No tip can change your odds of winning Mega Millions: every combination has the same chance in every drawing. What good tips can do is help you enjoy the game, spend what you planned and never miss a prize. Here are the ones that make a difference.
1. Know how the game works
Each play is five numbers from 1 to 70 and a Mega Ball from 1 to 24. Match all six to win the jackpot, but there are nine prize tiers in total, from $10 for the Mega Ball alone to $10 million for five white balls with a 10X multiplier. The basics are in how to play Mega Millions.
2. Know the odds before you play
The odds of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 290,472,336; the odds of winning any prize are 1 in 23.07. Keeping those numbers in mind helps you keep your expectations realistic. The full breakdown is in Mega Millions odds.
3. Set a budget and stick to it
Decide how much you'll spend each week or month before you look at the jackpot, and don't go over it, even when the jackpot is huge. The lottery is entertainment, not a financial plan: only play with money you can afford to lose.
4. Quick Pick or your own numbers: your choice
Both have exactly the same odds. A Quick Pick is fast and random; your own numbers can mean something to you. Choose whichever you enjoy more.
5. Pick numbers other people don't
You can't make your numbers more likely to be drawn, but you can make them less likely to be shared. Lots of people play birthdays, which only go up to 31, sequences like 1-2-3-4-5, patterns on the playslip or last drawing's numbers. If one of those combinations wins, the jackpot is split among everyone who played it.
A random mix across the whole range, from 1 to 70, lowers that risk. The Predictor can skip popular combinations for you.
6. Running an office pool? Put it in writing
An office pool, or one with friends and family, lets you play more lines for the same budget, and Mega Millions prizes can be shared by a group. To avoid problems, write down who's in, how much each person paid and what share each gets, make copies of every ticket for the members and agree on who keeps the originals.
7. Buy only from licensed sellers
Buy your tickets from retailers licensed by your state lottery or from its official website or app. If you play online through any other service, check that it's licensed where you live and how it pays prizes. The options are compared in where to play Mega Millions.
8. Always check your ticket
Don't throw a ticket away just because it didn't hit the jackpot: there are eight other prize tiers, and the Mega Ball alone is worth at least $10. Remember to multiply by the multiplier printed on your ticket. The quickest way to check is our ticket checker.
9. Track your numbers and results
Keep a simple record of the numbers you play, the drawings they're for, what you spend and what you win. It makes sure no ticket goes unchecked, helps you stay within your budget and shows you at a glance how the game is going for you. The ticket checker can check your numbers against several drawings at once.
10. Sign up for jackpot alerts
Many state lotteries offer free alerts by email, text or app notification with the latest jackpot and winning numbers. Sign up on your state lottery's official website and you'll know where the jackpot stands without having to keep checking.
11. Sign your ticket and keep it safe
Sign the back of your ticket as soon as you buy it and keep it somewhere safe. Lotteries aren't responsible for lost or stolen tickets, and a damaged ticket can make claiming a prize difficult. Take a photo of both sides, but don't post it online.
12. Don't let a prize expire
Claim deadlines run from 90 days to one year from the drawing, depending on the state. If you find an old ticket, check it in results straight away. How and where to claim is in how to claim a Mega Millions prize.
13. Don't chase losses
Buying more tickets to make up for a losing streak is a common trap. Each drawing is independent, and past results have no effect on the next one. Stick to your budget.
14. Know what happens if you win big
A jackpot winner chooses between an annuity of 30 payments and a lower lump-sum cash payment, and the choice affects how much you pay in taxes. Before claiming a large prize, talk to a financial advisor and a tax professional, and check your state's rules on deadlines and publicity.
15. Watch out for scams
If someone tells you you've won Mega Millions but you never bought a ticket, it's a scam. And no real lottery asks you to pay a fee to release a prize. The warning signs are in lottery scams.
16. Keep it fun
Play for the fun of it and for the thrill of the drawing, not expecting to win. If it stops being fun, take a break. Help and resources are in responsible play.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a strategy to win Mega Millions?
No strategy changes the odds: every combination has the same chance. What you can do is avoid popular combinations, so that if you win you're less likely to share the prize.
Does playing more lines improve my odds?
Each extra line adds one more combination, so your odds improve in proportion to what you spend: ten lines give you 10 chances in 290,472,336 of hitting the jackpot.
Should I only play when the jackpot is big?
The odds are the same whatever the jackpot. A bigger jackpot means a bigger prize, but also more players and a greater chance of sharing it. Either way, stick to your budget.
Last reviewed: . Independent information: official results are published by the lottery that runs the game.