Did you know Mega Millions has the highest second prize of all the lottery games in America? You could win a whopping $5 million. How can you do it? The Mega Millions Megaplier.
How does the Mega Millions Megaplier work?
So, what is the Mega Millions Megaplier? The Megaplier option is a $1 feature you can add to your Mega Millions play that can boost your non-jackpot winnings by 2, 3, 4, or even 5 times, depending on what Megaplier number is drawn. That means the $1 million second prize in Mega Millions could become a hefty $5 million!
The Megaplier is a special number randomly drawn before each Mega Millions drawing from a separate pool of 15 balls. Five balls are marked “2X,” six balls are marked “3X,” three balls are marked “4X” and one ball is marked “5X.” Then the Megaplier number is announced along with the drawing results.
Is the Megaplier worth it?
The Megaplier doesn’t change or improve your odds of winning a Mega Millions prize and can’t guarantee that you’ll win a prize. But if you do win a non-jackpot prize, Mega Millions Megaplier will significantly boost your total prize amount! It’s completely up to you to decide whether the $1 add-on is worth it to you, should your ticket win a prize.
Megaplier numbers: How much do you win?
The payout chart below shows how much each Megaplier number drawn would boost your prize winnings.
When are drawings held?
The Mega Million drawings are held each Tuesday and Friday at 11 PM ET.
Check out this chart for the odds of winning:
You win when the numbers above are matched on a single row on your ticket. For example, if you bought two Mega Millions tickets, you cannot combine numbers on two separate rows for a prize. The matching numbers must be on a single row. If no one wins the jackpot, the grand prize money rolls over to the next drawing.
What are the rules for claiming a prize?
Prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. The ticket must be validated against the official drawing results and must be presented for payment to claim the prize.
For the jackpot, two options will be available for claiming the prize: to take payments in annual installments over the course of 30 years or receive the cash value option in a single payment. When it comes to installments, each payment will be higher than the previous year. It is recommended to consult a tax attorney or a certified public accountant (CPA) to determine which option will be best for you based on your unique circumstances.
(Related: Luckiest States for Winning Powerball)
How does the Megaplier compare to Powerball’s Power Play?
The idea between these two add-ons is very similar in that it increases the amount won for any non-jackpot prize. There are some differences, however. With the Powerball Power Play option, the amount won could be increased by up to 10 times. With Mega Millions Megaplier, the maximum increase would be five times the amount won. With the Power Play, the maximum to win when matching five numbers is $2 million. With the Megaplier, it will be $5 million.
Megaplier Winners
A New York man won $2 million and vowed to give 10% to charity. While his ticket matched 5 of 5 numbers (just missing the Mega Ball), the 2X Megaplier boosted his win from $1M to $2M. “When I got it, I thought it wasn’t real,” he said. “When I think about winning, I’m usually thinking of $100 or $1,000 and not that kind of money!”
This article originally appeared on Jackpocket.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
More from MediaFeed:
9 Tips For Winning Scratch-Off Games
Need a better way to improve your odds at scratch-offs? If you want to learn how to win scratch-offs, you should know that it all comes down to random chance — which is part of the excitement!
Whether you’re new to the game or a regular player, scratch-offs are a fun chance of winning prizes. Use these scratcher strategies to help you understand your chances of winning.
BanksPhotos/istockphoto
There are so many types of scratch-off cards, and it can be confusing to determine which might actually provide the best payout if you win. Plus, not every scratch-off prize at each prize level may still be available. So, one of the best ways to win scratch-offs would be to better understand your scratch ticket and the potential payout by visiting your local state lottery page.
Google “your state” + “ lottery website” to see what scratch-off games are available in your state and what prizes remain for each scratch-off ticket. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be in the next round of scratch-off wins!
Icatnews/shutterstock
Those $1 and $2 tickets can seem tempting since they are at a lower price point, but they also have lower prize levels. More expensive tickets may have lower odds of winning, but the prizes will be larger.
Learn More: Luckiest States for Winning Powerball
mphillips007/istockphoto
Set a specific dollar amount you will spend daily, weekly or monthly, and try to stick with it! Having a specific lottery budget helps ensure you don’t spend more than you planned. Setting a budget can help you keep more money in your pocket.
kate_sept2004/istockphoto
Which scratch-offs win the most? Well, that depends. The good news is that you can find the odds of winning on the back of the card! Odds are calculated by the total number of tickets in a scratch ticket game divided by the total number of prizes in that game. Study the odds of winning and the prize structure for the games you want to play. The prize structures can get complicated, so make sure you understand them before making your ticket purchase.
Not only does each game have different odds of winning, but they also have different requirements to win. Some are simple: match three symbols to win. Others require different combinations in order to get the prize. Read the instructions carefully to know what you are looking for as you play.
In determining how to win scratch-offs, you may want to avoid tickets where the majority of top prizes have already been won. Why? You can’t win those prizes if they are no longer available. Your state lottery website often has this information (and tells you what prizes are still available) so you can decide what game to play.
Michael Burrell/istockphoto
Some people believe another scratch-off ticket strategy is to play a new game when it comes out. In reality, prizes are scattered randomly throughout the entire run of tickets.
Want to check if a top prize is still up for grabs? This information will be listed on your state lottery website. Be sure to read the fine print on the ticket to see the prize structure and odds of winning, or check your state’s lottery website for further details.
Learn More: These Are the “Luckiest” Powerball Numbers in 2024
LeoPatrizi/istockphoto
One of the most common mistakes when it comes to scratch-off cards is not saving your ticket. If the instructions weren’t clear, or you’re unsure if you won any prize, you could potentially be throwing out a winning ticket. When in doubt, have your ticket checked by the clerk at the store where you purchased it. This is one of the biggest strategies for how to win scratch-offs. They’ll scan your ticket, and the machine could catch something you missed!
In fact, you want to hold onto those losing tickets because you could…
Warren-Pender/istockphoto
Many states will run “second-chance lotteries,” which means you have another shot to win a prize with the same ticket. State lottery commissions will occasionally hold these drawings for a second chance to win fun prizes, from money to concerts, once the top prizes have been given out. When it comes to knowing how to win scratch-offs, saving your ticket is a way to be eligible to potentially win a second-chance prize.
Lee Lawson/istockphoto
Another scratch-off ticket strategy is to track your wins and losses on a specific game. As with all lottery games, your losses will most likely significantly outnumber your wins. Understanding this fact before you play will help keep the lottery fun.
WoodysPhotos/istockphoto
You’ve heard the saying, “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” That can apply to knowing how to win scratch-off tickets, too. If you win, enjoy what you’ve won. Know when enough is enough or if it’s time to take a break. Play responsibly, and everyone wins!
This article originally appeared on JackPocket.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
Oleksii Didok/istockphoto
Wpadington /istockphoto
Featured Image Credit: Gregory Clifford/istockphoto.
