The Texas Mega Millions drawing occurs twice a week on Tuesday and Friday evenings at 10:12 p.m. Central Time. Mega Millions is a multi-state lottery game played across most of the United States. The jackpots start at $20 million and can grow into the hundreds of millions. The largest Mega Millions jackpot ever won was $1.537 billion on October 23, 2018.
When is the Texas Mega Millions drawing?
The Texas Mega Millions drawing takes place on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:12 p.m. Central Time. Here is the schedule for upcoming drawings:
| Day | Date | Time |
| Tuesday | October 24, 2023 | 10:12 p.m. CT |
| Friday | October 27, 2023 | 10:12 p.m. CT |
| Tuesday | October 31, 2023 | 10:12 p.m. CT |
As shown in the table, the Texas Mega Millions drawings occur every Tuesday and Friday evening at 10:12 p.m. Central Time. Players can purchase Mega Millions tickets up until 10:00 p.m. CT on the night of the drawing at Texas lottery retailers or via the Texas lottery website and mobile app.
Where can I buy Mega Millions tickets in Texas?
There are several ways to purchase Mega Millions tickets in Texas:
– At any Texas lottery retailer – There are over 18,000 lottery retailers across the state including gas stations, grocery stores, and convenience stores. Players can ask for a Mega Millions quick pick or fill out a playslip to choose their own numbers.
– Online at txlottery.org – Players can create an account on the Texas Lottery website and purchase Mega Millions tickets online.
– On the Texas Lottery App – The app allows you to buy tickets directly from your phone.
– At Texas Lottery vending machines – Self-service vending machines located around the state sell both Mega Millions and Powerball tickets.
No matter how you buy your ticket, you’ll need to purchase it by 10:00 p.m. CT on the night of the drawing to be eligible. Tickets cost $2 per play.
What are the rules for playing Mega Millions in Texas?
Here are the basic rules for playing Mega Millions in Texas:
– Players choose 5 main numbers from 1 to 70.
– Players choose 1 Mega Ball number from 1 to 25.
– To play, pick 5 numbers plus the Mega Ball number for $2 per ticket.
– Match all 6 numbers to win the jackpot.
– There are 9 different ways to win a prize. Match the Mega Ball plus 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 main numbers to win prizes from $2 up to $1 million.
– The jackpot starts at $20 million and grows until someone wins it.
– Jackpots are paid out over 30 annual payments, or as a one-time cash amount.
– Tickets must be purchased by 10:00 p.m. CT on the night of the drawing.
– Players must be 18 or older to play.
Following these basic rules allows Texas residents to take part in the exciting Mega Millions lottery and possibly win big jackpots and other cash prizes.
History of Mega Millions in Texas
Texas has participated in the Mega Millions game since 2003, just one year after the lottery began. Here is an overview of the key events:
2002 – Texas Lottery begins
The Texas Lottery kicked off in 1992 after voters approved an amendment to the state constitution. In the beginning, the Texas Lottery only offered scratch-off instant games and a pick-3 numbers game.
2003 – Mega Millions arrives in Texas
On December 3, 2003, Texas joined the multi-state Mega Millions lottery. The Texas Lottery had been looking to join a bigger jackpot game and introduced Mega Millions along with the Megaplier feature which multiplied non-jackpot prizes.
2005 – First Texas Mega Millions jackpot winner
On September 16, 2005, the lottery announced the first Texas resident to win a Mega Millions jackpot prize. The $133 million prize was claimed by an individual who purchased the ticket in El Paso.
2012 – Record $28 million Mega Millions ticket sold in Texas
In March 2012, the Texas Lottery announced that a $28 million jackpot winning ticket had been sold at a convenience store in Killeen. It was the largest Mega Millions prize ever won in the state at the time.
2022 – New Mega Millions record jackpot
A new Mega Millions record jackpot of $1.337 billion was hit in July 2022. While the winning ticket was sold in Illinois, millions of Texans had chased the giant prize. The Texas Lottery reported selling $142 million in Mega Millions tickets during the run.
Over 20 years, Texas Mega Millions has awarded over $1 billion in prizes to players in the Lone Star State. Mega Millions continues to be popular thanks to its huge jackpots that can grow to epic proportions.
Noteworthy Texas Mega Millions Winners
Hundreds of Texans have won sizable Mega Millions prizes over the years. Here are some of the biggest Texas winners so far:
$133 Million – El Paso – September 2005
As mentioned earlier, the first Texas resident to win a Mega Millions jackpot was an El Paso ticketholder who claimed a $133 million prize in 2005. It was that year’s second largest Mega Millions jackpot in the country.
$28 Million – Killeen – March 2012
One lucky player purchased a quick pick Mega Millions ticket at a Killeen convenience store that wound up hitting a $28 million jackpot. It was the largest Texas Mega Millions prize up until that time.
$5 Million – Katy – December 2013
An individual in the Houston suburb of Katy won a $5 million prize just before Christmas. The lucky ticketholder’s Quick Pick matched all five white ball numbers but missed the Mega Ball.
$4 Million – Dallas – July 2014
A Dallas resident hit a $4 million prize in 2014. The ticket was purchased at a 7-Eleven in North Dallas. The winner claimed the prize as a single lump sum payment of $2.2 million.
$3 Million – Brownsville – June 2017
A Brownsville ticketholder won $3 million in the summer of 2017. The ticket with randomly generated numbers matched four white balls plus the Mega Ball.
Mega Millions has created millionaires across Texas, from El Paso to Brownsville and many cities in between. It just takes one lucky ticket to win.
Notable Texas Mega Millions Jackpot Near-Misses
Along with big winners, there have been some notable near-misses on huge jackpots in Texas:
$656 Million Jackpot – March 2012
In March 2012, the Mega Millions jackpot hit a record $656 million before someone in Illinois won it. However, a $250,000 winning ticket matching 5 numbers was sold in Denton, Texas.
$1.6 Billion Jackpot – January 2021
A few months into the COVID pandemic, the Mega Millions jackpot grew to a staggering $1.6 billion. It was finally won by a single ticket in Michigan. But Texas had a big winner too – someone in Prairie View claimed $1 million for matching 5 numbers.
$1.3 Billion Jackpot – July 2022
Most recently, a ticket in Illinois won the enormous $1.337 billion Mega Millions jackpot in July 2022. Texas didn’t have the jackpot winner but a Laredo resident came very close, matching 5 numbers plus the Megaplier for a $3 million prize.
Even when the jackpot winner is not from Texas, Mega Millions players in the state have still walked away with life-changing prizes. Near-misses on the jackpot often result in million dollar prizes for ticketholders.
Biggest Mega Millions Jackpots Won in Texas
So far, two Mega Millions jackpot winning tickets have been sold in Texas:
$133 Million – El Paso – September 16, 2005
As discussed earlier, the very first Texas Mega Millions jackpot was won by someone in El Paso in 2005. The advertised $133 million jackpot was paid out as a one-time cash option of $86.7 million.
$28 Million – Killeen – March 30, 2012
In 2012, a Killeen convenience store sold a quick pick ticket that wound up hitting a huge $28 million Mega Millions jackpot. The winner opted for a lump sum payment of $16.9 million.
Those remain the only Texas jackpot winners to date. However, with Mega Millions jackpots starting at $20 million and frequently reaching hundreds of millions, it’s only a matter of time before more Texas residents take home jackpot prizes in the national lottery game.
Mega Millions Statistics for Texas
Here is a statistical overview of key Mega Millions facts and figures in the state of Texas:
Prizes Won in Texas
| Mega Millions Prizes Won in Texas (since 2003) | $1.2 billion |
| Texas Jackpot Prizes Won | $161 million |
| Texas Prizes $1 Million and Up | 16 winners |
| Overall Odds of Winning Mega Millions | 1 in 24 |
As shown in the table, Texas players have won over $1.2 billion in Mega Millions prizes since 2003. That includes 2 jackpot wins totaling $161 million and 16 winners of prizes from $1 million up to $5 million.
Mega Millions Sales in Texas
| Total Mega Millions Tickets Sold | Over $4 billion |
| Tickets Sold in Record $1.6 Billion Drawing | $39.5 million |
| Tickets Sold for $1.3 Billion Jackpot | $142 million |
| Average number of winners per drawing | 35,000 |
As Mega Millions has awarded larger jackpots, Texas lottery ticket sales have grown. In recent years, the Texas Lottery has sold as much as $142 million in tickets for a single Mega Millions drawing. Even when the jackpot is lower, around 35,000 Texas players win prizes per drawing.
Texas Lottery Retailers
| Texas Mega Millions Retailers | 18,000+ |
| Retailers selling $1 million+ ticket | 67 |
Winning Mega Millions tickets have been sold at Texas gas stations, convenience stores, supermarkets, and other lottery retailers across the state. To date, 67 different Texas retailers have sold tickets worth $1 million or more. With over 18,000 lottery retailers in total, a Mega Millions jackpot prize could be won anywhere.
The numbers show that Texas players have won big and sales continue to grow whenever the jackpots reach astronomical levels. For its part, the Texas Lottery keeps the game fresh with occasional changes to the game matrix and rules. Mega Millions has awarded Texans over a billion in prizes so far.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mega Millions in Texas
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about playing Mega Millions in Texas:
How much do Mega Millions tickets cost in Texas?
Mega Millions tickets cost $2 per play in Texas. Players have the option to add the Megaplier feature for an extra $1 which increases non-jackpot prizes.
What time is the Mega Millions drawing in Texas?
The Mega Millions drawing is held at 10:12 p.m. Central Time in Texas on Tuesdays and Fridays. Players can watch the drawing online at the Texas Lottery website.
Where does the Mega Millions drawing take place?
The Mega Millions drawing is held at the WSB-TV studio in Atlanta, Georgia. Results are posted online at txlottery.org and megamillions.com shortly after.
What is the biggest Mega Millions jackpot ever in Texas?
The largest Mega Millions jackpot won in Texas so far is $133 million, hit in 2005 by a player in El Paso. In 2012, a Killeen resident won a $28 million Texas record Mega Millions jackpot.
Has anyone in Texas ever won a billion dollar Mega Millions jackpot?
No. The two largest jackpots – $1.6 billion and $1.3 billion – were won by single tickets sold in Michigan and Illinois. However, Texas has had million dollar winners on those giant jackpots.
What are the odds of winning Mega Millions in Texas?
The overall odds of winning a Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24. The jackpot odds are about 1 in 303 million. Even matching just the Mega Ball wins a $2 prize 1 in 37 times.
Where do Texas Lottery Mega Millions proceeds go?
As required by law, Texas Lottery proceeds go to the state’s Foundation School Fund which supports public education. Since 1997, the lottery has contributed $29 billion to education.
Can you buy Mega Millions tickets online in Texas?
Yes, the Texas Lottery website and mobile app allow you to purchase Mega Millions tickets online. Players must first create an account and deposit funds. There is no mobile ticket scanning.
The Texas Lottery makes playing the popular Mega Millions game convenient with online sales. And with jackpots frequently reaching hundreds of millions, the excitement over Mega Millions in Texas will continue for years to come.
Conclusion
In summary, the Mega Millions drawing occurs every Tuesday and Friday night at 10:12 p.m. Central Time in Texas. Each $2 ticket gives players a chance to win prizes ranging from $2 up to jackpots starting at $20 million that can grow to astronomical amounts. Since Texas joined Mega Millions in 2003, winners across the state have claimed over $1.2 billion in prizes. Two jackpots worth $133 million and $28 million have been won in Texas so far. With odds of winning any prize 1 in 24, Texas lottery players continue to dream of taking home massive Mega Millions jackpot prizes. The Texas Lottery makes playing the national game convenient by offering online sales. Mega Millions produces regular winners and provides fun and excitement to millions of Texas players chasing huge jackpots.