Current:Home > ScamsThe Mega Millions jackpot is $800 million. In what states can the winner remain anonymous. -Secure Growth Solutions
The Mega Millions jackpot is $800 million. In what states can the winner remain anonymous.
View
Date:2025-04-14 15:50:19
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! (914)
Related
- Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
- Mystery of why the greatest primate to ever inhabit the Earth went extinct is finally solved, scientists say
- Convicted former Russian mayor cuts jail time short by agreeing to fight in Ukraine
- Florida woman's killer identified after nearly 4 decades; suspect used 3 different names
- New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
- In Ecuador, the global reach of Mexico’s warring drug cartels fuels a national crisis
- Death toll rises to 13 in a coal mine accident in central China
- Nick Saban will be in Kalen DeBoer's ear at Alabama. And that's OK | Opinion
- Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
- Spoilers! Why 'American Fiction' ends with an 'important' scene of Black representation
Ranking
- How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
- Emma Stone says she applies to be on Jeopardy! every year: That's my dream
- As legal challenges mount, some companies retool diversity and inclusion programs
- Wildfire prevention and helping Maui recover from flames top the agenda for Hawaii lawmakers
- The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Hold Hands as They Exit Chiefs Game After Playoffs Win
- Convicted former Russian mayor cuts jail time short by agreeing to fight in Ukraine
- Coronavirus FAQ: Are we in a surge? How do you cope if your whole family catches it?
Recommendation
The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
Da'Vine Joy Randolph talks about her Golden Globes win, Oscar buzz and how she channels grief
Germany’s Scholz warns of extremists stoking rage as farmers protest and discontent is high
How long does a hangover last? Here's what you need to know.
At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
Top geopolitical risks for 2024 include Ungoverned AI and Middle East on the brink, report says
From Best Buy to sex videos, a now-fired university chancellor shares the backstory
Florida's immigration law brings significant unintended consequences, critics say