How to Play

Mega Millions is a lotto game which is a combined large jackpot game and a cash game. Every Tuesday and Friday night at 11:00 PM Eastern Time, Mega Millions Group draws five white balls out of a drum with 56 white balls and one gold ball out of a drum with 46 gold balls. Players win by matching one of the 9 ways to win. The jackpot (won by matching all five white balls in any order and the gold Mega Ball) is either an annuitized prize paid out over 29 years (30 payments) or a lump sum payment.

You no longer have to select the payment option at the time of purchase. The tax law has changed to give you up to 60 days until after you claim the prize to decide whether you want cash or the annuity option. The second prize (won by matching five white balls in any order) is $250,000 paid in cash. Any time you match the gold Mega Ball, you win. The overall odds of winning a prize in the game is better than 1 in 75.

Match Prize Odds
Any 5 of 5 and Mega Grand Prize 1 in 175,711,536
Any 5 of 5 $250,000 1 in 3,904,701
Any 4 of 5 and Mega $10,000 1 in 689,065
Any 4 of 5 $150 1 in 15,313
Any 3 of 5 and Mega $150 1 in 13,781
Any 3 of 5 $7 1 in 306
Any 2 of 5 and Mega $10 1 in 844
Any 1 of 5 and Mega $3 1 in 141
None of 5, Only Mega $2 1 in 75
Overall odds of winning 23