Mega Millions
The Mega Millions game is one of two multi-state lotteries available in the USA, the other being Powerball, and currently there are 43 jurisdictions; 41 states and the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands also participate in the game. Tickets for the first ever game went on sale on August 31st, 1996 with the first draw taking place on September 6th, 1996 when the game was then known as The Big Game. At that point just six states were involved; Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and Virginia. In May 1999 New Jersey joined The Big Game, the only state to do so before the game was re-branded to The Big Games Mega Millions in May 2002.
At this point New York and Ohio joined and the Big Money Ball became known as the Mega Ball. The first draw for the newly named game took place on May 17th 2002. Three states then joined; Washington in September 2002, Texas in 2003 and California in 2005. These were the last additions before states were allowed to cross sell both Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, something that was agreed on 31st January 2010.
Latest Mega Millions Lottery Results
Mega Millions Results
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Next Estimated Jackpot $83,000,000 |
More Results Buy Tickets |
Checking if you are a big winner on the Mega Millions is part of the excitement of participating in the game and we have a number of ways in which you can find out if your chosen numbers have been lucky for you!
The Mega Millions draws take place every Tuesday and Friday with the results available on our dedicated pages soon after the draw. Our Mega Millions results pages bring you details of the last ten draws as well as an option to view archived results.
It may be that you prefer your Mega Millions results "on the go" and available at the touch of a button; if that's the case then you may wish to download our free Mega Millions app.
Below you will find details of all lotteries that now participate in the Mega Millions games and the date that they joined with exception of the original states involved in the Big Game:
- May 1999 – New Jersey
- May 2002 – New York and Ohio
- September 2002 - Washington
- December 2003 – Texas
- June 2005 – California
- January 2010 - Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin
- March 2010 – Montana, Nebraska and Oregon
- April 2010 – Arizona
- May 2010 – Maine, Colorado and South Dakota
- October 2010 – US Virgin Islands
Playing Mega Millions
Since the introduction of Mega Millions there have been a number of changes to the matrix of the game. At launch in September 1996 players were required to pick 5/50 and 1/25 for the Megaball. In January 1999 eleven extra numbers were added to the Megaball pool and the matrix become 5/50 and 1/36. May 2002 saw two numbers added to the main numbers and sixteen to the Megaball pool making the matrix 5/52 and 1/52. It was in June 2005 that the current matrix was introduced and players are required to pick five main numbers ranging from 1 to 56 and a Megaball from 1 to 46.
In order to be a jackpot winner for Mega Millions a player needs to match all five main balls drawn and the Megaball. With exception of the jackpot all the lower prize tiers offer static prizes regardless of the number of winners per prize level.
| Matches | Prize Amount | Odds |
| Match 5 main numbers and the Megaball | Jackpot | 1 : 175,711,536 |
| Match 5 main numbers only | $250,000 | 1 : 3,904,701 |
| Match 4 main numbers and the Megaball | $10,000 | 1 : 689,065 |
| Match 4 main numbers only | $150 | 1 : 15,313 |
| Match 3 main numbers and the Megaball | $150 | 1 : 13,781 |
| Match 2 main numbers and the Megaball | $10 | 1 : 844 |
| Match 3 main numbers only | $7 | 1 : 306 |
| Match 1 main number and the Megaball | $3 | 1 : 141 |
| Match the Megaball only | $2 | 1 : 75 |
The overall odds for winning any prize on the Mega Millions lottery is 1 in 40
All participating states and juridisctions offer the megaplier option with the exception of California. Using the Megaplier for an additional fee means that should a player have a winning ticket in the prize tiers other than the jackpot the amount is multiplied by the Megaplier that is drawn by a random number generator by the Texas Lottery. Megapliers can multiply lower prize tier winnings by 2, 3 or 4 times the original amount.
How To Play Mega Millions Online
Prior to the introduction of online lottery concierge services playing the Mega Millions Lottery was restricted to residents of the participating jurisdictions. However anyone can now participate in the game simply by registering an account with the concierge service and purchasing tickets using a credit/debit card. Moneybookers, Neteller and a number of other payment options the service offers.
You have numerous options for purchasing Mega Millions tickets; you need to choose the number of draws for which you wish to enter your numbers (from one to a maximum of fifty two) and then you can either choose your own numbers or use the "Quick Pick" option. For an additional fee you can also tick the Megaplier option.
Buy TicketsOnce your tickets have been purchased an agent will purchase the tickets on your behalf, these are then scanned in and added to the "My Account" section of the site where you can view your ticket within 24 hours. The lottery concierge service is a safe and secure way to participate in Mega Millions and your tickets are registered to you so cannot be lost or mislaid.
Key Facts
- The biggest shared jackpot to date was won by two individuals on June 6th 2007, one from Georgia, one from New Jersey who shared $390 million!
- The record jackpot won by a single player was $319 millions on March 25th 2011. The lucky player was a New York resident
