The Oregon Megabucks drawing takes place every Wednesday and Saturday evening at 7:00 PM Pacific Time. Megabucks is Oregon’s version of a lottery drawing game with jackpots that can climb into the tens of millions of dollars. Read on to learn more about what time the Megabucks drawings take place and how you can purchase tickets to play.
Megabucks Drawing Schedule
The Oregon Lottery holds Megabucks drawings twice per week, every Wednesday and Saturday evening. Here is the schedule:
- Wednesday drawing: 7:00 PM Pacific Time
- Saturday drawing: 7:00 PM Pacific Time
The drawings are held at the Oregon Lottery headquarters in Salem, Oregon. The drawings are powered by a Random Number Generator and conducted under tight security protocols.
Purchasing Megabucks Tickets
You can purchase Megabucks tickets in advance of the drawings at any Oregon Lottery retail location. This includes convenience stores, grocery stores, gas stations, and other businesses that sell lottery games. Tickets can be purchased up until 7:00 PM on the night of the drawing.
Each Megabucks play costs $1 per line. You can choose to play from 1 to 10 lines on a single ticket. When playing multiple lines, the numbers you select will apply to every line marked on the ticket.
To play, you can either select your own numbers or choose the Quick Pick option for randomly generated numbers. Each line of numbers you play will be eligible for both the Megabucks jackpot as well as a range of smaller fixed prizes.
How to Play Megabucks
Playing Megabucks is easy. Simply decide how many number lines you want to play and whether you want to pick your own numbers or use Quick Pick.
To play manually, mark 6 numbers on each line in the play area of your Megabucks ticket. The numbers available are 1 through 48. Or, you can ask for a Quick Pick and get randomly selected numbers printed for you.
Once you’ve filled out your ticket, give it to the lottery retailer along with your cash payment. You will receive a printed ticket with your numbered selections as well as drawing and purchase details.
Prizes and Odds
Here are the prizes available in Megabucks and the odds of winning:
| Prize Amount | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|
| Jackpot (Starting at $1 million) | 1 in 6,135,756 |
| $10,000 | 1 in 1,224,785 |
| $500 | 1 in 13,781 |
| $50 | 1 in 816 |
| $7 | 1 in 81 |
| $3 | 1 in 37 |
The jackpot starts at $1 million and continues growing until there is a winner. All other prize amounts remain fixed.
Claiming Prizes
For prizes up to $600, you can cash in your winning ticket at any Oregon Lottery retailer. For larger prize amounts, you will need to claim at one of the Lottery’s regional offices. Here are the details on how to cash in Megabucks tickets:
- Prizes up to $600: Cash in at any Oregon lottery retailer
- Prizes $601 – $50,000: Cash in at any Oregon lottery office
- Prizes over $50,000: Make an appointment at Oregon Lottery headquarters in Salem
You have one year from the date of the drawing to claim any Megabucks prizes. Be sure to sign the back of your ticket and keep it secure until you are ready to cash it in.
Winning Number Notifications
There are a few ways you can get the winning numbers following each Megabucks drawing:
- Watch the drawing live online or on TV at 7pm Pacific Time
- Check the Oregon Lottery’s winning numbers page
- Sign up for winning number email alerts
- Check next day newspaper listings
- Ask your lottery retailer for printout
Many people like to watch the drawing live so they can see the numbers announced in real time. However, with the other options available, you do not need to watch live in order to find out the latest winning numbers.
Live Drawing Broadcast
The Megabucks drawings air live on television in the Portland and Eugene areas at 7pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The broadcast shows the entire drawing process from start to finish so viewers can see the winning numbers as they are announced.
The draw takes place at the Oregon Lottery’s television studio and is presided over by a drawing host and lottery security officials. Six numbered balls are mixed in a draw machine and then selected one at a time as the winning numbers. The draw host announces each number as it is drawn.
Oregon Lottery Website
The Oregon Lottery has a Winning Numbers page on their website that is updated after each drawing with the latest results. You can check here to see the numbers from the most recent Megabucks drawing.
Results are usually posted within an hour after the live draws. Along with the winning numbers, the site also displays the estimated jackpot amounts for the next drawing so you can see if the big prize continues growing.
Email and Text Alerts
For convenient access, you can sign up to receive winning number email alerts after every Megabucks drawing. Go to the Oregon Lottery website, click on “Winning Numbers” and opt-in to receive number updates directly to your inbox.
You can also sign up for text alerts by texting the keyword “LOTTO” to 76950. This will enroll you to get text messages with the latest winning Megabucks numbers.
History of Megabucks
Megabucks has been operating in Oregon since 1985 after being authorized by state voters. It became one of the first US lottery games to offer jackpots starting at $1 million.
Over the years, there have been some truly massive Megabucks jackpots awarded in Oregon. The current record stands at $34 million, won by a Eugene man in 2005 after rolling over for 16 weeks.
Other notable large jackpots included:
- $33.8 million in Salem in 1999
- $30 million in Portland in 1997
- $26.6 million in Eugene in 1990
Megabucks set a record in 2006 for the world’s largest lottery jackpot at $343 million. However, that prize was split between 3 winning tickets in 3 different states as Megabucks had temporarily become a multi-state game.
Overall, more than $3 billion in Megabucks prizes have been awarded to players in Oregon since 1985. And the twice-weekly drawings will continue rolling on, giving players the chance to win jackpots and other cash amounts.
Megabucks Ticket Sales
On average, around $40 million in Megabucks tickets are sold each fiscal year in Oregon. Sales tend to rise when the jackpot gets higher as more players are lured in by the big prize amounts.
The largest annual ticket sale total was in fiscal year 2006 when over $52.5 million in tickets were sold. This coincided with the world record $343 million jackpot that helped drive substantial interest that year.
| Fiscal Year | Ticket Sales |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $38.2 million |
| 2021 | $39.7 million |
| 2020 | $41.1 million |
| 2019 | $38.4 million |
| 2018 | $42.6 million |
While annual ticket sales fluctuate, Megabucks continues to deliver exciting opportunities for players hoping to win big jackpots two times per week in Oregon.
Strategies for Winning Megabucks
While Megabucks outcomes are entirely random, some people employ strategies in selecting numbers that they hope will improve their odds and help them win.
Frequency Analysis
With frequency analysis, you review statistics on past winning numbers and look for patterns in digits that have been drawn most often. Then you pick numbers based on those hot or overdue trends.
For example, you might notice the number 32 has come up 7 times in the last year but the number 13 has not been picked once. So you play 32 due to it being hot while also selecting 13 hoping it is now overdue.
Significant Dates Method
Using this method, you select numbers based on personally important dates like birthdays, anniversaries, addresses, ages of loved ones, etc. The thought is you might have better luck winning with meaningful numbers.
So you might pick 3-11-23-32 based on March 11, 2023 or a child’s birthday. Many people use significant dates in their number selections.
Quick Pick
Ironically, the most common “strategy” used in Megabucks is to have no strategy at all and use Quick Pick. With Quick Pick, you let the lottery terminal randomly select your numbers so you don’t have to think about it.
Because the game is entirely based on chance, Quick Pick has the same odds of winning as any other method. And you avoid the effort of trying to analyze numbers or dates.
Tips for Playing Megabucks
Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when playing Megabucks:
- Buy early – Avoid lines on drawing day and don’t risk missing the purchase cutoff time
- Check carefully – Look at your ticket to assure the numbers, draw date, and number of lines is correct
- Protect your ticket – Sign it after purchase and keep it safe until redeeming
- Double check numbers – When checking results, read numbers carefully for accuracy
- Remain anonymous – You may be able to claim winnings anonymously to maintain privacy
- Think long-term – Have a financial plan for managing a big jackpot prize responsibly
Megabucks FAQ
Is Megabucks played in other states?
Megabucks is exclusive to Oregon. Only Oregon Lottery tickets can win the Megabucks jackpot. However, other states do have similarly named lottery games with big jackpots such as Mega Millions.
What is the biggest Megabucks jackpot ever?
The largest Megabucks jackpot was $34 million, won by a Eugene resident in August 2005 after the jackpot rolled over for 16 weeks.
Can I buy Megabucks tickets online?
No, Megabucks tickets must be purchased in-person at authorized Oregon Lottery retailers. There is no option to buy them online or via mobile device.
What happens if no one wins the jackpot?
If there are no jackpot winners, the top prize rolls over to increase for the next drawing. This can result in jackpots growing to huge amounts over multiple rolls.
Can I buy tickets after the 7pm cutoff?
No, ticket sales end promptly at 7:00pm Pacific Time before each drawing. Make sure to buy your ticket before sales close for that night’s draw.
How long do I have to claim a prize?
You have one year from the drawing date to claim any Megabucks prizes. Be sure to check tickets carefully for any wins before discarding.
Conclusion
The Oregon Megabucks lottery drawings take place every Wednesday and Saturday night at 7:00pm Pacific Time. Tickets can be purchased in advance of the draws at any Oregon Lottery retailer. Prizes range from $3 up to jackpots starting at $1 million that continue to grow until there’s a winner.
To play, select six numbers 1-48 per line on a Megabucks ticket or use the Quick Pick option for randomly generated numbers. Tickets cost $1 per line. Then watch the drawing live or check results later to see if your numbers match those drawn to win cash prizes.
With jackpots that can climb into the tens of millions and a long history of creating big winners since 1985, Megabucks continues to be an exciting lottery game exclusive to Oregon. Playing is fun and easy – just remember to purchase your ticket before sales close at 7pm on drawing nights for your chance to win!