How Mega Millions Works
Mega Millions is drawn every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 PM ET. Players pick 5 main numbers from 1-70 and 1 Mega Ball from 1-25. Tickets are $2, with an optional Megaplier for $1 more.
Prize Structure
Like Powerball, Mega Millions has 9 prize tiers:
- 5 + Mega Ball: Jackpot (starts at $20 million)
- 5 numbers: $1,000,000
- 4 + Mega Ball: $10,000
- 4 numbers: $500
- 3 + Mega Ball: $200
- 3 numbers: $10
- 2 + Mega Ball: $10
- 1 + Mega Ball: $4
- Mega Ball only: $2
Megaplier
The Megaplier option multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x, or 5x. The $1 million second prize becomes $2, $3, $4, or $5 million with Megaplier. The multiplier is drawn separately before the main drawing.
Mega Millions vs. Powerball
The two games are similar but have key differences. Mega Millions has a larger main pool (1-70 vs 1-69) but a smaller bonus pool (1-25 vs 1-26), making the jackpot odds slightly longer at 1 in 302 million vs 1 in 292 million. Mega Millions mid-tier prizes differ from Powerball, with $200 for matching 3+MB compared to Powerball's $100 for 3+PB.
Playing Mega Millions Smarter
Use our analytics tools to explore Mega Millions drawing patterns, track number frequencies, and generate Quick Pick numbers based on historical data. While no strategy can overcome the odds, having a systematic approach makes the game more engaging and enjoyable.