🔵 Mega Millions® Guide
How to Play Mega Millions®
Everything you need to know — rules, prize tiers, odds, the built-in multiplier, and tips for playing smarter
Draw Days
Tue · Fri
11:00 PM ET
Draw Location
Atlanta
Georgia, USA
Ticket Price
$5 per play
2×–10× multiplier built in
Jackpot Odds
1 in 290M
Any prize: ~1 in 23
Min. Jackpot
$50 Million
Rolls over until won
Cash Value
~60% of annuity
Or 30 annual payments
🔵 Mega Millions vs 🔴 Powerball: Mega Millions draws only on Tuesday and Friday, so you have a full 5 draw-free days (including Thu and Sun) between MM draws. Powerball draws Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday — together you can play a lottery draw 5 days a week.
How to Play — Step by Step
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Pick your white ballsChoose 5 numbers from 1 to 70 — note that Mega Millions goes up to 70, one higher than Powerball's 69. Pick your own numbers, use Quick Pick, or use coldnumbers analyzer to review frequency trends.
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Pick your Mega BallChoose 1 gold Mega Ball number from 1 to 24 (it was 1–25 before April 2025). This is drawn from a separate drum. You must match this ball plus all 5 white balls to win the jackpot.
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Get your multiplier (automatic)Every $5 play comes with a random multiplier — 2×, 3×, 4×, 5× or 10× — printed next to your numbers. It multiplies every non-jackpot prize. There is no separate Megaplier to buy any more.
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Note: "Just the Jackpot" has endedThe old $3 "Just the Jackpot" option was discontinued with the April 2025 game change. Every play is now a standard $5 play.
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Buy your ticketBuy at any licensed retailer, or online in participating states at megamillions.com. Ticket sales cut off approximately 1 hour before the draw.
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Watch the drawDraws happen every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 PM ET in Atlanta, Georgia. Results post immediately online at megamillions.com. No draws on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday.
Prize Tiers & Odds of Winning
Prizes since the April 8, 2025 game change. The base prize is always multiplied by the multiplier on your ticket (at least 2×), so the smallest prize you can actually win is $10.
| Match | Base prize | Odds of Winning | Paid with multiplier (2×–10×) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 white + Mega Ball | 🏆 JACKPOT | 1 in 290,472,336 | N/A — jackpot is not multiplied |
| 5 white (no Mega Ball) | $1,000,000 | 1 in 12,629,232 | $2,000,000 – $10,000,000 |
| 4 white + Mega Ball | $10,000 | 1 in 893,761 | $20,000 – $100,000 |
| 4 white (no Mega Ball) | $500 | 1 in 38,859 | $1,000 – $5,000 |
| 3 white + Mega Ball | $200 | 1 in 13,965 | $400 – $2,000 |
| 3 white (no Mega Ball) | $10 | 1 in 607 | $20 – $100 |
| 2 white + Mega Ball | $10 | 1 in 665 | $20 – $100 |
| 1 white + Mega Ball | $7 | 1 in 86 | $14 – $70 |
| Mega Ball only | $5 | 1 in 35 | $10 – $50 |
Overall odds of winning any Mega Millions prize: about 1 in 23. Multiplier odds per play: 2× 1 in 2.13 · 3× 1 in 3.2 · 4× 1 in 8 · 5× 1 in 16 · 10× 1 in 32. California pays non-jackpot prizes pari-mutuel, so amounts there can differ.
Taxes on Mega Millions Winnings
Mega Millions prizes are subject to the same federal and state taxes as Powerball (for the current jackpot, see Mega Millions jackpot after taxes in every state):
Federal Withholding
24%
Withheld at time of payment on prizes over $5,000
Top Federal Rate
37%
Effective rate depends on total taxable income
State Taxes
0% – 10%
CA, TX, FL exempt. NY up to 10.9%.
$200M Jackpot
~$72M
Estimated cash take-home after taxes (5% state)
💡 Use the coldnumbers Calculator — model your exact after-tax amount for your state, compare cash vs. annuity, and see long-term wealth scenarios like Park & Draw vs. Live Large First. Open Calculator →
Mega Millions vs Powerball — Key Differences
| Feature | 🔵 Mega Millions | 🔴 Powerball |
|---|---|---|
| Draw Days | Tuesday · Friday | Monday · Wednesday · Saturday |
| Draw Time | 11:00 PM ET | 10:59 PM ET |
| Draw Location | Atlanta, GA | Tallahassee, FL |
| White Balls | 5 from 1–70 | 5 from 1–69 |
| Special Ball | Mega Ball: 1 from 1–24 | Powerball: 1 from 1–26 |
| Ticket Price | $5 (multiplier included) | $2 (+$1 Power Play) |
| Jackpot Odds | 1 in 290,472,336 | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| Multiplier | Built in: 2×–10× (random per play) | Power Play: 2×–10× (+$1) |
| Starting Jackpot | $50 million | $20 million |
| Second Prize | $2M–$10M (multiplied) | $1,000,000 ($2M with PP) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mega Millions harder to win than Powerball? +
No — they're nearly identical. Since April 2025, Mega Millions jackpot odds are 1 in 290.5 million vs Powerball's 1 in 292.2 million, and the odds of winning any prize are about 1 in 23 vs 1 in 25. The bigger difference is price: $5 a play for Mega Millions vs $2 for Powerball.
Can I still buy "Just the Jackpot"? +
No. Just the Jackpot was discontinued when the game changed on April 8, 2025. Every play is now a standard $5 play with a built-in multiplier.
Can I play Mega Millions if I live outside the US? +
Yes, you can play Mega Millions regardless of citizenship or residency, but you must purchase your ticket within a participating US state. Some lottery courier apps allow non-residents to purchase tickets legally. Non-US residents may face different tax withholding rates (30% federal for non-residents).
How does the Mega Millions multiplier work? +
Since April 2025 the old $1 Megaplier is gone. Each $5 play is randomly assigned a multiplier when you buy it — 2× (1 in 2.13), 3× (1 in 3.2), 4× (1 in 8), 5× (1 in 16) or 10× (1 in 32) — and every non-jackpot prize on that play is multiplied by it. The $1M second prize therefore pays $2M–$10M.
What happens to unclaimed Mega Millions prizes? +
Unclaimed prizes are distributed back to participating states according to each state's rules — typically going to education funds or other public benefit programs. Claim periods vary by state but are typically 90 days to 1 year from the draw date.
⚠️ Play Responsibly — Lottery tickets are a form of entertainment with negative expected returns. You must be 18+ to play lottery and 21+ for sports betting. Never spend money you can't afford to lose. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call: Ohio: 1-800-589-9966 · National: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) · NCPG: 1-800-522-4700.
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