Mega Millions is one of the largest lottery systems in the world. This multi-jurisdictional American lottery attracts millions of players with record-breaking jackpots reaching billions of dollars.
History and Development of the Mega Millions Lottery
The origins of the Mega Millions lottery date back to the mid-1990s, when American states were seeking ways to increase revenue from lottery operations. The initiative to create an interstate lottery came from Michigan Lottery Commissioner Bill Martin and Illinois Lottery Director Désirée Rogers.
Originally called “The Big Game,” it united the efforts of six states: Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Virginia. Ticket sales began on August 31, 1996, with the first draw taking place a week later on September 6 of that year.
The evolution of the US Mega Millions lottery proceeded in stages. In 1999, players were first offered a choice between annuity payments and a lump-sum cash option. By 2002, Ohio and New York joined the consortium, leading to a rebranding as “The Big Game Mega Millions,” and then simply Mega Millions.
A key milestone came in 2010 when American Mega Millions and Powerball reached an agreement to cross-sell tickets, significantly expanding the geographic reach of both lotteries. Today, Mega Millions results are determined in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Mega Millions Rules
Since April 2025, an updated system has been in effect: players must select five numbers from a range of 1-70 (white balls) and one number from a range of 1-24 (the gold “Mega Ball”). Each ticket costs $2 USD, which automatically includes the Megaplier option.
Draw Days and Times
Mega Millions results are determined twice weekly:
- Tuesday: 11:00 PM Eastern Time
- Friday: 11:00 PM Eastern Time
The minimum jackpot is $50 million, increasing by at least $5 million with each rollover when there’s no winner.
Odds of Winning
Combination | Prize | Odds of Winning | Number of Winners in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
5 + Mega Ball | Jackpot | 1 : 290,472,336 | 4 |
5 + 0 | $1,000,000 | 1 : 12,607,306 | 127 |
4 + Mega Ball | $10,000 | 1 : 931,001 | 312 |
4 + 0 | $500 | 1 : 38,792 | 7,503 |
3 + Mega Ball | $200 | 1 : 14,547 | 20,014 |
3 + 0 | $10 | 1 : 606 | 480,285 |
2 + Mega Ball | $10 | 1 : 693 | 420,156 |
1 + Mega Ball | $4 | 1 : 89 | 3,267,903 |
0 + Mega Ball | $2 | 1 : 37 | 7,843,215 |
The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 : 24. On average, each Mega Millions lottery draw sees between 15 and 45 million tickets sold.
Mega Millions Megaplier
The Megaplier is automatically included with every Mega Millions lottery ticket and can multiply any non-jackpot prize by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 times. Statistics show that in 68% of cases, a 2x or 3x multiplier is drawn.
Megaplier Odds and 2024 Statistics
Multiplier | Odds | 2024 Draw Frequency | Maximum Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
2x | 1 : 2.13 | 34% | $2,000,000 |
3x | 1 : 3.2 | 24% | $3,000,000 |
4x | 1 : 1.8 | 18% | $4,000,000 |
5x | 1 : 16 | 14% | $5,000,000 |
10x | 1 : 32 | 10% | $10,000,000 |
In 2024, the Megaplier resulted in an additional $347 million in prize payouts.
How to Buy Mega Millions Tickets
Purchasing in the US
American Mega Millions tickets can only be purchased at official retail locations in participating states. Cost: $1 per ticket.
By TheLotter
TheLotter is the largest international lottery service, selling physical tickets (with a scan of the actual ticket sent to the buyer):
- Minimum purchase: 1 ticket ($5)
- Maximum purchase: up to 100 tickets at a time
- Processing time: tickets are purchased 2-4 hours before the draw
- Payment methods: bank cards, e-wallets
- Ticket scan: provided in your account within 24 hours
- Track record: over 4.2 million winning tickets since 2002
Via Lotto Agent
Lotto Agent offers an alternative approach:
- Betting on lotteries with identical rules and conditions to the actual lottery
- Group purchases: syndicates from 10 to 100 participants
- Subscription: automatic ticket purchases for multiple draws
- Insurance: optional prize insurance up to $1 million
- Mobile app: available for iOS and Android
- Customer support: 24/7 in 12 languages
On Lottoland
Lottoland specializes in serving clients worldwide:
- Service cost: fixed rate of 200-300% of ticket price
- Payment: dollars, euros
- No scans provided; gameplay occurs on a lottery simulator
- Prize payouts: no commission for amounts up to $600
- Large prizes: assistance with the collection process in the US
- Company track record: over 850,000 tickets purchased since 2015
Service Comparison Table
Parameter | TheLotter | Lotto Agent | Lottoland |
|---|---|---|---|
Commission | 250-300% | 200-350% | 200-300% |
Minimum Purchase | $5 | $5 | $5 |
Scan Delivery Time | 24 hours | Immediately | Immediately |
Support Languages | 16, incl. EN | 12, incl. EN | EN + 21 lang |
Group Play | Yes | Yes | No |
Mobile App | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Mega Millions Results
Mega Millions USA results are published through the following sources:
Official Lottery Websites
- Mega Millions official website: www.megamillions.com (results within 15 minutes of the draw)
- Official lottery websites of all 45 states
- Official lottery mobile apps
Third-Party Services
- Personal accounts on intermediary websites
- Push notifications to mobile devices
- Email newsletters with results
Media Sources
- CNN, ABC, NBC (coverage of major jackpots)
- Specialized lottery websites
- Official social media accounts
Record Mega Millions Jackpots
Amount (billion $) | Cash Option (billion $) | Draw Date | Winning State | Tickets in Draw |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$1.602 | $0.783 | August 8, 2023 | Florida | 89.7 million |
$1.537 | $0.878 | October 23, 2018 | South Carolina | 95.2 million |
$1.348 | $0.724 | January 13, 2023 | Maine | 67.8 million |
$1.337 | $0.781 | July 29, 2022 | Illinois | 71.3 million |
$1.270 | $0.572 | December 27, 2024 | California | 82.1 million |
Interesting Facts About Record Jackpots:
- Average jackpot size in 2024: $127 million
- Number of draws before jackpot hits: 8-12 on average
- Fastest jackpot growth: from $20 million to $1.6 billion in 6 weeks (2023)
Payout Options and Prize Collection
Annuity (30 years):
- 30 annual payments increasing by 5% each year
- First payment: 3.33% of the total amount
- Final payment: 4.32 times larger than the first
- Inflation protection: automatic increases
Lump-Sum Payment:
- Constitutes 60-65% of the advertised jackpot amount
- Paid within 60 days of ticket verification
- Popularity: 95% of winners choose this option
Prize Collection Deadlines
Prize Amount | Collection Deadline | Where to Collect |
|---|---|---|
Up to $600 | 180 days – 1 year | Point of purchase |
$601 – $5,000 | 180 days – 1 year | State lottery offices |
$5,001 – $50,000 | 180 days – 1 year | Regional centers |
Over $50,000 | 180 days – 1 year | Main lottery headquarters |
Mega Millions Lottery Winnings Tax
Federal Taxation
Prize Amount | Automatic Withholding | Final Rate When Filing Tax Return |
|---|---|---|
$5,000 – $9,999 | 0% | 22-37% |
$10,000 – $99,999 | 24% | 22-37% |
$100,000+ | 24% | 37% |
State Taxes (Examples)
State | Tax Rate | Features |
|---|---|---|
California | 13.3% | Highest rate |
New York | 8.82% + local | Up to 13% with local taxes |
Texas | 0% | No income tax |
Florida | 0% | No income tax |
Pennsylvania | 3.07% | Low rate |
Practical Calculation Example
$100 million jackpot (cash option):
- Federal tax (37%): $37 million
- State tax (5% average): $5 million
- Take-home amount: $58 million
Mega Millions vs Powerball USA
Parameter | Mega Millions | Powerball |
|---|---|---|
Ticket Price | $1 | $2 |
Jackpot Odds | 1:290,472,336 | 1:292,201,338 |
Minimum Jackpot | $20 million | $20 million |
Multiplier Included | No (+$1) | No (+$1) |
Number of Jurisdictions | 45 + DC + VI | 45 + DC + VI + PR |
Mega Millions Statistics
Most Frequently Drawn White Numbers (2020-2024):
- Number 17: drawn 47 times
- Number 31: drawn 45 times
- Number 4: drawn 44 times
- Number 48: drawn 43 times
- Number 2: drawn 42 times
Least Frequently Drawn White Numbers:
- Number 65: drawn 18 times
- Number 51: drawn 19 times
- Number 69: drawn 20 times
Mega Ball Statistics:
- Most frequent: numbers 22, 11, 9 (15-17 times over 4 years)
- Least frequent: numbers 24, 1, 2 (4-6 times over 4 years)
Expert Recommendations
- Annual lottery budget: no more than 1-2% of income
- Group play: increases odds by 10-50 times with the same budget
- Diversification: participation in 2-3 draws across different lotteries
- Tax planning: consultation with a financial advisor for winnings over $50,000
Conclusion
The Mega Millions lottery remains one of the most appealing opportunities to change your life. With an average jackpot size of $127 million in 2024 and a record prize of $1.602 billion, this American lottery continues to attract players from around the world. International services make Mega Millions accessible to players from any country, providing professional support and secure transactions.