Mega Millions® began on August 31, 1996 as the Big Game. The first drawing took place on September 6, 1996, with six states participating: Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and Virginia.

After exciting growth of the game in 1997, a Tuesday drawing was added in February 1998. Players were given a larger choice of numbers and a "cash payout" option in January 1999. In May 1999, New Jersey became the seventh member state.

In May 2002, the multistate game was given the new name of "Mega Millions," New York and Ohio became member states, and the game matrix and prize amounts were changed to offer players more excitement.

In September 2002, Washington became the 10th member state, followed by Texas in December 2003. In June 2005, California became the 12th member, solidifying Mega Millions as the country's most widely played multistate jackpot game.

On January 31, 2010, 23 more state lotteries joined Mega Millions as a historic cross-selling agreement between Mega Millions and Powerball® went into effect. With additional lotteries joining since then, Mega Millions is now played in 47 jurisdictions: 45 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

On March 30, 2012, Mega Millions made history with the world’s largest prize in any jackpot game to that date: $656 million. The jackpot was split three ways, by winning tickets in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland. That lottery industry record stood for almost four years until it was eclipsed by a $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot in January 2016. Mega Millions joined the billion-dollar club on October 23, 2018, with a $1.537 billion prize. This was yet another milestone for Mega Millions, as the South Carolina win was the world’s largest lottery prize won on a single ticket. That single-ticket industry record stood for more than four years.
 

Mega Millions® began on August 31, 1996 as the Big Game. The first drawing took place on September 6, 1996, with six states participating: Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and Virginia.

After exciting growth of the game in 1997, a Tuesday drawing was added in February 1998. Players were given a larger choice of numbers and a "cash payout" option in January 1999. In May 1999, New Jersey became the seventh member state.

In May 2002, the multistate game was given the new name of "Mega Millions," New York and Ohio became member states, and the game matrix and prize amounts were changed to offer players more excitement.

In September 2002, Washington became the 10th member state, followed by Texas in December 2003. In June 2005, California became the 12th member, solidifying Mega Millions as the country's most widely played multistate jackpot game.

On January 31, 2010, 23 more state lotteries joined Mega Millions as a historic cross-selling agreement between Mega Millions and Powerball® went into effect. With additional lotteries joining since then, Mega Millions is now played in 47 jurisdictions: 45 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

On March 30, 2012, Mega Millions made history with the world’s largest prize in any jackpot game to that date: $656 million. The jackpot was split three ways, by winning tickets in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland. That lottery industry record stood for almost four years until it was eclipsed by a $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot in January 2016. Mega Millions joined the billion-dollar club on October 23, 2018, with a $1.537 billion prize. This was yet another milestone for Mega Millions, as the South Carolina win was the world’s largest lottery prize won on a single ticket. That single-ticket industry record stood for more than four years.
 

Mega Millions® began on August 31, 1996 as the Big Game. The first drawing took place on September 6, 1996, with six states participating: Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and Virginia.

After exciting growth of the game in 1997, a Tuesday drawing was added in February 1998. Players were given a larger choice of numbers and a "cash payout" option in January 1999. In May 1999, New Jersey became the seventh member state.

In May 2002, the multistate game was given the new name of "Mega Millions," New York and Ohio became member states, and the game matrix and prize amounts were changed to offer players more excitement.

In September 2002, Washington became the 10th member state, followed by Texas in December 2003. In June 2005, California became the 12th member, solidifying Mega Millions as the country's most widely played multistate jackpot game.

On January 31, 2010, 23 more state lotteries joined Mega Millions as a historic cross-selling agreement between Mega Millions and Powerball® went into effect. With additional lotteries joining since then, Mega Millions is now played in 47 jurisdictions: 45 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

On March 30, 2012, Mega Millions made history with the world’s largest prize in any jackpot game to that date: $656 million. The jackpot was split three ways, by winning tickets in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland. That lottery industry record stood for almost four years until it was eclipsed by a $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot in January 2016. Mega Millions joined the billion-dollar club on October 23, 2018, with a $1.537 billion prize. This was yet another milestone for Mega Millions, as the South Carolina win was the world’s largest lottery prize won on a single ticket. That single-ticket industry record stood for more than four years.
 

Powerball tickets are $2 per play. Tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold. Drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 pm ET from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee. Drawings are also live streamed on Powerball.com, click HERE.

Players select five numbers between 1 and 69 and one Powerball number between 1 and 26.

The Powerball jackpot grows until its won. Players win a prize by matching one of the 9 ways to win. The jackpot is won by matching all five white balls in any order and the red Powerball.

Powerball jackpot winners may choose to receive their prize as an annuity, paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years, or a lump-sum payment. Both advertised prize options are prior to federal and jurisdictional taxes.

The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.

Powerball has two add-on features: Power Play® and Double Play®. Players can multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 times with the Power Play® option for an additional $1 per play. The Match 5 + Power Play prize is always $2 million. The 10X multiplier is only in play when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less.

Players can play their Powerball numbers again in the Double Play® drawing for an additional $1 per play. Double Play offers a top cash prize of $10 million and eight lower-tier cash prizes. The Double Play drawing is held after every Powerball drawing on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Double Play is available for purchase in participating jurisdictions.

Powerball tickets are $2 per play. Tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold. Drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 pm ET from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee. Drawings are also live streamed on Powerball.com, click HERE.

Players select five numbers between 1 and 69 and one Powerball number between 1 and 26.

The Powerball jackpot grows until its won. Players win a prize by matching one of the 9 ways to win. The jackpot is won by matching all five white balls in any order and the red Powerball.

Powerball jackpot winners may choose to receive their prize as an annuity, paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years, or a lump-sum payment. Both advertised prize options are prior to federal and jurisdictional taxes.

The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.

Powerball has two add-on features: Power Play® and Double Play®. Players can multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 times with the Power Play® option for an additional $1 per play. The Match 5 + Power Play prize is always $2 million. The 10X multiplier is only in play when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less.

Players can play their Powerball numbers again in the Double Play® drawing for an additional $1 per play. Double Play offers a top cash prize of $10 million and eight lower-tier cash prizes. The Double Play drawing is held after every Powerball drawing on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Double Play is available for purchase in participating jurisdictions.

Powerball tickets are $2 per play. Tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold. Drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 pm ET from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee. Drawings are also live streamed on Powerball.com, click HERE.

Players select five numbers between 1 and 69 and one Powerball number between 1 and 26.

The Powerball jackpot grows until its won. Players win a prize by matching one of the 9 ways to win. The jackpot is won by matching all five white balls in any order and the red Powerball.

Powerball jackpot winners may choose to receive their prize as an annuity, paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years, or a lump-sum payment. Both advertised prize options are prior to federal and jurisdictional taxes.

The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.

Powerball has two add-on features: Power Play® and Double Play®. Players can multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 times with the Power Play® option for an additional $1 per play. The Match 5 + Power Play prize is always $2 million. The 10X multiplier is only in play when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less.

Players can play their Powerball numbers again in the Double Play® drawing for an additional $1 per play. Double Play offers a top cash prize of $10 million and eight lower-tier cash prizes. The Double Play drawing is held after every Powerball drawing on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Double Play is available for purchase in participating jurisdictions.