a jackpot of more than a billion dollars, how does this super American lottery work?

How does Mega Millions work?

Mega Millions, previously called “the big game”, is one of the two biggest American lotteries, along with Powerball. It has existed in the United States since 1996. Initially only initiated in six American states, it has spread throughout the country. This lottery works on the same principle as our French lotto, but with a greater number of combinations: each player must choose five numbers between 1 and 70, as well as an additional number called the “Mega Ball”, between 1 and 25. Thus, if the chances of winning the Euromillions are 1 in 139 million, the chances of postponing the Mega Millions are 1 in 302 million.

Where and at what price can you buy a ticket?

The basic Mega Millions ticket costs $2. To increase their chances of winning or access higher secondary prizes, the player can opt for the “Megaplier” option, which costs an additional dollar. Mega Millions tickets are available across the United States. They can be purchased at physical points of sale or through online platforms authorized in certain states.

Who can play?

Only adults can play Mega Millions. But the age varies depending on the state: while most have adopted the age of majority at 18, some still set it at 21. And if you want to play from France, know that it is not necessary to be a citizen or resident of the United States to participate, but tickets must be purchased on American territory or via authorized online services. Foreigners must also comply with their country’s local laws regarding participation in foreign lotteries, especially if they win.

Does the jackpot often exceed a billion dollars?

No. This is only the seventh time in Mega Million history that the jackpot has exceeded $1 billion.

If the jackpot at stake this Friday were to be won, it would be the fifth largest win in the history of the lottery. The absolute record is 1.6 billion dollars. It was won in August 2023 in Florida.

How to recover your winnings?

Mega Millions winners have two options for recovering their winnings: either they choose a one-off payment, called the “cash option”, but will only be able to recover around 60% of the amount, or they choose an annual payment spread out over 30 years, to recover the total amount.