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!
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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.
| Megaplier Number | Odds |
|---|---|
| 3X | 1 in 2.5 |
| 4X | 1 in 5 |
| 5X | 1 in 15 |
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.
| Match | Regular Prize | 2X | 3X | 4X | 5X |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 numbers | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $3,000,000 | $4,000,000 | $5,000,000 |
| 4 numbers + Mega Ball | $10,000 | $20,000 | $30,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 |
| 4 numbers | $500 | $1,000 | $1,500 | $2,000 | $2,500 |
| 3 numbers + Mega Ball | $200 | $400 | $600 | $800 | $1,000 |
| 3 numbers | $10 | $20 | $30 | $40 | $50 |
| 2 numbers + Mega Ball | $10 | $20 | $30 | $40 | $50 |
| 1 numbers + Mega Ball | $4 | $8 | $12 | $16 | $20 |
| Mega Ball only | $2 | $4 | $6 | $8 | $10 |
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:
| Match | Win | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 numbers + Mega Ball | Jackpot | 1 in 302,575,350 |
| 5 numbers | $1,000,000 | 1 in 12,607,306 |
| 4 numbers + Mega Ball | $10,000 | 1 in 931,001 |
| 4 numbers | $500 | 1 in 38,792 |
| 3 numbers + Mega Ball | $200 | 1 in 14,547 |
| 3 numbers | $10 | 1 in 606 |
| 2 numbers + Mega Ball | $10 | 1 in 693 |
| 1 number + Mega Ball | $4 | 1 in 89 |
| Mega Ball | $2 | 1 in 37 |
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 circ*mstances.
When ordering tickets online using Jackpocket, prizes up to ~$600 are automatically credited to your account. For larger prizes, we securely send your ticket to you so that you can claim your winnings with your state lottery.
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
We've had lots of Jackpocket users win BIGGER thanks to adding the Megaplier to their ticket.
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!”
Will You Be Next?
Grab your next Mega Millions ticket with Megaplier in the Jackpocket app or on play.jackpocket.com. And don’t forget to visit our blog to see what’s new!
