Game Info
- Draw days: Tuesdays & Fridays
- Numbers to pick: 5 from 1–70 + 1 Mega Ball (1–25)
- Win odds: 1 in 24 (any prize)
- Jackpot odds: 1 in 302,575,350
- Minimum Jackpot: $20 million (around ₹1.6 billion)
- Biggest Jackpot: $1.6 billion (around ₹135 billion)
Mega Millions is one of the biggest lotteries in the world, known for its record-breaking jackpots exceeding $1 billion. It started its journey as The Big Game back in 1996, and it shortly became an international sensation, allowing players from India to participate online.
In this guide, you’ll discover how to buy Mega Millions tickets online, understand the game rules, check the latest results, and increase your chances of winning!
🎯 Want to start playing? Skip ahead to our recommended lottery concierge services!
Latest Mega Millions Lottery Results – Check Now
Wondering if you’ve won? Here’s how to check the latest Mega Millions draw results::
- Visit the official Mega Millions website for real-time updates.
- Use the Mega Millions checker online (available on top lottery agents’ sites).
- Follow the draw live every Tuesday & Friday at 11 PM EST (8:30 AM IST on Thursdays & Sundays).
What Is the Mega Millions Lottery?
The Mega Millions lottery has two separate pools of numbers — a “white” pool with numbers from 1 to 70 and the “golden” Mega Ball pool with numbers from 1 to 25. You’ll be choosing five white numbers and a single option from the golden Mega Ball pool.
If you guess all six numbers on a ticket, you’ll win the Mega Millions jackpot. Naturally, you can receive lower prizes of up to $1 million (close to ₹80 million) for hitting all the white numbers right. The single Mega Millions ticket price is $2, and hitting the golden Mega Ball, even without any white balls, would mean getting your cash back. However, the price is set to jump to $5 in April 2025, raising the bar for potential winnings.
The draw is held twice a week — once every Tuesday and Friday in the US, streamed live from the main TV studio in Atlanta, Georgia. There is a fun twist to the game through Megaplier — a random 2x–5x multiplier awarded to non-jackpot winnings.
How to Play Mega Millions – Step-by-Step
The best way to play Mega Millions is through the official website, locally, or an online lottery concierge if you’re playing internationally from India.
Want to participate? Follow these steps:
- Choose five numbers (1-70) and Golden Ball (1-25).
- Decide whether to add the Megaplier (increases non-jackpot prizes by 2x–5x).
- Buy tickets via a trusted lottery agent.
- Wait for the draw and check your results!
Mega Millions Ticket Price – Updated for 2025
As mentioned, the Mega Millions ticket price is going to be $5 starting April 2025, and it’s only going to be the second time the cost has been increased in more than 20 years. That also means you would need at least four balls for a $200–$500 prize and five balls for a $10,000 prize.
According to the consortium behind the brand, the increase will have somewhat of a positive effect on the players through higher winning frequency and bigger jackpots.
Naturally, you’ll have to pay more if you want to max out on the extras. So, buying a single ticket with the Multiplier is worth an extra dollar. In total, that would be $6 (or around ₹506) with the additional feature.
There’s also an option to buy a “Just the Jackpot” ticket in certain US states, so you might be able to get them from India as well by paying $3 per ticket to get in line for the jackpot alone.
| Ticket Type | Price (USD) | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Ticket | $5 | ₹420 |
| Ticket with Megaplier | $6 | ₹506 |
| “Just the Jackpot” Ticket | $3 | ₹252 |
Indian players must use an online concierge to purchase tickets.
Draw Schedule
Mega Millions hosts two official draws every week, and the jackpot prizes grow until they’re won. You can watch the draw every Tuesday and Friday at 11 PM US time. For Indian players, that means it would be 8:30 AM on Thursdays and Sundays. If that’s too early for you, it’s always possible to check your Mega Millions result on the official results page on the main website.
Mega Millions Draw Schedule
| US Time | Indian Time |
|---|---|
| Tuesday at 11:00 PM | Thursday at 8:30 AM |
| Friday at 11:00 PM | Sunday at 8:30 AM |
Mega Millions Winning Odds and Prize Categories
If you’re wondering about your winning chances, it’s 1 to 24 when it comes to claiming any win, and that even includes the $2 Mega Ball hit. However, it’s all worth it, considering the jackpot prizes of up to $1.6 billion. Here’s a chart with all the winning probabilities, odds, and your estimated prizes:
| Match | Winning Odds | Estimated Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + Mega Ball | 1 in 302,575,350 | Jackpot ($20M+) |
| 5 | 1 in 12,607,306 | $1 million |
| 4 + Mega Ball | 1 in 931,001 | $10,000 |
| 4 | 1 in 38,792 | $500 |
| 3 + Mega Ball | 1 in 14,547 | $200 |
| 3 | 1 in 606 | $10 |
| 2 + Mega Ball | 1 in 693 | $10 |
| 1 + Mega Ball | 1 in 89 | $4 |
| Mega Ball | 1 in 37 | $2 |
| Any Prize | 1 in 24 | / |
Tips for Winning on Mega Millions
Knowing your odds for winning the lottery is a great start to understanding the reward-risk ratio, but there are real winning tips for games like Mega Millions.
Follow out tips to optimise your play:
- Try different number combinations — It is a good idea to purchase several tickets and pursue completely different combinations. Since all of them theoretically have the same chance of hitting, mixing things up can’t hurt.
- Keep track of the jackpot — It’s true that the Mega Millions jackpot is very unpredictable, and there’s no way of knowing when it will hit. However, keeping track of it and comparing it with previous hitting points can be useful.
- Use the Megaplier option — Since the price of the ticket will go up, the Megaplier is a good investment if you can afford it. After all, it’s always handy to always have an active multiplier on non-jackpot winnings for a small fee.
- Try using lottery tools — Using one or two lottery tools from time to time can’t harm your winning chances. Of course, there’s no absolute strategy for winning, but it’s at least fun to try new things and different combinations.
- Avoid common number patterns – consecutive numbers or birthdays
Mega Millions Jackpot History – Biggest Wins
The story of Mega Millions winners is a long one, bearing in mind that the game has been around since 1996. However, the format is not your typical lottery with decent payouts for moderate hits — this one is more of a “go big or go home” type of thing.
You’ll see the biggest jackpots ever recorded in any lottery. The list of big winners goes back to 2002 when the Mega Millions jackpot was introduced. Since then, players have repeatedly found themselves on the list of the top 10 biggest US lottery winnings ever recorded.
Pat and Dick Warren of Hoquiam struck gold with a $93 million hit in 2002, the biggest jackpot on the show at the time. Since then, the bar has been raised considerably, with even bigger wins going well over the $100 million line two times in 2003. Meanwhile, the first $294 million jackpot was claimed in 2004. On August 8, 2023, Saltines Holdings LLC won the record-breaking $1.6 billion ticket.
| Jackpot | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| $1.6B | Florida | August 2023 |
| $1.537B | South Carolina | October 2018 |
| $1.337B | Illinois | July 2022 |
| $1.128B | New Jersey | March 2024 |
| $1.05B | Michigan | January 2021 |
📌 Did you know? The highest-ever Mega Millions jackpot was $1.6 billion!
Claiming Winnings & Tax Considerations for Indian Players
If you’ve won any prize through Mega Millions, you’ll have 90 days to 1 year from the draw date to claim it. It’s possible to share your winnings. Jackpot winners can choose between a lump sum or annuity payments.
The jackpot amount will be significantly reduced for the cash option fee and the taxes, so it could be way lower than initially claimed. For instance, Sol Living Trust of Sugar Land’s $810 million win in September this year became $409.3 million after choosing the cash option.
If you go with the annuity option, you’re entitled to the starting annual payment, followed by 29 annual payments, each one 5% larger than the previous.
Notes: ✔ US Federal Tax: 24% (higher in some states). ✔ Indian players may also be subject to tax depending on residency. ✔ Check your lottery concierge’s withdrawal policies before playing!
Playing Mega Millions in India – Is It Legal?
You can only play the Mega Millions lottery in India through an online concierge since the official Mega Millions website does not sell tickets internationally.
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Final Thoughts – Should You Play Mega Millions?
Mega Millions offers some of the biggest jackpots in the world, making it a dream lottery for many players. With online options available in India, you can participate from anywhere!
✔ Massive jackpots – up to $1.6B ✔ Easy online ticket purchase options ✔ Simple gameplay & transparent odds
🎯 Ready to try your luck? Choose a reliable lottery site & start playing today!
