Mega Millions: rules of the game and frequently asked questions
How Mega Millions is played, how the prize tiers work and what this site offers, in brief. Only the operator's official rules are binding.
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Rules of the game
How is Mega Millions played?
Mega Millions is the second big US lottery (45 states, Washington D.C. and the US Virgin Islands), drawn every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 pm (New York). You play 5 numbers from 70 plus a Mega Ball from 1 to 24. Since 8 April 2025 a play costs $5 and includes a random multiplier (2x to 10x) on all prizes except the jackpot; before that the Mega Ball was 1 from 25. Data: New York State open data (data.ny.gov), draws since 2002.
How does the Mega Ball work?
The Mega Ball is drawn separately from 1 to 24 (its own drum); you pick it yourself.
Winning
What are the odds of winning?
The chance of the top tier (5 matches + Mega Ball) is 1 in 290.472.336; the chance of winning anything is about 1 in 23. All tiers with their exact probability are on the Odds page.