Multipliers are 2x, 3x, 4x, and 5x (a second-prize Megaplier play can win $5 million cash). For an additional $1 per play, the Megaplier, if activated, multiplies non-jackpot prizes. The current Mega Millions format began in October 2017. (Puerto Rico, whose lottery began in the 1930s, currently does not offer Mega Millions.) Mississippi began selling lottery tickets in 2019 it joined Mega Millions on January 30, 2020.īefore the agreement, the only stores which sold Mega Millions and Powerball tickets were retailers whose business was on a border between jurisdictions which sold competing games. Nebraska (March 20, 2010), Oregon (March 28, 2010), Arizona (April 18, 2010), Maine (May 9, 2010), Colorado and South Dakota (the latter two on May 16, 2010) also have joined Mega Millions since the expansion.Īs of January 2020, there were 47 lotteries offering Mega Millions and Powerball Florida joined Mega Millions in May 2013. Montana (joining Mega Millions on March 1, 2010) was the first jurisdiction to add either game after the cross-sell expansion. The expansion occurred on January 31, 2010, as 23 Powerball members began selling Mega Millions tickets for their first drawing on Februlikewise, 10 Mega Millions members began selling Powerball tickets for their first drawing the next day. On October 13, 2009, the Mega Millions consortium and Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) reached an agreement in principle to cross-sell Mega Millions and Powerball in American lottery jurisdictions, with the two groups referred to as the 'Mega Power Lottery' by many users. Mega Millions lottery tickets from New Jersey (left) and New York (right) see below for rule variations among the game's 46 members, including which lotteries offer the Just the Jackpot option The winner anonymously claimed the prize in March 2019. The largest jackpot (in which the jackpot was won) in Mega Millions history was $1.537 billion, for the Octodrawing, in which there was one winning jackpot ticket, sold in South Carolina. Only the jackpot can be won none of the lower-tier prizes are available on such a wager. Several of the game's members offer the Just the Jackpot option, in which two plays cost $3. The Megaplier was made available to all Mega Millions jurisdictions in January 2011 it began as an option available only in Texas. Of the 47 Mega Millions jurisdictions, all but California offer an option, called Megaplier (plays with the Megaplier are $3 each) where non-jackpot prizes are multiplied by 2, 3, 4, or 5. The current version of Mega Millions requires players to match 5 of 70 white balls, and the gold-colored 'MegaBall' from a second field, of 25 numbers ( 5/70 / 1/25).Įach game costs $2. Mega Millions' previous format began on Octoits first drawing was three days later. A cash value option (the usual choice), when chosen by a jackpot winner, pays the approximate present value of the installments.

Reflecting common practice among American lotteries, the jackpot is advertised as a nominal value of annual installments. Under the current version's regulations (which began Octowith the first drawing October 31) for Mega Millions, the minimum Mega Millions advertised jackpot is $40 million, paid in 30 graduated yearly installments, increasing 5% each year (unless the cash option is chosen see below for differences by lotteries on cash/annuity choice regulations.) The jackpot increases when there is no top-prize winner. The hosts are John Crow and Carol Blackmon.

Mega Millions is administered by a consortium of its 12 original lotteries the drawings are held at the studios of WSB-TV in Atlanta, Georgia, supervised by the Georgia Lottery. Eastern Time on Tuesday and Friday evenings, including holidays. What is now Mega Millions initially was offered in six states the logo for all versions of the game following the retirement of The Big Game name featured a gold-colored ball with six stars to represent the game's initial membership, although some lotteries insert their respective logo in the ball. The first (The Big Game) Mega Millions drawing was in 2002 see below. Mega Millions (originally known as The Big Game in 1996 and renamed, temporarily, to The Big Game Mega Millions six years later) is an American multi-jurisdictional lottery game as of January 30, 2020, it is offered in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S.

American multi-jurisdictional lottery game Mega Millions

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