The USA Mega Millions is a multi-state lottery game which is enjoyed in many states across the United States and beyond. USA Mega Millions has been around for quite some time as its first draw was conducted back in 1996. At the time, the game was known as The Big Game. Six years later, it was rebranded as The Big Game Mega Millions. Another rebrand followed afterwards leaving the game to be known simply as USA Mega Millions.  

USA Mega Millions Smart Picks

Take a look at the latest hot and cold numbers for Mega Millions for the 24/07/2024.

Hot numbers: 3 03 4 08 04

Cold Numbers: 06 09 10 20 25

Our prediction for the Mega Millions based on these hot and cold numbers is: 20 10 04

Latest Mega Millions Results

What is the USA Mega Millions? 

All the rebranding that USA Mega Millions underwent necessitated significant changes in its format, draws days and times as well as prizes and payout odds. In this article, we are going to expose all there is to know about the current format of USA Mega Millions.  

How to Play USA Mega Millions 

The first and most important thing to highlight about USA Mega Millions is that it’s a 5/70 + 1/25 game. What this simply means is that from the white ball matrix, players are required to pick their five lucky numbers from the 70 numbers presented. At the same time, players also need to pick the lucky megaball from the 25 numbers presented.  

When it comes to the gameplay front, the first step in playing USA Mega Millions is to head over to the official site at megamillions.com. Once done, check for the draw you want to partake in. players can purchase tickets for two or more successive draws. Once done, purchase the ticket.  

After purchasing the ticket, players need to proceed to the ‘hard’ part that is, picking the lucky numbers. A great thing to note about USA Mega Millions is that it offers a handy auto pick option that allows the bot to pick lucky numbers for the player if one isn’t feeling as lucky. Once the lucky numbers have been picked, all that’s left is to wait for the draw and see how things pan out.  

USA Mega Millions comes with one lucrative add-on in all but one (California) of the jurisdictions it operates in. the add on is dubbed the Megaplier. Players who opt for the add-on ought to note that if they scoop non-jackpot prizes, their payouts are subject to a random win multiplier ranging from 2x, 3x, 4x or 5x.  

States that Offer USA Mega Millions 

USA Mega Millions is a truly multi-state lottery game. This is necessitated by the fact that it operates in 45 states which include the following.  

Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, District of Colombia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, US Virgin Islands, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. 

USA Mega Millions Draw 

The draw for the USA Mega Millions is conducted twice a week every Tuesday and Friday. The draws take place at 11 pm Eastern Time. All draws are conducted live and are broadcasted from the WSB-TV studios in Atlanta, Georgia. The current hosts for the USA Mega Millions draw are Carol Blackmon and John Crow. 

Ticket Price 

The USA Mega Millions ticket price is pegged at $2. For players who are based in jurisdictions other than California, they can purchase the Megaplier add-on for an extra $1 bringing the total price to $3. There are no limits as to the number of tickets a player can purchase for a single draw.  

Megha Millions Payouts and Odds Table 

MATCHES	PRIZE	ODDS OF WINNING
5 Numbers and the Mega Ball	Jackpot Prize	1 in 302,575,350
5 Numbers: No Mega Ball	$1,000,000	1 in 12,607,306
4 Numbers and the Mega Ball	$10,000	1 in 913,001
4 Numbers: No Mega Ball	$500	1 in 38,792
3 Numbers and the Mega Ball	$200	1 in 14,547
3 Numbers: No Mega Ball	$10	1 in 606
2 Numbers and the Mega Ball	$10	1 in 693
1 Number and the Mega Ball	$4	1 in 89
Mega Ball only	$2	1 in 37

The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 24. The odds of winning the jackpot prize are 1 ion 302,575,350.  

How to Claim Your Price 

Claiming a USA Mega Millions prize is quite easy. All that players need to do is to forward their ticket if they have won. Once done, Mega Millions will award the prize with no questions asked. Players need to note that they can only claim prizes in jurisdictions where they bought their tickets. Also, when players win the jackpot prize, they have the freedom of claiming the prize as a lump sum or opt for an annuity. When players opt for the annuity, USA Mega Millions pays the player 29 graduated yearly instalments over a period of 30 years. The instalments increase by 5% each year.  

Key Things to Note About USA Mega Millions 

• All players who purchase USA Mega Millions of tickets stand a chance of winning nine different prizes including the main jackpot 
• All non-jackpot prizes are fixed in all but one of the jurisdictions that USA Mega Millions operates in. the exception is California 
• Only those who have attained the age of majority in the states they reside can enjoy USA Mega Millions 
• At its inception, USA Mega Millions was known as The Big Game 
• The Megaplier option is not available in California
• The main jackpot prize can be claimed as a lump sum or an annuity paid over 29 years

FAQ 

Q1. When was the USA Mega Millions lottery launched? 

The USA Mega Millions was officially launched in 1996. 

Q2. In which states is the USA Mega Millions lottery available?

The USA Mega Millions is available in 45 states which are as follows Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, District of Colombia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, US Virgin Islands, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. 

Q3. What is the biggest jackpot prize awarded when playing USA Mega Millions?

The biggest jackpot prize to date that’s been awarded is $1.537 billion won on October 23, 2018. 

Q4. How much is the USA Mega Millions ticket?

The USA Mega Millions ticket costs $2. The price can increase when players opt to purchase add-ons in the form of megapliers.  

Q5. What are the odds of winning when playing USA Mega Millions?

The odds of winning any prize when playing USA Mega Millions is 1 in 24 while that of winning the jackpot prize is 1 in 302,575,350.