Mega Millions Guide: $5 Tickets, New Odds, Draws and Jackpots
Mega Millions introduced a new format in April 2025. Every play now costs US$5, uses five white ball numbers from 1 to 70 plus one Mega Ball from 1 to 24, and includes a built-in multiplier for non-jackpot prizes. Draws remain on Tuesday and Friday nights, and the jackpot now starts at US$50 million.
Mega Millions at a glance
- Operator: Mega Millions is coordinated by participating US lotteries through the Mega Millions Consortium.
- Where it is sold: Participating US jurisdictions through their authorised lottery channels.
- Price: US$5 per play under the format introduced on 8 April 2025.
- Number format: 5 white balls from 1 to 70 plus 1 Mega Ball from 1 to 24.
- Draw days: Tuesday and Friday.
- Draw time: 11:00pm Eastern Time, drawn in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Jackpot odds: 1 in 290,472,336.
- Overall odds: About 1 in 23.
- Starting jackpot: US$50 million.
- Built-in feature: Every play receives a random 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X or 10X multiplier for non-jackpot prizes.
How to play Mega Millions
A Mega Millions play consists of five distinct white ball numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 24.
Players can select the numbers themselves or use the lottery terminal's random number option. During the drawing, five white balls are drawn from the main machine and one gold Mega Ball is drawn from a separate set.
Matching all six wins the jackpot. There are eight additional ways to win, beginning with matching only the Mega Ball.
The 2025 redesign reduced the Mega Ball field from 25 to 24 and replaced the old optional Megaplier with a multiplier included in every US$5 play. The multiplier is randomly assigned when the ticket is purchased and applies to non-jackpot prizes under the current prize table.
Ticket prices and add-ons
Every standard Mega Millions play costs US$5.
There is no separate Megaplier purchase under the current format. Instead, each play automatically receives a random multiplier of 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X or 10X. The multiplier is printed with the play and changes the amount paid for qualifying non-jackpot wins.
Depending on the multiplier attached to the ticket, the minimum prize for matching only the Mega Ball is US$10 or more, and the top non-jackpot five white ball prize can range up to US$10 million.
The ticket price is set by the game, but retailers and online channels must still operate under the rules of the participating lottery jurisdiction.
Draw days and times
Mega Millions draws are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00pm Eastern Time in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ticket sales close before 11:00pm, but the exact cutoff varies by participating lottery. A player should follow the deadline published by the state or jurisdiction where the ticket is issued.
Eastern Time changes between standard time and daylight saving time during the year, so international viewers should not treat the draw as having one fixed UTC time in every season.
Results are distributed through Mega Millions and participating lottery websites after the drawing.
Prizes and odds
The current game has nine prize outcomes, from matching only the Mega Ball through matching all five white balls and the Mega Ball.
The jackpot odds are 1 in 290,472,336 per US$5 play. The overall chance of winning any prize is about 1 in 23.
For non-jackpot prizes, the randomly assigned multiplier determines the payment. Matching five white balls without the Mega Ball is worth a base US$1 million before the ticket's built-in multiplier is applied, which can raise that prize as high as US$10 million.
The jackpot is not multiplied. Matching all five white balls plus the Mega Ball wins a share of the jackpot regardless of the non-jackpot multiplier printed on the play.
Jackpots, rollovers and records
The redesigned Mega Millions jackpot starts at US$50 million and grows when no ticket wins the top prize. The advertised figure is the estimated annuity value before taxes.
A jackpot winner can generally choose between the annuity and the cash option. The annuity is paid as one initial payment followed by 29 annual payments, with each annual payment increasing by 5 percent. The cash option pays the present cash value of the jackpot in one payment.
The record Mega Millions jackpot is US$1.602 billion, won by a ticket sold in Florida for the 8 August 2023 drawing. That record was set under the previous game format, but it remains the largest Mega Millions jackpot paid.
Jackpot amounts are estimates until ticket sales and prize liabilities are finalized.
How to play Mega Millions online
Official online Mega Millions sales depend on the jurisdiction. Some participating US lotteries sell draw tickets through their own websites or apps, while others permit only retail purchases or use approved courier arrangements.
There is no single national Mega Millions website that can sell a ticket to every person in every location. Eligibility and physical location requirements are set by the lottery issuing the entry.
Third party courier or messenger services may facilitate ticket purchases in jurisdictions where their model is permitted. Betting services can offer a wager on the draw result rather than an official ticket.
Customers should determine whether they are receiving an official lottery entry and which entity is responsible for prize payment.
Claiming prizes
Mega Millions claim procedures are set by the participating lottery that sold the winning ticket. Claim deadlines, retailer payment limits and anonymity rules therefore vary by jurisdiction.
Jackpot winners also face a decision between the annuity and cash option under the rules of the selling lottery. A large winner should sign or secure the ticket as instructed by that jurisdiction and contact the lottery directly.
Federal income tax applies to US lottery prizes, and state or local taxes may also apply depending on the ticket's jurisdiction and the winner's circumstances.
Because deadlines differ, a winner should not rely on a claim period quoted for another state. The official lottery printed on the ticket is the source for the applicable deadline and payment process.
Mega Millions FAQ
How much is Mega Millions now?
A standard play costs US$5 under the format introduced in April 2025.
What numbers do you choose?
Choose five white ball numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball from 1 to 24.
What happened to Megaplier?
The optional Megaplier was replaced by a multiplier included with every play. Each ticket receives a random 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X or 10X multiplier for non-jackpot prizes.
What are the jackpot odds?
The current jackpot odds are 1 in 290,472,336 per play.
When are the drawings?
Mega Millions is drawn Tuesday and Friday at 11:00pm Eastern Time.
Lottery play involves the risk of losing the full ticket price. Only play if you meet the legal age and eligibility rules where you live, set a spending limit, and do not chase losses.