How to Play Mega Millions (2024)

How to Play Mega Millions (1)

There are more ways to play Mega Millions now than ever before, but it can be hard to keep track of them. Here’s how to play.

Game Play

There are three options when purchasing a Mega Millions ticket. First, you can pick the numbers yourself. Select five numbers between 1 and 70 and one Mega Ball number between 1 and 25. Second, if you don't want to pick yourself, you can use Easy Pick and let the computer choose five random numbers and one random Mega Ball number. Finally, if you have one or two lucky numbers you always pick but don't want to choose the rest, you can combine the two other options by picking the numbers you want and letting Easy Pick choose the rest.

Ways to Play

A standard ticket costs $2. You can win the jackpot or any non-jackpot prize. The Megaplier feature gives you the option to multiply (from two to five times) the value of any non-jackpot prize you win based upon the Megaplier ball that is drawn. Add the Megaplier feature for an additional $1 per set of numbers.

There are Virginia Lottery Game Machines at more than 1,500 locations throughout the state of Virginia, so you don't need to worry about waiting in line to get your ticket. Just pay with your debit card, and you’re done.

You don't have to go to your local grocery or convenience store to play Mega Millions. If you're a Virginia resident, you have the option to play online. All you have to do is register your account, deposit funds and start playing!

A standard ticket costs $2. You can win the jackpot or any non-jackpot prize. The Megaplier feature gives you the option to multiply (from two to five times) the value of any non-jackpot prize you win based upon the Megaplier ball that is drawn. Add the Megaplier feature for an additional $1 per set of numbers.

You can get two Easy Pick plays that each give you the chance to win only the jackpot prize. The two plays together cost $3, which saves you $1. Look at and fill out the bottom of the playslip to play for Just the Jackpot. Available at retail stores only.

How to Win

A player wins the jackpot by matching all five numbers and the Mega Ball number. A player wins $1 million by matching only the first five numbers. That prize (and any non-jackpot prize) can be multiplied if the player purchases the Megaplier option when buying the ticket.

A player who matches four numbers and the Mega Ball wins $10,000; matching four numbers means a $500 win. Matching three numbers plus the Mega Ball means a $200 win and matching three numbers without the Mega Ball means a $10 win.

A player who matches two balls and the Mega Ball wins $10; matching one ball and the Mega Ball wins $4. Matching only the Mega Ball means a $2 win.

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Last modified11/15/22

How to Play Mega Millions (2024)

FAQs

Is there a trick to winning the Mega Millions? ›

The Mega Millions, like any lottery, is a game of chance. Glickman suggests that the best way to increase your chances of winning is to buy more tickets, within reason. For example, if the probability of winning the jackpot is 1 in 302,575,350 with one ticket, it becomes 2 in 302,575,350 if you buy two.

How do you increase your chances of winning Mega Millions? ›

But, as Chen and other mathematics experts have said, there are no numbers, combinations, or methods to give you a better chance at the Mega Millions jackpot. You can, however, increase your chances by simply buying more tickets.

Is there a strategy to Mega Millions? ›

Remember, buying more tickets is the only way to increase your chance of winning. This strategy can be more effective using a lottery wheel rather than buying random tickets. This is because, mathematically speaking, a lottery wheel strategically traps the winning numbers.

What are the 6 luckiest numbers for Mega Millions? ›

As for the Mega Ball, only six numbers have been drawn more than 100 times: 1, 3, 9, 10, 15, and 7. Only 9 and 15 have not been pulled during this jackpot run, Lotto America shows. Your odds at the Mega Millions jackpot are slim – but can you increase them?

Is there a pattern in Mega Millions? ›

Not at all! In a lotto game like Mega Millions, the order in which the numbers are drawn does not matter. The numbers on your ticket are always shown in numerical order, as are the winning numbers for each drawing as reported here on megamillions.com.

Has anyone ever won Mega Millions with Quick Pick? ›

11. $536 Million (Indiana) On July 8, 2016, an Indiana couple won this mega jackpot after buying 5 Quick Pick tickets on a road trip. The winning family was able to remain anonymous by accepting their prize through a law firm in the state.

Is it better to pick your own Mega Millions numbers? ›

Picking your own numbers doesn't change the odds of winning. But, picking random numbers does increase the odds that if you win, no one else wins.

What is the most common winning numbers for Mega Millions? ›

Tickets are $2 and there are a total of nine ways to win a prize. Drawings are held at 11 p.m. ET Tuesdays and Fridays. USA Mega, which tracks Mega Millions statistics, says the most common Mega Millions numbers are 10, 3, 17, 14 and 46 for the first five numbers. The most common Mega ball number is 11.

What is the best lottery strategy? ›

Lottery experts agree that the number one way to boost your chance of getting a winning ticket is to just get more tickets. Even though the probability of winning the lottery is low in general, the greater the amount of tickets you have, the more likely it is that one of these tickets will be the winner.

Is it worth playing the megaplier? ›

The Megaplier doesn't change or improve your odds of winning a Mega Millions prize and can't guarantee that you'll win a prize. But if you do win a non-jackpot prize, Mega Millions Megaplier will significantly boost your total prize amount!

Is it better to let the computer pick lottery numbers? ›

Aside from purchasing multiple lottery tickets with different number combinations, there is no way to increase your chance of winning the lottery with one ticket, Clotfelter said. However, it can help to let the computer pick your numbers instead of choosing them yourself.

Is there a technique to winning the lottery? ›

To better your chances of winning any lottery, you have to buy more tickets, he said. The more tickets, the more chances of choosing the right combination of numbers. But Kapoor is cautious about describing that as improving your odds.

Who won the lottery 14 times? ›

In the 1990s, Romanian-Australian economist Stefan Mandel and his small team entered the lottery and won. Over and over and over again. The feat, of course, wasn't achieved through having a really lucky set of numbers.

What are the hot numbers to pick for Mega Millions? ›

Most common Mega Millions numbers
  • 22: Drawn 34 times.
  • 11: Drawn 31 times.
  • 9: Drawn 30 times.
  • 18: Drawn 28 times.
  • 25: Drawn 28 times.
  • 19: Drawn 28 times.
  • 4: Drawn 28 times.
  • 13: Drawn 28 times.
Aug 7, 2023

How to win the Mega Millions? ›

Mega Millions tickets cost $2 per play. To play, pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers: either five different numbers from 1-70 for the white numbers, and one number from 1-25 for the gold Mega Ball. You win the Mega Millions jackpot by matching your numbers to all six numbers pulled in the drawing.

Are you more likely to win Mega Millions with quick pick or own numbers? ›

Picking your own numbers doesn't change the odds of winning. But, picking random numbers does increase the odds that if you win, no one else wins.

Is it easier to win Mega Millions? ›

Your chances of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are roughly 1 in 302.6 million. Your odds are slightly better when it comes to Powerball, where you have a 1 in 24.87 chance at any prize, ranging from $4 to the jackpot. Your chances of actually hitting the jackpot are about 1 in 292.2 million.

What is the best way to play the Mega Millions lottery? ›

Buy more than one ticket.

Make sure to pick a different set of numbers for each ticket, or you won't improve your odds at all! Your odds of winning the jackpot (as of 2023) with one ticket are approximately 1 in 303 million. So, if you buy 2 tickets, your odds become 1 in 156.5 million.

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