Winning the lottery is the ultimate dream for many people in the US, and around the world, and for good reason. After all, who wouldn’t want to win millions of dollars in cash? When it comes to lotteries in the USA, the Mega Millions lottery is considered to be one of the most played by participants across the US. As the name implies, the Mega Millions lottery pays out in the millions which is the main allure of the lottery. If you are one of those people who are still undecided on whether or not to play the Mega Millions lottery online then here’s your chance to learn more about the Mega Millions lottery and try your chance at winning big.
The History of Mega Millions
Originally, the Mega Millions lottery in the USA started off as The Big Game. The lottery tickets first went on sale in August of 1996, with the first draw held a month later. Back in the day, the draw for the lottery was held every week on Fridays, which then moved to Tuesdays. But, The Big Game went through many changes through the years, and apart from increasing the lottery amount also got a name change in 2002. Today, the Mega Millions lottery can be played in 46 US states and jurisdictions, including online.
Where are Mega Millions Tickets Sold?
Contestants in 46 US states and jurisdictions are allowed to take part in the Mega Millions lottery. For those who are unaware, the names of the states and jurisdictions where the Mega Millions lottery is held include, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. It should also be mentioned here that the Mega Millions lottery can also be played online.
How to Play?
The Mega Millions lottery is a multi-state game that players in the US have come to know and love. This is mainly due to the fact that the Mega Millions lottery pays off millions of dollars to the winning ticket holder. Another reason why playing the Mega Millions lottery is favored in the US is because of its incredibly easy gameplay. All you have to do is choose five numbers, including a final number which is going to be the Mega Ball number and will decide whether you win the Mega Millions lottery. Players also have the chance of increasing their winnings by signing up for the Megaply feature to increase the chances of non-grand/jackpot winnings.
By far, the best thing about taking part in the Mega Millions lottery in the USA is that it pays out big for the winning ticket. In fact, the minimum jackpot amount for the Mega Millions lottery is at $40 million. The second tier prizes of the Mega Millions lottery aren’t that bad either. The second tier prize money amounts to $1 million, which can be multiplied if you opted for the Megaply feature before choosing the numbers, which would then bump up your second tier winnings to $5 million. Furthermore, you get not just one or two, but up to nine chances of winning prizes in the Mega Millions lottery, which is great news for the players.
New Features
One of the reasons for the growing popularity of the Mega Millions lottery is that the creators have managed to keep things fresh and interesting for the players. This means increasing the prize money for the various tiers in the lottery, along with adding in new and interesting features that increase the player’s chances of winning and winning big.
One such feature that has been recently introduced to the Mega Millions lottery and has been garnering much attention by contestants who take part in the lottery is the Just the Jackpot feature. This is basically a new water that is available to all Mega Million contestants.
With the Just the Jackpot feature, players get not one but two chances of winning the Mega Millions Grand Prize, and all it costs you is just $3. Also, those who choose the Just the Jackpot feature are only eligible for the Mega Millions Grand Prize, and not the non-grand prize, but it offers a good opportunity for players to win big by wagering less.
When is the Draw Held?
This is an important question. After all, you wouldn’t want to miss a draw of the Mega Millions lottery. For participants in the Mega Millions lottery, the draw is held twice a week every Tuesdays and Fridays, and tickets are not going to be available during that time.
Prize Payment Options
One of the reasons why the Mega Millions jackpot is an attractive option for people to win big is not only the large prize but also that you get to choose how you want to get paid. For instance, participants in the Mega Millions lottery can choose whether they would like to go with a cash payment option or an annual payment option. While the parameters may vary according to the state you live in, these two options are offered to contestants in all states. So, what is a cash option or an annual payout option?
Annuity Option
As the name implies, the annuity option for the Mega Millions lottery means that it is paid out in 29 annual payments, with each payment being at least 5% more than the last one. This is to help the winning ticket holder maintain their purchasing power for years to come and even during times of inflation. For instance, for a Mega Millions jackpot of $100 million, the winning ticket holder will get an annual payment of $1.5 million the initial year, which will slowly increase.
Cash Option
Those who opt for the cash option means they will get a single lump sum amount.
We play occasionally but have yet to win much. It would be nice!
My son buys tickets occasionally but I’ve never bought one before.
Chances are mega slim, I see why people still play though.