Mega Millions is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States. It is played in 45 states as well as Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The game offers incredibly large jackpots that can grow to be hundreds of millions of dollars. Mega Millions drawings take place every Tuesday and Friday evening at 11:00 pm ET. Many people dream of winning a massive Mega Millions jackpot. Luckily, playing Mega Millions is easy and you can purchase tickets and check results right from home. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to play Mega Millions from the comfort of your home.
How Mega Millions Works
Mega Millions is a multi-state lottery game that offers huge jackpots starting at $40 million and rolling over if there is no jackpot winner. Here is how the game works:
- Players choose 5 numbers from 1 to 70 for the white balls and 1 number from 1 to 25 for the gold Mega Ball.
- Or players can choose to have the terminal randomly select the numbers using a Quick Pick option.
- To win the jackpot, players must match all 5 white ball numbers and the Mega Ball number. The odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 302 million.
- There are 9 prize tiers in total, ranging from $2 for matching just the Mega Ball up to the jackpot.
- Tickets cost $2 each.
- Drawings are held at 11:00 pm ET every Tuesday and Friday.
- Jackpots start at $40 million and roll over if there is no winner. The jackpots grow very large.
- Players can add the Megaplier option for $1 extra per ticket. This multiplier will increase non-jackpot prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x or 5x if it is drawn.
Matching all 5 white balls plus the Mega Ball wins the massive jackpot prize. Even matching a few of the numbers can win nice prizes.
How to Purchase Tickets Online
Thanks to the internet, you can conveniently purchase Mega Millions tickets online from home in just a few minutes while in your pajamas if you want! Here is how to buy official Mega Millions tickets online:
1. Visit Your State Lottery Website
Each state has its own official lottery website that sells real tickets online. You must purchase tickets via the lottery website of the state where you are physically located when playing. For example, if you live in Texas, you would visit texaslottery.com.
Here are direct links to some state lottery sites to purchase Mega Millions tickets online:
- California – calottery.com
- Texas – texaslottery.com
- New York – nylottery.ny.gov
- Florida – flalottery.com
- Illinois – illinoislottery.com
- Pennsylvania – palottery.com
Visit the lottery website for your state and look for the Mega Millions section. This is where you can purchase official tickets online.
2. Create an Account
You will need to create an account with your state lottery website first before you can buy Mega Millions tickets online. The sign up process only takes a couple minutes. You will need to provide some personal information like your name, address, email, phone number, and last 4 digits of your Social Security number. This is for age and identification verification.
3. Fund Your Account
Once your lottery account is created, you will need to fund it to buy tickets. Most states offer several convenient funding options such as debit/credit cards and PayPal. Some states even allow funding with cash at authorized retail locations. Fund your account with at least $4 ($2 per ticket) to purchase a Mega Millions ticket online.
4. Select Mega Millions Game
With a funded account, you can now purchase official Mega Millions tickets online right from home! Browse the lottery games and select Mega Millions.
5. Choose Numbers
For each Mega Millions ticket, you will need to pick 5 main numbers (white balls) between 1-70 and the Mega Ball number between 1-25. You can manually select your numbers, or choose Quick Pick for random numbers.
6. Submit Ticket
Review your number selections and submit the ticket(s). Your ticket purchase is now complete! Print or save your official ticket that contains your numbers and a barcode. Best of luck on the next drawing!
Check Mega Millions Results Online
Here is how you can conveniently check the latest Mega Millions drawing results and winning numbers right from home:
State Lottery Website
Visit your state’s official lottery website, the same one where you purchased your Mega Millions tickets online. The results for the most recent drawing will be posted. Compare the winning numbers against your ticket.
Mega Millions Website
You can also check results directly on the Mega Millions website at usamegamillions.com. The site displays the jackpot amount, winning numbers, number of winners and next estimated jackpot.
Mobile App
Most state lotteries also offer free official apps for iOS and Android. Download your state’s app and you can conveniently get Mega Millions results sent directly to your phone.
Lottery Retailer
Visit any authorized state lottery retailer, like a convenience store, and they will have the latest Mega Millions results printed out. Compare against your ticket.
Newspaper
Many newspapers print the latest lottery numbers. The results are often in a dedicated lottery section.
Television
Tune in to the evening news on TV which will announce the winning numbers during the broadcast.
Be sure to check your tickets promptly after the drawing. If you win a prize, sign the back of the ticket immediately and contact your state lottery commission to begin the claims process. Prizes must be claimed within a specific period of time that varies by state.
Key Advantages of Playing Online
Here are some of the great benefits of purchasing Mega Millions tickets conveniently online:
- Convenience – Skip the lines and crowds at retail stores. Play from home in minutes.
- Mobile Access – Many state lotteries have free apps for iOS and Android.
- Account Safety – Lottery accounts keep your money and tickets safe.
- Ticket Management – Can view past tickets and numbers played online.
- Automatic Purchases – Setup recurring ticket orders.
- Time Savings – Avoid rushed trips to the store before cutoff time.
- Better Selection – Take your time carefully choosing numbers.
- Advance Games – Purchase tickets for future drawings.
Playing Mega Millions online takes all the hassle out of playing and gives you more flexibility. You can purchase tickets anytime, anywhere in just minutes right from your phone or computer.
Mega Millions Jackpots
The main excitement of playing Mega Millions is the chance to win absolutely massive nine-figure jackpots. Here are some of the biggest Mega Millions jackpots awarded:
Jackpot Amount | Date Won | Winning State |
---|---|---|
$1.537 billion | October 2018 | South Carolina |
$656 million | March 2012 | Illinois, Kansas, Maryland |
$648 million | December 2013 | California, Georgia |
$543 million | July 2018 | California |
$536 million | July 2016 | Indiana |
$533 million | March 2018 | New Jersey |
$522 million | June 2019 | California |
$451 million | January 2018 | Florida |
$437 million | January 2019 | New York |
$414 million | March 2014 | Florida, Maryland |
As you can see, Mega Millions jackpots frequently grow to be over $400 million and beyond! In October 2018, one lucky South Carolina ticket holder won the world record $1.537 billion Mega Millions jackpot. You could be the next big jackpot winner, so be sure to get your tickets.
Odds of Winning
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot grand prize are about 1 in 302,575,350. This makes hitting the jackpot incredibly difficult, but certainly not impossible. Thousands of people still win smaller prizes. Here are the Mega Millions odds breakdown for all prize levels:
Prize Level | Odds of Winning |
---|---|
Match 5 White + Mega Ball (Jackpot) | 1 in 302,575,350 |
Match 5 White Balls | 1 in 12,607,306 |
Match 4 White + Mega Ball | 1 in 931,001 |
Match 4 White Balls | 1 in 38,792 |
Match 3 White + Mega Ball | 1 in 14,547 |
Match 3 White Balls | 1 in 606 |
Match 2 White + Mega Ball | 1 in 693 |
Match 1 White + Mega Ball | 1 in 89 |
Match Mega Ball | 1 in 37 |
As shown above, the chances of matching the full 5 white numbers and Mega Ball to hit the jackpot is exceedingly rare. But the chances of winning smaller prizes by matching a few numbers is much more reasonable. With odds like this, buying just one quick pick ticket gives you a decent shot at winning something. Of course, the more tickets you buy and lines you play, the better your overall odds become.
Improve Your Odds
While winning the top prize is a very long shot, there are still some simple strategies you can use to improve your Mega Millions odds:
- Buy multiple tickets on a single draw
- Pool lottery money with friends or coworkers to buy more tickets
- Consider joining a lottery pool or syndicate
- Use historic hot numbers that get drawn more frequently
- Use lottery number wheeling systems
- Avoid consecutive numbers and patterns
- Spread out your number selections
- Take advantage of 2nd chance drawings
The more tickets you can afford to buy, the better your chances. But even just one ticket is enough to have a shot at a prize or maybe even the jackpot!
Claiming Prizes
If your Mega Millions ticket matches enough numbers to win a prize, here are steps for claiming:
- Sign the back of the winning ticket immediately.
- Keep the ticket very safe. Make multiple copies for security.
- Contact your state lottery commission to begin the claims process.
- Complete a claim form and IRS tax forms as required.
- Provide valid ID and Social Security number for tax purposes.
- Prizes over $600 may require an in-person claims appointment.
- The lottery will verify the winning ticket and validate the claim.
- You will then receive your prize check!
Be sure to sign your winning ticket and keep it very secure until ready to claim. If you happen to win a jackpot prize, it is recommended to immediately consult a financial advisor and tax attorney before proceeding. Mega Millions prizes must be claimed within varying state time limits – usually between 180 days and 1 year from the draw date.
Play Responsibly
Playing Mega Millions can be exciting, but remember to always play responsibly:
- Only spend what you can afford to lose.
- Set a budget and stick to it.
- Balance lottery play with other activities.
- Don’t play on credit.
- Don’t get caught up in chasing losses.
- Don’t let lottery become an obsession.
- Have fun and walk away if no longer enjoying it.
The lottery is meant to be entertaining. But similar to other forms of gaming, play responsibly and within your means. Know your limits, keep perspective, and have fun trying your luck with Mega Millions online!
Conclusion
Playing Mega Millions lottery online is incredibly convenient and easy. Simply visit your state lottery website, setup an account, fund it and start purchasing official tickets in just minutes from home. You can then use the lottery website or app to conveniently check results after drawings. Mega Millions offers huge jackpots that can make you instantly wealthy beyond belief for just a $2 ticket. The odds of winning are admittedly very steep, but someone eventually wins, and just one single ticket is enough for an exciting chance. Use recommended strategies to potentially improve your odds. Always be sure to play responsibly. Good luck and may fortune soon smile down on you with a big Mega Millions jackpot win!