How to Play Mega Millions: Complete Guide to Rules, Prizes & Odds
Mega Millions is one of the largest and most recognized lottery games in the United States, available in 45 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is drawn every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time and consistently produces some of the biggest jackpots in lottery history — including a world record $1.602 billion jackpot won in August 2023. Important: Mega Millions launched a new game format on April 8, 2025. Tickets now cost $5 per play, with a built-in Multiplier included in every ticket at no extra charge.
How to Play Mega Millions: Step by Step
- 1
Pick your white ball numbers
Choose five different numbers from 1 to 70.
- 2
Pick your Mega Ball number
Choose one Mega Ball number from 1 to 24.
- 3
Use Quick Pick if you prefer
Not sure which numbers to pick? Mark Easy Pick / Quick Pick on your playslip and the terminal will randomly select all six numbers for you. This is the most common way people play.
- 4
Buy your ticket
A Mega Millions ticket costs $5 per play and includes a built-in Multiplier. You can buy tickets for up to 26 consecutive drawings at a retail location, or up to 52 consecutive draws if purchasing online (where available).
- 5
Check the results
Drawings are held Tuesday and Friday evenings. Find the latest winning numbers right here on USA Lottery Club immediately after each draw.
Mega Millions Prize Tiers & Odds
There are 9 ways to win a Mega Millions prize. The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 23.07.
| Match | Prize | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|---|
| 5 white balls + Mega Ball | Jackpot | 1 in 290,472,336 |
| 5 white balls | $1,000,000 | 1 in 12,607,306 |
| 4 white balls + Mega Ball | $10,000 | 1 in 931,001 |
| 4 white balls | $500 | 1 in 38,792 |
| 3 white balls + Mega Ball | $200 | 1 in 14,547 |
| 3 white balls | $10 | 1 in 606 |
| 2 white balls + Mega Ball | $10 | 1 in 693 |
| 1 white ball + Mega Ball | $4 | 1 in 89 |
| Mega Ball only | $2 | 1 in 37 |
Prize amounts shown are base amounts before the Multiplier is applied. All non-jackpot prizes are automatically increased by your ticket's assigned Multiplier. In California, prizes are paid on a pari-mutuel basis and amounts will differ from those shown.
The Mega Millions Multiplier: Built Into Every Ticket
As of April 2025, every Mega Millions ticket includes a Multiplier at no extra cost — it's baked into the $5 ticket price. When you purchase a ticket, a random Multiplier (2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x) is assigned to each play. If you win any non-jackpot prize, your winnings are automatically multiplied by that amount.
| Match | Base Prize | 2x | 3x | 4x | 5x | 10x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 white balls | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $3,000,000 | $4,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $10,000,000 |
| 4 + Mega Ball | $10,000 | $20,000 | $30,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 | $100,000 |
| 4 white balls | $500 | $1,000 | $1,500 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| 3 + Mega Ball | $200 | $400 | $600 | $800 | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| 3 white balls | $10 | $20 | $30 | $40 | $50 | $100 |
| 2 + Mega Ball | $10 | $20 | $30 | $40 | $50 | $100 |
| 1 + Mega Ball | $4 | $8 | $12 | $16 | $20 | $40 |
The Multiplier does not apply to the jackpot prize.
Odds of Each Multiplier
| Multiplier | Approximate Odds |
|---|---|
| 2x | 1 in 2.13 |
| 3x | 1 in 3.20 |
| 4x | 1 in 8.00 |
| 5x | 1 in 16.00 |
| 10x | 1 in 32.00 |
How the Mega Millions Jackpot Works
The Mega Millions jackpot starts at $50 million and grows with every drawing where no one matches all six numbers. Because jackpots are funded by ticket sales, they can grow extremely rapidly during hot streaks — sometimes adding tens of millions of dollars between drawings.
- Annuity: The jackpot is paid as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments, with each installment growing by 5% from the previous year. The total of all 30 payments equals the advertised jackpot amount.
- Cash (Lump Sum): A single one-time payment equal to the cash in the jackpot prize pool. This is typically 50–60% of the advertised jackpot value.
Jackpot winners choose between annuity and cash at the time they claim their prize. If multiple tickets match all six winning numbers, the jackpot is divided equally among all winning plays.
Mega Millions Drawing Schedule
| Day | Drawing Time (Eastern) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 11:00 p.m. ET |
| Friday | 11:00 p.m. ET |
Ticket sales typically close about 15 minutes before each drawing, though cutoff times vary by state. Check with your local lottery or retailer for exact cutoff times in your area.
How to Claim a Mega Millions Prize
- Small prizes (typically under $600): Claim at any authorized lottery retailer.
- Prizes $600 and above: You must complete a claim form and may need to visit a lottery office.
- Large prizes and jackpots: Must be claimed in person at the lottery headquarters in the state where the winning ticket was purchased.
- Claim deadline: Most states require prizes to be claimed within 180 days of the drawing, though some states allow up to one year.
Sign the back of your ticket immediately. Your signature is the strongest proof that the ticket belongs to you. All prizes must be claimed in the state where the ticket was purchased.
Mega Millions Taxes: What You'll Owe
Federal withholding
The IRS requires 24% to be withheld automatically from prizes over $5,000.
State taxes
Most states withhold state income tax. The rate varies widely — from 0% in states like Florida, Texas, and California (which doesn't tax lottery winnings), up to over 10% in some other states.
Annuity vs. lump sum taxes
Both options are taxable, but total tax owed can differ. The lump sum is taxed in full in the year you receive it; annuity payments are taxed as ordinary income each year.
Use our Mega Millions Tax Calculator to see your estimated take-home amount →
Mega Millions Quick Facts
| Ticket price | $5 per play (Multiplier included) |
| White ball range | 1–70 |
| Mega Ball range | 1–24 |
| Drawing days | Tuesday and Friday |
| Drawing time | 11:00 p.m. ET |
| Starting jackpot | $50 million |
| Overall odds | 1 in 23.07 |
| Jackpot odds | 1 in 290,472,336 |
| Ways to win | 9 |
| States participating | 45 + D.C., U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Multiplier | Built-in (2x–10x), no extra cost |
Frequently Asked Questions
Results are unofficial. Always verify winning numbers with your official state lottery. USA Lottery Club is an independent results service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Mega Millions or any state lottery.