Current:Home > reviewsThe Mega Millions jackpot is $800 million. In what states can the winner remain anonymous. -TradeWisdom
The Mega Millions jackpot is $800 million. In what states can the winner remain anonymous.
TradeEdge View
Date:2025-04-08 23:20:57
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! (94537)
Related
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- IAEA officials say Fukushima’s ongoing discharge of treated radioactive wastewater is going well
- Stranger Things' Joe Keary and Chase Sui Wonders Have Very Cheeky Outing
- DeSantis PAC attack ad hits Nikki Haley on China, as 2024 presidential rivalry grows
- Megan Fox's ex Brian Austin Green tells Machine Gun Kelly to 'grow up'
- Nashville police chief has spent a career mentoring youths but couldn’t keep his son from trouble
- 'Make this place quiet': Rangers earn redemption to beat Astros, force ALCS Game 7
- Vic Fischer, last surviving delegate to Alaska constitutional convention, dies at age 99
- This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
- Are you leaving money on the table? How 1 in 4 couples is missing out on 401 (k) savings
Ranking
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Don Laughlin, resort-casino owner and architect behind Nevada town, is dead at 92
- AP Top 25: Georgia is No. 1 for 19th straight poll, 3rd-best streak ever; Alabama in top 10 again
- Drake is giving out free Dave's Hot Chicken sliders or tenders to celebrate 37th birthday
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- Christopher Bell wins at NASCAR race at Homestead to lock up second Championship 4 berth
- Stranger Things' Joe Keary and Chase Sui Wonders Have Very Cheeky Outing
- The pope just opened the door to blessing same-sex couples. This nun secretly blessed one more than 15 years ago.
Recommendation
US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
Snoop Dogg gets birthday surprise from 'Step Brothers' Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly
Woman rescued after spending 16 hours in California cave, treated for minor injuries
Former USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski returns to NWSL with Kansas City Current
Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
Bad Bunny Makes SNL Debut With Cameos by Pedro Pascal, Lady Gaga and Mick Jagger
Toby Keith announces Las Vegas concerts amid cancer battle: 'Get the band back together'
Decline of rare right whale appears to be slowing, but scientists say big threats remain