Current:Home > InvestThe Mega Millions jackpot is $800 million. In what states can the winner remain anonymous. -消息
The Mega Millions jackpot is $800 million. In what states can the winner remain anonymous.
View
Date:2025-04-19 00:31:13
The Mega Millions jackpot soared to a colossal $800 million on Tuesday, enticing players to get in on the action.
Laws in some states allow for national lottery winners to collect the prize anonymously. If the third Mega Millions winner of the year is in one of those states come Tuesday, we may never know who they are.
Tuesday's jackpot clears all prize-size requirements in states that have them. Arkansas is the only state that grants anonymity for winners on a temporary basis, with the identities of winners in the state shielded for three years.
The last winner was in June, when someone in Illinois took advantage of the state's anonymity laws to claim the $552 million prize.
Here are the places where winners can anonymously claim lottery prizes, and the requirements for them.
Feeling Lucky? Explore the Latest Lottery News & Results
Where Mega Millions winners can claim anonymously
- Arizona: Prize must be over $100,000
- Arkansas: Prize must be over $500,000 and a winner is only anonymous for three years
- Delaware: Any prize
- Georgia: Prize must be over $250,000
- Illinois: Prize must be over $250,000
- Kansas: Any prize
- Maryland: Any prize
- Michigan: Prize must be over $10,000 in state-run games only
- Minnesota: Prize must be over $10,000
- Mississippi: Any prize
- Missouri: Any prize
- Montana: Any prize
- New Jersey: Any prize
- North Dakota: Any prize
- South Carolina: Any prize
- Texas: Prize must be over $1 million
- Virginia: Prize must be greater than $10 million
- West Virginia: Prize must be over $1 million
- Wyoming: Any prize
What is the largest Mega Millions jackpot ever?
If the right six numbers are pulled Tuesday night, the jackpot as it stands would not crack the top five largest prizes of all time. The top five are:
- $1.602 billion from one winning ticket in Florida in August 2023
- $1.537 billion from one winning ticket in October 2018 in South Carolina
- $1.35 billion from one winning ticket in January 2023 in Maine
- $1.34 billion from one winning ticket in July 2022 in Illinois
- $1.12 billion from one winning ticket in March 2024 in New Jersey
What are the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot?
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are long. Players have a one in 302,575,350 shot at winning the grand prize, a one in 12,607,306 shot at winning the $1 million prize and a one in 24 chance of winning any prize.
How to play Mega Millions
Tickets to Mega Millions cost $2 per play.
There are nine total ways to win a prize, from the jackpot to $2.
To play, pick five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25. You can choose Easy Pick or Quick Pick to have the terminal randomly pick numbers for you. You win the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in the drawing.
What is the Megaplier?
Most states offer the Megaplier feature, which increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four and five times.
It costs an additional $1 per play. Before each regular Mega Millions drawing, the Megaplier is drawn. From a pool of 15 balls, five are marked with "2X," three with "4X" and one with "5X."
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms and conditions.
veryGood! (46943)
Related
- Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
- Get free Raising Cane's for National Chicken Finger Day 2024: How to get the deal
- Jensen Ackles returns to 'The Boys' final season, stars in 'Vought Rising' spinoff
- Rain could dampen excitement of Paris Olympics opening ceremony
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Wood pellets boomed in the US South. Climate activists want Biden to stop boosting industry growth
- 2024 Olympics: Why Simone Biles Skipped the Opening Ceremony in Paris
- Shane Lowry carries flag for Irish Olympic team that's set to include Rory McIlroy
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- 2024 Olympics: Céline Dion Performs for the First Time in 4 Years During Opening Ceremony
Ranking
- Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
- RHOC's Alexis Bellino Slammed for Trying to Single White Female Shannon Beador
- Stock market today: Asian shares mostly advance after Wall St comeback from worst loss since 2022
- Wood pellets boomed in the US South. Climate activists want Biden to stop boosting industry growth
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- Family sues after teen’s 2022 death at Georgia detention center
- Rescued walrus calf ‘sassy’ and alert after seemingly being left by her herd in Alaska
- New York City turns to AI-powered scanners in push to keep guns out of the subway system
Recommendation
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
Get an Extra 60% off J.Crew Sale Styles, 50% Off Old Navy, 80% Off Old Navy, 70% Off Sam Edelman & More
More Red Lobsters have closed. Here's the status of every US location
Climate Change Contributes to Shift in Lake Erie’s Harmful Algal Blooms
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
Rescued walrus calf ‘sassy’ and alert after seemingly being left by her herd in Alaska
Belgium women's basketball guard Julie Allemand to miss 2024 Paris Olympics with injury
2024 Olympics: Why Simone Biles Skipped the Opening Ceremony in Paris