Yes, the Mega Millions lottery game is available for purchase in 45 states across the United States as well as Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This means that residents of those jurisdictions can legally purchase Mega Millions tickets and have a chance to win the Mega Millions jackpot.
The Mega Millions lottery is one of the two major national lottery games in the United States, along with Powerball. It is operated by a consortium of state lotteries and offers jackpots starting at $40 million that can grow into the hundreds of millions. Tickets cost $2 each.
To play Mega Millions, players select five main numbers between 1-70 and one Mega Ball number between 1-25. Prizes are awarded for matching at least the Mega Ball number up to matching all five main numbers and the Mega Ball number to win the jackpot. The odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 302 million.
Mega Millions draws are held every Tuesday and Friday evening at 11 p.m. ET. Tickets can be purchased until 10:45 p.m. ET on the night of the draw in participating jurisdictions.
States participating in Mega Millions
In total, Mega Millions can be played in 45 U.S. states plus Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The participating jurisdictions are:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- 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
- Wyoming
So as long as you are located within one of the above jurisdictions when you purchase your Mega Millions ticket, you are eligible to play and win prizes.
States not participating in Mega Millions
There are 5 U.S. states that do not offer Mega Millions:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Hawaii
- Nevada
- Utah
Residents of these states are not able to legally purchase Mega Millions tickets within their state. However, some residents of non-participating states still manage to play Mega Millions by crossing state lines and purchasing tickets while in participating jurisdictions, or by purchasing ticket subscriptions online.
Why some states don’t participate
There are a few reasons why a state may not participate in the Mega Millions lottery:
- State laws prohibiting lottery games – Some states have laws that prohibit any form of gambling or lottery games, like Utah and Hawaii. These states do not offer any state-run lottery games.
- Already offer competing lottery – States like Alabama and Alaska already offer the Powerball lottery, a competing national jackpot game to Mega Millions. Rather than offer both games, they only offer Powerball.
- Joining Mega Millions not deemed beneficial – Nevada is a unique case where gambling is legal, but Mega Millions is not offered. Nevada officials may feel that the game does not suit their tourist gambling focus or that it would not generate significant revenue for the state.
So in summary, the main reasons are state gambling laws, preferring to offer Powerball over Mega Millions, or simply choosing not to participate in Mega Millions for economic or regulatory reasons.
Purchasing tickets across state lines
For residents of states that don’t participate in Mega Millions, it is technically possible to purchase Mega Millions tickets by crossing state lines into an area where Mega Millions is sold. For example, someone from Utah could drive into Idaho or New Mexico to buy tickets.
However, most states discourage out-of-state lottery purchases and consider it a form of evasion of local gambling laws. Some states also have limits on bringing lottery tickets across state lines. Players should check both their home state laws and the laws of the jurisdiction where they want to purchase tickets.
Buying tickets online
Another option for playing Mega Millions from a non-participating state is to purchase ticket subscriptions from online lottery ticket courier services. These services buy physical tickets on your behalf from a lottery retailer in a Mega Millions state.
The legality of online courier services varies between states, with some explicitly prohibiting their use. Players from non-participating Mega Millions states should research if such services are legal under their state laws before purchasing any lottery tickets online.
Biggest Mega Millions jackpots
Here are the 5 biggest Mega Millions jackpot prizes to date:
| Jackpot Amount | Date Won | Winning State |
|---|---|---|
| $1.537 billion | October 2018 | South Carolina |
| $1.050 billion | January 2021 | Michigan |
| $656 million | March 2012 | Illinois, Kansas, Maryland |
| $648 million | December 2013 | California, Georgia |
| $543 million | July 2018 | California |
As the table shows, the two largest jackpots were over $1 billion and were won in South Carolina and Michigan. Other top prizes have been spread across the country. This demonstrates that huge jackpots can be won from any participating Mega Millions state, regardless of size.
Odds of winning Mega Millions
The odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are about 1 in 24. However, the odds increase dramatically for the game’s largest prizes:
- Jackpot (5 numbers + Mega Ball): 1 in 302,575,350
- Match 5: 1 in 12,607,306
- Match 4 + Mega Ball: 1 in 931,001
- Match 4: 1 in 38,792
- Match 3 + Mega Ball: 1 in 14,547
- Match 3: 1 in 606
- Match 2 + Mega Ball: 1 in 721
- Match 1 + Mega Ball: 1 in 89
- Match Mega Ball: 1 in 37
As you can see, the odds of winning the jackpot are exceedingly small at over 300 million to 1. But a player’s home state does not actually change their probability of winning.
Do some states have better odds?
There is no evidence that buying a Mega Millions ticket in certain states improves your chances of winning prizes. Because Mega Millions is a nationwide game, the odds are the same regardless of where the ticket was purchased.
The Mega Millions consortium uses sophisticated randomization processes to ensure fair odds across all jurisdictions where the game is played. Players have the same odds whether they buy their ticket in California, Rhode Island, Texas or any other participating state.
In the end, lady luck is the biggest factor in winning, not the state a ticket is purchased in.Some people may think more populated states like California and Texas might sell more tickets, boosting odds of secondary prizes due to more number combinations covered. But jackpot odds remain fixed at 302 million to 1 universally.
Biggest Mega Millions wins by state
Here is a summary of the states that have had jackpot winners for the games largest prizes:
| State | Number of Jackpot Wins | Biggest Prize Won |
|---|---|---|
| California | 3 | $543 million |
| Kansas | 1 | $656 million* |
| Illinois | 3 | $656 million* |
| Indiana | 1 | $390 million |
| Maryland | 2 | $656 million* |
| Massachusetts | 1 | $294 million |
| Michigan | 2 | $1.050 billion |
| New Jersey | 5 | $536 million |
| New York | 2 | $326 million |
| Ohio | 4 | $375 million |
*Shared jackpot between multiple states.
This table demonstrates that giant jackpot wins have been scattered across Mega Millions states. No single state has monopolized the biggest prizes, indicating once again that lady luck is the biggest factor, not geography.
Notable wins from non-participating states
As mentioned earlier, residents of non-Mega Millions states have found ways to play and win prizes:
- In 2012, a $1 million Mega Millions prize was won by a Utah resident who had crossed into Idaho to purchase tickets.
- In 2014, a resident of Hawaii won a $1 million Mega Millions prize after buying tickets while traveling in California.
- In 2017, a man from Nevada won a $487 million Powerball jackpot after purchasing tickets while in California.
These anecdotes demonstrate that even players from states not participating in Mega Millions still finding ways to play and occasionally winning substantial prizes. But legality and ethics remain questionable.
Tips for playing Mega Millions
Here are some tips to consider when playing Mega Millions:
- Think long-term – To have the best shot at winning, maintain a long-term outlook and buy tickets regularly over months or years, not just occasionally.
- Join an office pool – Pooling money and ticket purchases with co-workers or friends can allow you to buy more tickets and number combinations.
- Use quick pick – Avoid picking your own numbers and use the quick pick option for random numbers. This offers the same odds and protects against duplicate tickets.
- Check your state’s laws – Make sure you fully understand the laws and ethics of crossing state lines or using courier services before pursuing those options.
- Keep play fun – Only spend what you can afford on lottery tickets and view playing Mega Millions as entertainment, not a way to gain guaranteed riches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy Mega Millions tickets online?
There are some online lottery courier services that will purchase Mega Millions tickets on your behalf from a retailer in a participating state. However, the legality of using such services varies between states. Players should thoroughly research their state’s online lottery ticket laws before purchasing any tickets online.
What are the biggest Mega Millions jackpots?
The largest Mega Millions jackpot was $1.537 billion won in South Carolina in 2018. The second largest was $1.050 billion won in Michigan in 2021. Other top prizes include $656 million split across three states in 2012 and $648 million split between two states in 2013.
Can you buy Mega Millions tickets at gas stations?
Yes, Mega Millions tickets are commonly sold at convenience stores and gas stations in participating states. Any retailer that is licensed and authorized to sell lottery tickets by that state can sell Mega Millions tickets.
What states don’t have Mega Millions?
The U.S. states that do not offer Mega Millions are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah. Residents of these states must travel to a participating Mega Millions jurisdiction to legally purchase tickets for the game.
What are the odds of winning Mega Millions?
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are about 1 in 302.6 million. The odds of winning any prize are 1 in 24. Overall, Mega Millions has similar odds to Powerball but slightly better chances than playing a state-specific lottery game.
Conclusion
In summary, the Mega Millions lottery is available for purchase by residents of 45 U.S. states plus Washington D.C. and the U.S Virgin Islands. Five states – Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah – do not participate. Residents of non-participating states sometimes manage to purchase tickets while traveling or use online courier services of questionable legality.
Mega Millions jackpots start at $40 million and can grow into the hundreds of millions. The largest jackpot ever was $1.537 billion won in South Carolina in 2018. Winning odds are the same in every participating state, with slightly better overall odds than Powerball. While not every state offers the game, Mega Millions tickets legally purchased anywhere give players a fair shot at winning giant jackpot prizes.
