Mega Millions
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mega Millions is a multi-state US$1 lottery game in the United States. Twelve U.S. states currently license Mega Millions as a provider of multistate lotteries in those states (some states also license Powerball, Mega Millions' main competitor). As of 2007, Mega Millions features jackpots of at least US$12 million, payable in 26 annual payments or a reduced lump sum cash payout, which varies from state to state. The current estimated jackpot for April 10, 2007 is US$12 million.[1]
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[edit] History
Tickets went on sales in Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and Virginia for the new lottery on August 31, 1996. It wasn't Mega Millions back then, it was The Big Game. Six days later, the first drawing was held. Drawings were held weekly on Fridays until they held a Tuesday drawing on February 10, 1998. On January 13, 1999, jack pot winners have the choice to claim the prize in lump sum for the first time. That same year, New Jersey joined The Big Game.
On May 9, 2000, The Big Game offered a jackpot worth $363 million. The prize was won by two ticket holders from different states. This was the largest under its old name and was once the world's largest. This was later surpassed on February 18, 2006 by a $365 million jackpot from Powerball, another interstate lottery.
On April 16, 2002, the last Big Game jackpot was won. This prize was worth $331 million and there were 3 winners. On May 14 that year, The Big Game held its last drawing.
New York and Ohio joined the Big Game on May 15, 2002. This was when the game was changed to its current name, Mega Millions. Also the "Big Money Ball" changed its name to the "Mega Ball." The first Mega Millions drawing was held on May 17, 2002. Three more states joined. These are Washington in that same year, Texas in 2003, and California in 2005.
After rolling over 15 times, Mega Millions offered a jackpot $390 million on March 6, 2007. This set a new world record for the largest jackpot and made the game regained its title. The jackpot was shared by two winners. These include one from Georgia and another from New Jersey.
[edit] Playing the game
As of 2007, to play the game, a player pays one dollar and picks five numbers from 1 to 56 (white balls) and one additional number from 1 to 46 (the Mega Ball number, a yellow ball). Tickets may be obtained from either retail locations or by mail in select states (currently, only Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Virginia offer subscriptions by mail). However, earlier incarnations of the Big Game and Mega Millions have had different matrices:
| Date | Pick 5 out of | Pick 1 out of |
|---|---|---|
| September 9, 1996 | 50 | 25 |
| January 13, 1999 | 50 | 36 |
| May 15, 2002 | 52 | 52 |
| June 22, 2005 | 56 | 46 |
Tickets must be purchased 15 minutes prior the draw (usually 11:00 PM Eastern time), accounting for local time zone differences.
Laws and regulations vary slightly and are generally governed by the applicable laws in the state where the ticket is sold. Mega Millions winnings are generally exempt from state income tax in California and New Jersey; Texas and Washington have no state income tax.
As of 2006, a player wins a prize according to the following chart:
| Matches | Payout [2] | Odds of winning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal balls (pool of 56) |
Mega ball (pool of 46) |
||
| 5 | 1 | Jackpot[3] | 1 in 175,711,536 |
| 5 | 0 | $250,000 | 1 in 3,904,791 |
| 4 | 1 | $10,000 | 1 in 689,065 |
| 4 | 0 | $150 | 1 in 15,313 |
| 3 | 1 | $150 | 1 in 13,781 |
| 3 | 0 | $7 | 1 in 306 |
| 2 | 1 | $10 | 1 in 844 |
| 1 | 1 | $3 | 1 in 141 |
| 0 | 1 | $2 | 1 in 75 |
| Overall odds of winning any prize | 1 in 40 | ||
Unlike its main rival Powerball, an optional multiplier feature for non-jackpot winnings is only available in one state (Texas).
[edit] Machines Used
The balls are moved around inside as the container rotates. The winning balls drop through a hole in the drum a single at a time.
[edit] The draw
Drawings are usually held at WSB-TV in Atlanta by the Georgia Lottery at 11:00 PM Eastern time on Tuesdays and Fridays. Usually, the announcer is WSB's chief weather forecaster, Glenn Burns. However, drawings may sometimes be held elsewhere:
- On February 20 and July 2, 2004, when the jackpot reached near-record levels (annuitized values of US$230 million and US$290 million, respectively), the draws were held in Times Square with New York Lottery draw host Yolanda Vega.
- On June 24, 2005, to commemorate California joining Mega Millions, the drawing was held in Hollywood, California with Carrie Underwood assisting Glenn Burns for the draw.
- On March 6, 2007, the draw returned to Times Square with host Yolanda Vega due to the the world's largest jackpot offered (an annuitized jackpot of US$390 million).
[edit] Record jackpots
A May 2000 Big Game jackpot of $363 million, split between two winners, held the record for the largest jackpot ever won in the world for six years. The largest Mega Millions jackpot to is $390 million, setting a new, all-time highest jackpot record, won on March 6, 2007 by two ticket holders. The largest jackpot won by a single ticket had an annuitized value of US$315 million, won on November 15, 2005.
[edit] Participating States
The following states participate in the Mega Millions Lottery game.
- California
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Texas
- Virginia
- Washington
[edit] References
- ^ "Mega Millions.com." Mega Millions. April 08, 2007. Retrieved on April 08, 2007.
- ^ Payouts are uniform in all Mega Millions states, except in California, where all prizes but the jackpot are pari-mutuel, meaning payouts are based on sales and the number of winners. All other Mega Millions states set the 2nd through 9th prizes at pre-determined amounts.
- ^ If more than one person wins the jackpot, the prize is equally divided among the winning tickets. Winners have between 180 days to 1 year to collect the jackpot, depending upon the applicable laws in the state where the winning ticket was sold. Jackpots are typically paid out in an annuity. Winners have the option to collect the jackpot a single lump sum payment. The lump sum payment is typically approximately 40%-60% of the annuity value. The minimum jackpot prize is US$12 million, disbursed in 26 annual payments, or a cash payout.
[edit] External links
- MegaMillions.com - Official site
| Preceded by Powerball |
World's largest lottery jackpot 2000-2006 |
Succeeded by Powerball |
| Preceded by Powerball |
World's largest lottery jackpot 2007-present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
