Current:Home > StocksThe Mega Millions jackpot is $800 million. In what states can the winner remain anonymous. -FundGuru
The Mega Millions jackpot is $800 million. In what states can the winner remain anonymous.
View
Date:2025-04-12 03:16:24
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! (1)
Related
- Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
- Hope for North America’s Most Endangered Bird
- Inside Alix Earle's Winning Romance With NFL Player Braxton Berrios
- Negro Leagues legend Bill Greason celebrates 100th birthday: 'Thankful to God'
- The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
- Aryna Sabalenka wins US Open, defeating American Jessica Pegula in final
- Bama Rush, step aside! 3-year-old star of 'Toddler Rush' combines cuteness and couture
- NFL schedule today: Everything to know about Week 1 games on Sunday
- Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
- Brandon Sanderson's next Stormlight Archive book is coming. New fans should start elsewhere
Ranking
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- Colorado vs. Nebraska score: Highlights from Cornhuskers football win over Buffaloes today
- East Timor looks to the pope’s visit as a reward after 20 years of fragile stability
- Evacuations ordered as wildfire burns in foothills of national forest east of LA
- Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
- Artem Chigvintsev Makes Subtle Nod to Wife Nikki Garcia After Domestic Violence Arrest
- NASCAR Atlanta live updates: How to watch Sunday's Cup Series playoff race
- Tropical system set to drench parts of Gulf Coast, could strengthen, forecasters say
Recommendation
NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
Run to Vineyard Vines for an Extra 30% off Their Sale—Shop Flowy Dresses, Nautical Tops & More Luxe Deals
Inside Alix Earle's Winning Romance With NFL Player Braxton Berrios
Notre Dame's inconsistency with Marcus Freeman puts them at top of Week 2 Misery Index
Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
Which NFL teams have new head coaches? Meet the 8 coaches making debuts in 2024.
MLB trade deadline revisited: Dodgers pulled off heist to get new bullpen ace
Cars talking to one another could help reduce fatal crashes on US roads