Mega Millions Help and FAQs
Here is everything you need to know about the US Mega Millions lottery. Check out the FAQs we’ve listed below and start betting for your chance to win big. If you cannot find the answer to your question here, get in touch with our Customer Experience Team.
What is Mega Millions?
Mega Millions is one of the biggest lotteries in the United States, and tickets for this lottery can be sold in 45 different states across the continent, making it a multi-state lottery. It boasts some of the biggest jackpots in the world, making it one of the most popular lotteries around the globe.
When does the Mega Millions lottery take place?
Mega Millions draws take place every Tuesday and Friday at 23:00 EST (05:00 GMT) in Atlanta, Georgia.
Can I enter the Mega Millions lottery from Ireland?
Of course! At Jackpot.com, we give you the opportunity to bet on the outcome of the lottery. If your numbers match a winning combination of the official lottery draw, you will still win the same jackpot amount. You can check out the prize table further down on this page for more information about the prizes.
What’s the history of Mega Millions?
The first-ever draw took place on September 6, 1996, under the name ‘Big Game’, and only 6 states could participate. The ability to choose a cash payout was not available back then - this started in January 1999. In May 2002, the lottery was renamed to ‘Mega Millions’ and more states started to join. 2013 marked another special moment for Mega Millions, as it became the first lottery to offer second-tier prizes worth up to $5 million. The first-ever Mega Millions jackpot was claimed by Samuel Rice and the Rice Partnership of Catham, who enjoyed a wonderful $28 million prize.
A total of 188 jackpots were given out to 213 individual tickets and another 20 were shared by more than one ticket since 2002. 19 of Mega Millions jackpots were worth more than $300 million.
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What was the biggest Mega Millions jackpot ever?
How does $1.537 billion sound? On October 23, 2018, one lucky player won that massive sum, making it the largest ever Mega Millions jackpot to be won by a single ticket-holder, who wanted to remain anonymous. The ticket was sold in South Carolina.
How can I place my bets on Mega Millions?
That’s simple! All you have to do is visit our Mega Millions page and follow these 3 steps:
1. Select 5 numbers between 1-70 and 1 bonus number from 1-25. You can also use a ‘Quick Pick’ option and the system will randomly select the whole set of numbers for you.
2. Fill out as many entries as you want.
3. Click ‘Add to Cart’ button and complete your transaction.
Can I subscribe to the Mega Millions lottery?
That’s a mega yes! All you need to do is select the subscription option before you finalize your transaction. Subscribing to the Mega Millions lottery means that you do not have to submit your numbers every time there is a Mega Millions draw because they will be submitted automatically for you. Isn’t that great? You can find all our subscription offers here.
There is also a multi draw option available on the Mega Millions game page, which means you can enter the next two, four or eight draws with your chosen set of numbers.
How do I know if I have won a Mega Millions prize?
To win the Mega Millions jackpot, you need to match all 5 numbers and one bonus number. However, there are other prizes to be won (see table below). You can check if your numbers match the winning numbers by visiting our Mega Millions results page. If you’re not sure which numbers you submitted, you can view them in your account. But don’t worry! We will send you an email to inform you that you have won and we will make sure that the winning is transferred to your account as soon as possible.
What are the odds of winning in Mega Millions?
You can win different prizes with Mega Millions, depending on how many numbers you match. Prize amounts are set, except for the jackpot amount which is determined by the number of tickets sold.
The odds of winning in Mega Millions differ across the tiers:
| Match | Odds of Winning | Prize * |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + 1 | 1:302,575,350 | Jackpot |
| 5 | 1:12,607,306 | $1,000,000 |
| 4 + 1 | 1:931,001 | $10,000 |
| 4 | 1:38,792 | $500 |
| 3 + 1 | 1:14,547 | $200 |
| 3 | 1:606 | $10 |
| 2 + 1 | 1:693 | $10 |
| 1 + 1 | 1:89 | $4 |
| 0 + 1 | 1:37 | $2 |
* The amounts shown above have been taken from the official Mega Millions lottery prize breakdown. Jackpot.com prize amounts are calculated in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.
Does Mega Millions lottery have a jackpot cap?
The Mega Millions jackpot starts at $40 million, and it can only go higher from there! There is no maximum jackpot, so it will continue to roll over until the jackpot is won. No wonder this lottery is called Mega Millions.
What happens when nobody wins the Mega Millions jackpot?
If nobody wins the jackpot, there will be a rollover, which means that the jackpot will increase. Since there is no capping on the Mega Millions jackpot, this will continue to increase until someone wins the jackpot.
Will there be any deductions to my Mega Millions prize?
Prizes from tiers 1-3 will have 39.6% deducted, which aims to place you in a similar economic position you would have been if you played the Source Lottery. Taxes, duties, or levies which relate to your national tax regimes may also apply.
How is the Mega Millions jackpot paid out?
Tier 1 prizes (i.e. the jackpot) can be paid out in two ways: either yearly over a period of 30 years, or as a discounted lump sum at once. This is solely at our discretion.
