How To Play Megabucks!!
Megabucks is a game where a player selects a set of 6 numbers from a field of 42 numbers. Winning numbers are selected in an independent random drawing two nights a week, Wednesday and Saturday. In addition, a bonus number will be drawn from the remaining 36 numbers. This bonus ball enhances your chance to win a lot of other prizes.
How to Win! With our new bonus number, you can win twice as many prizes as before. It's simple, here's how it works:

• Match six numbers (*) -- win the jackpot
• Match five numbers plus the bonus number -- win $10,000
• Match five numbers (*)-- win $1,000
• Match four numbers plus the bonus number -- win $50
• Match four numbers (*)-- win $40
• Match three numbers plus the bonus number -- win $5
• Match two numbers plus the bonus number -- win $2 Match three numbers (*)-- win a $1

Cash or Annuity
A megabucks player has the option of selecting an annuity payment (25 years) or the cash option (1 time cash payment). Remember to choose cash or annuity when you purchase your ticket!

LATEST NEWS

Megabucks Expansion Under Consideration
The Associated Press
AUGUSTA (December 17, 1999) -- Lottery officials hoping to reverse sluggish sales of Tri-State Megabucks tickets believe they could generate excitement and create bigger jackpots by opening the lottery to Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
The Tri-State Megabucks has suffered for four years while ticket buyers have been siphoned away by the bigger jackpots of New Hampshire's Powerball, said Eben Marsh, director of the Maine Bureau of Alcohol Beverages and Lottery Operations.
Another problem is that Megabucks may be getting stale since it has been around for about 12 years, he said. If Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire could expand the Megabucks game to include the other three New England states, ''the bigger population would increase the game, which would increase the jackpots,'' Marsh said.
Next month, Maine lottery officials will make their pitch to lottery officials from Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
At the same time, a bill will be introduced next month seeking permission from the Maine Legislature to create a New England game, since state lawmakers must approve the change.
For now, the Tri-State Megabucks remains the flagship of the Maine State Lottery but its jackpots of $1 million or $2 million pale in comparison to the bigger jackpots of Powerball, even though the odds of winning are better.
''In the pre-Powerball games the odds did matter. Nowadays, they're not as important. Today's player is more concerned about the size of the jackpot. Players want bigger jackpots,'' said Rich Sperlazzi, Maine State Lottery marketing director.
The Powerball jackpots start at $10 million and typically go up to $50 million. Its historic high was a one-time $295 million. Maine's Tri-State jackpot starts at $500,000 and typically offers winnings from $1 million to $3 million. Its biggest was $16 million.
Lottery officials predict a New England megabucks could regularly offer jackpots between $8 million and $10 million, and occasional jackpots as large as $20 million to $30 million.
But Marsh said there is no guarantee that the other states will join the Tri-State Megabucks. Also, Maine Gov. Angus King has consistently opposed expanding any legal gambling in Maine.
Marsh hopes King will allow the change.
''We're not adding any additional games. This will be the same Megabucks game, there will just be more states in it,'' he said. ''And this would be limited to New England to keep it a regional game.''
All of Maine's lottery proceeds go to the state's General Fund. In the past four years all of Maine's lottery games have contributed about $40 million to the fund.
SOURCE: The Associated Press. Used with permission.

The Tri-State Lotto Commission has made Megabucks Mega-better! Pick Six Numbers as Usual!
Pick your six numbers as usual. Then, at the live draw, six numbers are drawn from 1 to 42 -- if you match all six, you win the jackpot just like always! If not, keep watching -- because then, a bonus number is drawn from the remaining 36 numbers. And that's your chance to win lots of other prizes -- up to $10,000!
More Winners! More Prizes! With our new bonus number, you can win twice as many prizes as before. It's simple, here's how it works:

• match six numbers (*) -- win the jackpot
• match five numbers plus the bonus number -- win $10,000
• match five numbers (*)-- win $1,000
• match four numbers plus the bonus number -- win $50
• match four numbers (*)-- win $40
• match three numbers plus the bonus number -- win $5
• match two numbers plus the bonus number -- win $2
• match three numbers (*)-- win a free ticket
• New Bonus Number - New $10,000 prize!

With better Megabucks, the jackport is only the beginning! The new Megabucks bonus number now gives you the chance to win a $10,000 second tier prize and much more! Better odds of winning a prize!
The overall odds of winning have been significantly improved with the better Megabucks. In fact, your overall odds of winning a prize are now 1:21 with the enhanced game.
Since the game format has been changed to 6 of 42, the chance of building a bigger jackpot has also increased.
And with the new annual payout of 25 years, you'll get money longer -- or, you can always take the cash option.
Remember to choose cash or annuity when you purchase yourticket!
Megabucks—it's Megabetter! Now there are more ways to win—including a fantastic new $10,000 prize!
Try Megabetter Megabucks! Watch for the live draw every Wednesday and Saturday at 7:59 p.m.
(*) Not including the bonus number