: annuity or lump-sum. The Mega Millions annuity is paid out as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments, with each payment being 5% bigger than the previous one in order to protect the winners’ lifestyle and purchasing power in periods of inflation. The lump sum is a one time payment equal to the cash value of the Mega Millions jackpot.
Mega Millions Results
If you entered the Mega Millions draw, you can check the results online to see if you won a prize. Below you can find the winning numbers for the latest 5 Mega Millions draw: