Mega Millions is one of the two big multi-state lotteries in the United States, with jackpots that start at $50 million and have gone past $1.6 billion. Playing is simple: pick 5 numbers from 1 to 70 and 1 Mega Ball from 1 to 24, pay $5 per play and wait for the drawing on Tuesday or Friday night. This guide walks you through it step by step.
Step 1: pick 5 numbers from 1 to 70
Each play on a playslip has two grids. In the top one, mark five different numbers from 1 to 70: these are your white balls. The order doesn't matter. What counts is how many of your numbers match the five that are drawn.
Rather not choose? Ask for a Quick Pick (some states call it Easy Pick) and the terminal picks random numbers for you. Every combination has exactly the same chance of being drawn, so neither way is better than the other.
If you like to start from past results, our statistics show how often each number has come up lately, and the Predictor builds lines from that data. Keep in mind that every drawing is independent: past results help you understand the game, not predict it. More on this in how to read Mega Millions statistics.
Step 2: add a Mega Ball from 1 to 24
In the bottom grid, pick one Mega Ball from 1 to 24. It's drawn from a separate machine with its own set of gold balls, so it can be the same number as one of your white balls.
The Mega Ball splits the prize tiers in two. With all five white balls, adding the Mega Ball wins the jackpot; without it, you win the second prize. And matching the Mega Ball on its own is already a win. Every winning combination is in Mega Millions prizes.
Step 3: every $5 play includes a multiplier
Each play costs $5 and comes with a multiplier of 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X or 10X, assigned at random when you buy and printed on your ticket. It multiplies every prize except the jackpot: a $500 base prize with a 3X multiplier pays $1,500, and a $10,000 base prize with a 10X pays $100,000. That's why matching five white balls pays $2 million to $10 million, and the smallest prize is $10, twice the price of the play.
There's nothing to mark and nothing extra to pay. The optional Megaplier, which cost $1 on top of the old $2 play, was retired in April 2025, when the multiplier became part of every play. The details are in the Mega Millions multiplier.
Step 4: choose your drawings
Drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 p.m. ET. A ticket plays the next drawing by default, but most states also let you play the same numbers for several drawings in a row, usually called Multi-Draw or Advance Play. How many drawings you can buy ahead depends on your state. Some state lotteries also offer subscriptions on their official website, so your numbers play in every drawing for weeks or months without buying a new ticket each time.
The math is always the same: number of plays × $5 × number of drawings.
| Plays | Drawings | Total cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 (Tuesday or Friday) | $5 |
| 1 | 2 (Tuesday and Friday) | $10 |
| 5 (a full playslip) | 1 | $25 |
| 5 (a full playslip) | 2 | $50 |
Step 5: buy before sales close
You can buy tickets at any licensed lottery retailer in the 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands where Mega Millions is sold, and online in the states that allow it. Every option, with its pros and cons, is in where to play Mega Millions.
Sales stop shortly before the drawing, and the cutoff depends on your state: in Georgia it's 10:45 p.m. ET, and some states close earlier. When the jackpot is big, lines and websites get busy, so don't leave it to the last minute.
Before you walk away from the counter, check your ticket: numbers, drawing date, number of drawings and price. Then sign the back. An unsigned ticket belongs to whoever is holding it.
Step 6: check your ticket after the drawing
We post the winning numbers and the Mega Ball after every drawing, followed by the prize breakdown. The latest result is on the home page and past drawings are in results.
To see if you've won, enter your numbers in the ticket checker: it shows your matches and the prize tier for each line. Then look at the multiplier on your ticket, because your prize is the base amount times that number. Prizes are claimed in the state where you bought the ticket, and deadlines run from 90 days to one year depending on the state. Step by step in how to claim a Mega Millions prize.
What you need to play
- To be of legal age: 18 in most states, 19 in Nebraska and 21 in Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana and Mississippi.
- Six numbers per play: five from 1 to 70 and a Mega Ball from 1 to 24, your own or a Quick Pick.
- $5 per play and per drawing, multiplier included.
- To buy before the cutoff for the drawing you want to play.
- To keep your ticket safe, or access to your account if you play online.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to play Mega Millions?
$5 per play. The price includes the multiplier, which boosts every non-jackpot prize by 2X to 10X. Until April 2025 a play cost $2, plus $1 more if you added the optional Megaplier.
Do my numbers have to match in the same order they're drawn?
No. The order of the five white balls doesn't matter. The only number that has to match in its own place is the Mega Ball, because it comes from a separate machine.
What's the least I need to match to win?
Just the Mega Ball. With the smallest multiplier, 2X, that pays $10. If you don't match the Mega Ball, you need at least three white balls to win a prize.
Can I play the same numbers for several drawings?
Yes, in most states. Use the Multi-Draw or Advance Play option on the playslip, or ask the retailer. The maximum number of drawings depends on the state.
Is Quick Pick better than choosing my own numbers?
Neither is better: every combination has the same odds. A Quick Pick saves time, and because its numbers are random it's less likely to match the combinations lots of people play, like birthdays or number patterns.
Last reviewed: . Independent information: official results are published by the lottery that runs the game.