Mega Millions Rules and Odds

General rules

  1. First, a player needs to purchase a Mega Millions lottery ticket at $2.00.
  2. Then, a player may pick 6 separate numbers from 2 pools (White balls & Golden balls). Any 5 white balls from number 1- 70, and one gold mega ball from number 1 – 25.
  3. OR, a player may allow the lottery computer to randomly pick their lottery numbers by going for Quick Pick / Easy Pick.
  4. A jackpot is won when all 6 balls (5 white + 1 gold) are matched.

The Megaplier impact:

This feature costs an additional $1 and offers a player the option of multiplying their winnings by the number on a lucky ball drawn by the lottery machine. You can watch the Mega Millions Draw Live here.

The Megaplier ball is picked from a pool of 15 balls each marked with numbers.

  • 1 ball is marked with 5X;
  • 3 are marked with 4X;
  • 6 are marked with 3X;
  • 5 remaining balls are marked with 2X.

Megaplier option available if you play Mega Millions online on the Lottosmile website.

*This feature is only available to those with non-jackpot winnings.

Mega Millions Odds of winning the Jackpot

The jackpot consists of 5 white balls and 1 gold ball. The odds or chances‌ ‌of‌ ‌winning‌ ‌the big stake is 1 in 302,573,350. But, since they started; 193 jackpots have been won by 218 single tickets.

Mega‌ ‌Millions‌ ‌payment‌ ‌breakdown‌:

There are only 9 odds categories. Overall, a player has 1 in 24 odds at winning any Prize money and the least a player can win is $2 which comes when you match only the Mega ball. You can match all 6 balls down to 1 ball (must be the mega ball) and still win a prize.

*When no one wins the jackpot it is rolled over and added to the next draw.

What you can win in Mega‌ ‌Millions‌

 

Balls Matched Prize amount Probability
5 Main+ 1 Gold JACKPOT 1 in 302,575,350
5 Main Balls $1,000,000 1 in 12,607,306
4 Main + 1 Gold Ball $10,000 1 in 931,001
4 Main $500 1 in 38,792
3 Main Balls + 1 Gold $200 1 in 14,547
3 Main $10 1 in 606
2 Main Balls + 1 Gold $10 1 in 693
2 Main Balls $4 1 in 89
1 Gold Ball $2 1 in 37

 

Indicated in the table above is a complete breakdown of the Mega Millions Odds.

The first sector indicates the number of balls that can be matched with or without the Mega Ball (Gold ball). The second shows the prizes allocated to each setoff matched balls, and the third shows the probability of winning any of the odd levels.

*Remember, the Megaplier rule does not apply if you win the whole jackpot prize money.

Sean Woods
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    SeanWoods
    As an Honors Humanities graduate in University of Brighton I have excellent report writing and presentation skills. I transform my interest in lotteries to useful articles.