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Mega Millions is now, hands down, the biggest jackpot
game in the country! With millions of people playing (more than any other
multi-state, mega-jackpot game in the U.S.), jackpots can roll to even higher
levels at a faster rate. Second prize is $175,000. You choose six
numbers and there are nine exciting ways to win in the game. Each play
costs just $1.00. You can play Mega Millions in: California, Georgia,
Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas,
Virginia, Washington. What Makes Mega Millions So Special?
- Jackpots start at $10 million.
- Other prizes range from $2 to $175,000.
- Jackpots can roll to higher levels at a faster
rate.
- There are 11 states where you can play the game!
Participating
MegaMillions Jurisdictions |
Population in Millions |
FY2005 Game Sales (in
millions) |
FY2006 Game Sales (in
millions) |
%
Change Year on Year |
%
of M/Millions sales |
| Georgia |
8.91 |
170.44 |
207.48 |
21.73% |
8.33% |
| Illinois |
12.71 |
192.6 |
243.84 |
26.60% |
9.79% |
| Maryland |
5.6 |
99.74 |
116.25 |
16.55% |
4.67% |
| Mass'usetts |
6.43 |
97.07 |
134.76 |
38.83% |
5.41% |
| Michigan |
10.11 |
203.9 |
216.5 |
6.18% |
8.69% |
| New Jersey |
8.7 |
253.41 |
317.21 |
25.18% |
12.73% |
| New York |
19.23 |
446.21 |
563.2 |
26.22% |
22.60% |
| Ohio |
11.44 |
176.4 |
223.38 |
26.63% |
8.96% |
| Texas |
22.91 |
217.71 |
249.5 |
14.60% |
10.01% |
| Virginia |
7.46 |
137.18 |
159.67 |
16.39% |
6.41% |
| Washington |
6.26 |
49.48 |
60.06 |
21.38% |
2.41% |
| TOTALS |
119.76 |
2,044.14 |
2,491.85 |
21.90% |
100.00% |
Participating
MegaMillions Jurisdictions |
Population in Millions |
FY2006 Total Sales ($m) |
FY2006 MMillions Sales ($m) |
M/Millions % of Sales |
Annual Per Capita M/M Spend |
| Georgia |
8.91 |
3,177.59 |
207.48 |
0.68% |
$23.29 |
| Illinois |
12.71 |
1,989.18 |
243.84 |
0.80% |
$19.18 |
| Maryland |
5.6 |
1,560.91 |
116.25 |
0.38% |
$20.76 |
| Mass'setts |
6.43 |
4,534.12 |
134.76 |
0.44% |
$20.96 |
| Michigan |
10.11 |
2,259.20 |
216.5 |
0.71% |
$21.41 |
| New Jersey |
8.7 |
2,406.57 |
317.21 |
1.04% |
$36.46 |
| New York |
19.23 |
6,802.80 |
563.2 |
1.84% |
$29.29 |
| Ohio |
11.44 |
2,219.54 |
223.38 |
0.73% |
$19.53 |
| Texas |
22.91 |
3,799.60 |
249.5 |
0.82% |
$10.89 |
| Virginia |
7.46 |
1,365.33 |
159.67 |
0.52% |
$21.40 |
| Washington |
6.26 |
477.91 |
60.06 |
0.20% |
$9.59 |
| TOTALS |
119.76 |
30,592.75 |
2,491.85 |
8.15% |
$20.81 |
Another Multistate Game Available In
South Carolina By End Of January COLUMBIA, South
Carolina (November 11, 2009) - MegaMillions will join the ranks of the
popular Powerball game as the state's second $1 ticket that offers lucky
players a long-shot, multimillion-dollar payoff for picking six
numbers.................Subscribers
Mega Millions Jackpot Game Coming To
South Carolina COLUMBIA, South Carolina (November 10, 2009)
- South Carolina lottery players will also soon get to take a chance on two
more multimillion-dollar jackpots a week..................Subscribers
Lottery Gambles on New
Game JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri (November 9, 2009) --
The Missouri State Lottery
Commission has voted to add the multistate Megamillions Game to its
portfolio....................Subscribers
Multistate Lotteries Blurring
Lines The division between Powerball and Mega
Millions will become fuzzier because of a cross-selling arrangement.
URBANDALE, Iowa (November 9, 2009) - Starting in January, the state lines
currently separating the country into
Powerball states and Mega
Millions states will be further eroded as the two games enter a cross-selling
arrangement.......................Subscribers
Not Just Millions, It
Could Be Megamillions CHARLESTON, West Virginia (November
2, 2009) - State Lottery Director
John Musgrave
reportedly says he believes offering the MEGA Millions lottery in West Virginia
would build the state lottery's customer base.................Subscribers
Tennessee To Add Mega
Millions to Lottery Lineup NASHVILLE, Tennessee (November
2, 2009) - The state lottery
board voted unanimously today to bring a second lottery to Tennessee. The
state will now add Mega Millions to its lineup of games..................Subscribers
NC Education Lottery
Commission Votes to Add Mega Millions RALEIGH, North
Carolina (November 2, 2009) -- Today, the North Carolina Education Lottery
(NCEL) Commission unanimously voted to add another national lottery game for
North Carolina players. The NCEL is working toward launching Mega Millions
sales...................Subscribers
New Mexico Lottery
Approves Mega Millions ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (October
27, 2009) In a special meeting today, the New Mexico Lotterys
board of directors voted in favor of introducing another multi-state jackpot
game similar to Powerball®.......................Subscribers
Mega Millions, Powerball
Talk About Cross-Selling Tickets With Potential for National
Game DES MOINES, Iowa (October 14, 2009) -- America's two
biggest lottery games are talking about cross-selling tickets in U.S. lottery
jurisdictions with the potential for a national lottery, the head of a lottery
association said Tuesday..................Subscribers
Agreement May Bring
Powerball® To Texas AUSTIN, Texas (October 12, 2009)
The Texas Lottery Commission announced today that an agreement in
principle has been reached between the Mega Millions® consortium and the
Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) to
allow for the sale of both Mega Millions and Powerball® tickets in all U.S. lottery
jurisdictions..................Subscribers
Mega Millions Drawing
Conducted After 75 Minute Delay RICHMOND, Virginia
(September 9, 2009) -- Tuesday night's Mega Millions lottery drawing actually
happened Wednesday morning. According to the multi-state lottery's website,
there was a technical problem which delayed the drawing..................Subscribers
Mega Millions® $333
Million Jackpot Brings In Highest-Ever Roll-Cycle Sales
AUSTIN, Texas (August 31, 2009) Mega Millions® sales in Texas
for last Fridays $333 million advertised jackpot were $49.8 million for
the prizes entire roll cycle, the highest sales ever in
Texas.................Subscribers
Two Winning Tickets for
$333 Mega Millions Jackpot NEW YORK (August 29, 2009) --
There are two new millionaires Saturday, and one of them is in New York City.
The $333 million Mega Millions' jackpot is to be split between a winner in the
Bronx, and one in California....................Subscribers
Ohio
Lottery Player Wins $207 Million Mega Millions
Jackpot ATLANTA, Georgia (December 13, 2008) - A single
winner has taken the $207 million jackpot from the latest drawing of the
multistate Mega Millions lottery.....................Subscribers
One
Winner Takes $132 Million Mega Millions Jackpot ATLANTA,
Georgia (August 30, 2008) -- A single winner has taken the $132 million jackpot
from the latest drawing of the multistate Mega Millions
lottery.................Subscribers.
Mega
Millions Unveils New And Improved Web Site RICHMOND,
Virginia (August 11, 2008) -- Mega Millions has a new Internet look. The
12 Mega Millions state lotteries today unveiled the new Web site for
Americas biggest jackpot game. The site is located at
www.megamillions.com.................Subscribers
Trustee Claims $196 Million Mega Millions Jackpot in
Ohio CLEVELAND, Ohio (June 27, 2008) -- A trustee has
claimed a $196 million Mega Millions jackpot on behalf of an anonymous winner
more than a month after the winning ticket was sold...............Subscribers
$196
Million Lottery Ticket Bought in Ohio OHIO, USA (May 17,
2008) -- The winning ticket for a $196 million Mega Millions jackpot was
purchased at a liquor store in the village of Amelia, Ohio............Subscribers
Governor Signs Bill in Bid to End Multistate Game
Controversy SACRAMENTO. California, USA (April 24, 2008) --
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill on Wednesday ending a four-year
legal battle over the constitutionality of California's participation in the
multi-state lotto game Mega Millions................Subscribers
Mega Millions Jackpot
Even Larger Than Estimate - Totals $390 Million! Two Tickets, Sold in Georgia
and New Jersey, Will Split Record-Setting
Jackpot MEGA
MILLIONS (March 7, 2007) -- When the numbers were totaled, the
Mega Millions jackpot broke all
expectations by ringing in at a jaw-dropping $390 million for the March 6, 2007
drawing. Now two lucky ticket-holders are about to have the experience of
a lifetime as each claims half of that amazing jackpot. Those tickets were sold
in Dalton, Georgia and Cape May County, New Jersey. The winning numbers
were 16-22-29-39-42 and the Mega Ball number was 20. That $390 million now
holds the record as the largest jackpot ever in North America.
Mega Millions Jackpot,
Largest in Game's History, Increased to Estimated $355 Million; Tuesday's
Drawing Moved to Times Square, New York City RICHMOND,
Virginia, USA (March 5, 2007) -- Mega Millions is going uptown! The March 6,
2007 Mega Millions drawing will be held in Times Square, in the heart of New
York City. There are 355 million reasons why: the massive $355 million
estimated jackpot for Tuesday's drawing is the largest in the game's
history. Lottery officials in all 12 Mega Millions states agreed to move the
drawing from it's traditional home in Atlanta because of the historic nature of
the drawing. New York Lottery icon Yolanda Vega will draw the winning numbers
at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 10:00 p.m. Central Time and 8:00 p.m. Pacific
Time. The estimated jackpot was raised from $340 million to $355 million on
Monday because of heavier than expected sales in all Mega Millions states.
State lottery Looks for
Best Solution, Not the Quickest to Comply with Court
Order SACRAMENTO, California, USA (July 15, 2006)
Last month Sacramento Court Judge Lloyd Connelly ruled the multi-state Mega
Millions game "substantially lawful" because the state retains control
of its portion of the game within California...........................Subscribers
Law Firm Announce
California Superior Court Ruling That Mega Millions May Continue Operations
While Lottery Commission Resolves Conflict SACRAMENTO,
California, USA (June 8, 2006) -- Sacramento Superior Court Judge Lloyd
Connelly has ruled in the lawsuit filed against Mega Millions, authorizing the
multistate lottery to continue its operations while mandating the
Lottery Commission to correct one conflict
that was in direct violation of the............................Subscribers
California Lottery
Lawsuit Heads To Trial CALIFORNIA, USA (June 5, 2006) -- A
lab technician's lawsuit seeking a share of the $315 million Mega Millions
multi-state lottery jackpot divvied up by seven co-workers will go to
trial......................Subscribers
Judge Rules in Favor of
Mega Millions California Lottery Continues Sales of Mega Millions
SACRAMENTO, California, USA (June 6, 2006) -- Lottery
officials announced today that the Sacramento Superior Court ruled
Californias multi-state MEGA Millions game is legal and authorized to
operate in California..............................Subscribers
Marketing Company Aims
to Win Mega Millions Lottery CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY,
Philippines (April 26, 2006) -- A local firm has reportedly announced plans to
start a lottery pool aimed to win the multimillion-dollar jackpot in the Mega
Millions lottery in the US................................Subscribers
One Mega Millions Ticket
Sold in Ohio Takes Estimated $265 Million Jackpot RICHMOND,
Virginia, USA (April 19, 2006) -- A single Mega Millions ticket matched all six
numbers in the Tuesday, April 18, 2006 drawing, and now players are checking
their tickets to see who won the estimated $265 million
jackpot............................Subscribers
Bill(s) Would Resolve
Mega Millions Legal Issues SACRAMENTO, California, USA
(January 5, 2005) Lawmakers, returned to work this week and are reported
to have immediately embraced the Mega Millions Debacle with a flurry of bills
that would allow voters to legalize Mega Millions in case it is struck
down................................Subscribers
New York Court Ends
Legal Challenge to Mega Millions NEW YORK, USA (November
28, 2005) The U.S. Supreme Court effectively ended the legal challenge
to New York entering the multi-state Mega Millions lottery
game...............................Subscribers
Bill to Restrict
California Joining International Lottery Games Stalled
SACRAMENTO, California, USA (September 10, 2005) The Schwarzenegger
administration and Republicans reportedly stalled a Democratic bill that would
have barred gambling expansion and legalized the allegedly unconstitutional
multistate Mega Millions in California.
...................................Subscribers
Senate Approves Mega
Millions Bill and Lottery Reform Legislation SACRAMENTO,
California, USA (September 1, 2005) - A bill designed to make the Mega Millions
lottery legal in California was approved by the
Senate...........................Subscribers
Mega Millions Shatters
Record LOS ANGELES, California, USA (June 25, 2005) - The
Mega Millions lottery game debuted Friday night, marking California's entry
into a multistate lottery. The drawing followed brisk sales in California,
where ticket buyers set a first-day sales record
of...............................Subscribers
MEGA Millions Fever
Sweeps California SACRAMENTO, California, USA (June 22,
2005) -- For California, this is bigger than a blockbuster movie premiere in
Hollywood, larger than Shamu's big splash in San Diego, and more exhilarating
than scaling Half Dome at Yosemite. For the first time ever, Californians can
now play a multi-state lottery game and win MEGA Millions!
...............................Subscribers
Exciting Changes in Mega
Millions Set to Begin June 22; Virginia Players Will See a Whole New Ballgame
with California Aboard RICHMOND, Virginia, USA (June 17,
2005) -- The nation's largest and most exciting game is getting bigger and
better. Mega Millions will be played all across
California............................Subscribers
One Mega Millions Ticket
Wins Mega-Jackpot Estimated at $205 million! Ticket Sold in Michigan Matches
All Six Numbers to Win VIRGINIA, USA (April 23, 2005) --
One ticket has won it all. Somewhere there is a ticket worth an estimated $205
million...........................Subscribers
California joins Mega
Millions, becoming the 12th state to play! MASSACHUSETTS
(February 8, 2005) -- Director Chon Gutierrez of the
California State Lottery today announced
that California will join the eleven other Mega Millions states later this
year.....................Subscribers
Mega Millions Ticket
Wins Estimated $130 Million Jackpot, Winning Ticket Sold in Washington,
Georgia VIRGINIA, USA (January 19, 2005) -- One ticket
matched all six Mega Millions numbers in the Tuesday, January 18, 2005 drawing,
and now players are checking their tickets to see who won the estimated $130
million jackpot......................Subscribers
Mega Year Ends With
Millions Won AUSTIN, Texas (December 6, 2004) -- Exactly
366 days passed between December 3, 2003, and December 3, 2004, marking the
first year Texas participated in the multi-state Mega Millions lottery
game. Sales totaled more than .......................Subscribers
Winner Claims $239
Million Jackpot RICHMOND, Va. (April 1, 2004) -- A retired
truck driver from Winchester on Thursday claimed a $239 million Mega Millions
jackpot.......................Subscribers
Woman Who Claimed to
Have Lost Winning Mega Millions Ticket Files Lawsuit OHIO,
USA (January 6, 2004) - An Ohio woman on Tuesday claimed a $162 Mega Millions
lottery prize, saying the winning ticket was in her hands all along and had not
been lost, as another woman had claimed........................Subscribers
Ohio Ticket Sole Winner
of US$162 Million Mega Millions Jackpot SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio
(December 31, 2003) -- One ticket sold in Ohio won a multi-state Mega Millions
lottery jackpot worth US$162 million, lottery officials said Wednesday. The
jackpot grew Wednesday morning from $155 million when lottery officials found
that sales were stronger than anticipated, said Mardele Cohen, spokesperson for
the Ohio Lottery. The ticket for Tuesday's drawing, sold at a convenience
store in this Cleveland suburb, was the only one to match all five numbers and
the Mega Ball number, Cohen said. When redeeming the ticket, the winner may
choose between an immediate cash payout of $95 million before taxes or $162
million over 26 years, Cohen said. The lump-sum payment would be about $67.9
million after taxes, Cohen said. It is the biggest lottery prize ever in Ohio,
which joined the Mega Millions lottery in 2002. Lottery officials were
waiting for the winner to come forward. The winning numbers from Tuesday
night's drawing were 12, 18, 21, 32 and 46. The Mega Ball number was 49.
SOURCE: AP
Lottery Player Sues for
$63 Million Mega Millions Jackpot NEW YORK (December 23,
2003) -- A Brooklyn man has filed suit against the New York Lottery, claiming
he.....................Subscribers
Mega Millions Just the
Ticket, But Texas 'Two Step' May Have to do a 'Side
Step' AUSTIN, Texas (December 18, 2003) -- State
officials say Lottery ticket sales have increased an average of 30% since Texas
joined the multistate lottery Mega
Millions two weeks ago. However, because of the....................Subscribers
Texas Lottery®
Players Win Big in First Mega Millions Drawing
AUSTIN, Texas (December 8, 2003) Texas players did "Very well,
thank you" in their first Mega Millions
drawing...................Read the full story
at: Vol.25. No.11
Supreme Court Upholds
State Joining Multistate Lottery COLUMBUS, Ohio (November
19, 2003) As reported the Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled 5-2
against hearing an appeal of a lower court decision that said the Mega Millions
game was constitutional.......................Subscribers
It's Sales, Sales, Sales
At The Texas Lottery®; Mega Millions Sales Start Date Announced;
Largest-Ever Ticket Sales At State Fair AUSTIN, Texas
(October 22, 2003) - The temperatures may be cooling down in Texas, but sales
are hot and getting hotter at the Texas Lottery® with Mega Millions sales
starting in..................Read the full story
at: Vol.25. No.4
Texas to Become Eleventh
Mega Millions State MEGA MILLIONS (August 5, 2003) -- A
mega-change leading to mega- excitement is in store for Mega Millions. The
Texas Lottery Commission has voted to join the Mega Millions
Consortium...................Read the full story
at: Vol.24. No.6.
Mega Millions Revenue
Falls Short of Expectations in Ohio and Washington, But Outperforms in New
York CLEVELAND, Ohio (April 10, 2003) -- Low jackpots are
being blamed for Mega Millions' failure to reach a $41 million profit goal that
officials had hoped would help balance the state
budget.........................Subscribers
Lottery Goes Poolside
ATLANTA, Georgia (November 13, 2002) -- The Interpublic
shop in Atlanta will launch three 30-second spots for the new Mega Millions
game on................Subscribers
New Lottery Game A Mega
Success in New York State ALBANY, N.Y. (August 19, 2002) --
New Yorkers have paid $2.03 billion in the last fiscal year, with the lion's
share going toward the multistate Mega Millions with more than $127 million,
according to state Lottery Division...............Subscribers
Lottery Combatants Renew
Old Conflict; Ohioans Still Wary of State Lotteries
COLUMBUS, Ohio (July 22, 2002) -- Ohioans fighting over whether the state
should have joined the Mega Millions multistate lottery game are renewing an
old conflict......................Subscribers
Maryland Wins Big with
Mega Millions Game; Sales Up 44% Since May BALTIMORE,
Maryland (July 18, 2002) -- Since May, Maryland winners have been well
represented at all levels in the Mega Millions lottery
game....................Subscribers
Mega Millions Lives Up
To Its Name in Ohio COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 20, 2002) --
Adding a multistate game to Ohio's lottery seems to be having the effect
desired by state officials.............Subscribers
Advocacy Group Denounces
Mega Millions Game in TV Ads COLUMBUS, Ohio (May 18, 2002)
-- As Ohio joins a multistate lottery game to pump up state finances, an
opponent is taking its campaign to the airwaves to get people not to play.
"The idea is to reinforce what people already know: That the lottery is a
scam," David Zanotti, president of the Ohio Roundtable, a public advocacy
group, said on Friday. "One of the major themes of the ads is that gambling
and good government don't mix." Ohio joined the Mega Millions game to raise
money to help patch a $1.5 billion deficit. The state hopes to raise about $41
million a year from multistate lottery sales. The first drawing was scheduled
for Friday night with a jackpot of $27 million. Sales of the new game have
been strong since they began Wednesday morning, totaling $1.4 million through
Friday afternoon, said Ohio Lottery
spokeswoman Mardele Cohen. The campaign against Mega Millions started just
days after Mr. Zanotti's group along with several churches lost a legal battle
to stop the state from participating in a multistate lottery game. The
four, 30-second ads were first shown on Ohio Public Television on Wednesday and
began to air on the Ohio News Network on Thursday. Copyright © 2002
The Associated Press. Used with permission.
Did Someone Say This
Game Couldn't be Won? Ticket Sold in Illinois Wins Jackpot Estimated at
$27 Million MEGA MILLIONS (May 18, 2002) -- Some people
said it couldn't be done. Some pundits said the odds are too steep. But someone
in Chicago disagrees. In the history-making first drawing of the new
multi-state game Mega Millions, someone walked away with the jackpot. The
holder of that ticket, which was purchased in Chicago, Illinois, can now step
forward and claim a prize estimated at $27 million. Last night's winning
numbers were 15-18-25-33-47 and The Mega Ball was 30. Mega Millions began
sales Wednesday in nine states, including New
York and Ohio, where players have never
before had their own multi-state game. Mega Millions replaces the popular and
successful Big Game in Georgia, Illinois,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey and Virginia. Eleven tickets
in last night's drawing came within one number of winning it all. They matched
the first five numbers and only missed the Mega Ball number. Those tickets each
win $175,000. Six of those tickets were sold in New York. The other five were
sold in Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Virginia. In addition to the
jackpot, more than $3.8 million was won in last night's drawing. The jackpot
for the Tuesday, May 21 drawing is an estimated $10 million. Mega Millions
drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday nights at 11:00 PM eastern time.
SOURCE: Mega Millions Media Center, http://www.megamillions.com.
Mega Millions Replaces
Big Game ATLANTA, Georgia (May 14, 2002) --
Mega Millions, which debuts Friday
night, welcomes Ohio and
New York to the mix, joining current Big
Game states Georgia,
Illinois,
Maryland,
Massachusetts,
Michigan,
New Jersey and
Virginia. The state of
Washington expects to join in September.
Mega Millions promises jackpots starting at $10 million, double those of
the Big Game. And, lottery officials say,
the average jackpot will reach $80 million with some nearing $500 million.
Introduced in 1996, the Big Game was no slouch. It boasted an average
jackpot of $47 million and sparked ticket-buying frenzies when drawings reached
$363 million in 2000 and $331 million this year, the top two prizes in U.S.
history. The final Big Game jackpot Tuesday was $19 million. Mega
Millions tickets will cost $1, just like the Big Game, but its going to
be much harder to win. The odds have increased from 1-in-76 million to 1-in-135
million, driven up by the addition of more numbers to the pool. "There are
certain players who dont care what the odds are. If its a $100
million jackpot, theyre going to play," Georgia Lottery CEO Rebecca Paul
said. "With this game, well have $100 million jackpots much more
frequently." Big Game players picked five numbers from a matrix of 50
numbers and sixth Big Money Ball number from a pool of 36. Mega Millions has
separate pools of 52 numbers each. Drawings will still be on Tuesday and Friday
nights. To win the big money, a player still must match all five numbers
drawn from the main pool, plus the Gold Mega Ball drawn from the second pool.
Second-prize winners, who match the first five numbers, collect $175,000.
There are nine prize categories altogether, the last being $2 for choosing the
correct Gold Mega Ball number. Some players, at least, said increasing
already astronomical odds will deter them. Or theyll put more money into
games that are easier to win, like Cash 3 and Cash 4. Caesar Allen Sr., a
chef in an Atlanta restaurant and self-described "lottery junkie," said
hell try to curtail his habit because of the higher odds. "I
wont play as much," said Allen, who guesses he spent more than $300 on
Big Game drawings over several weeks when the jackpot fattened earlier this
year. "You add two or three more states, and its ridiculous. You have a
better chance of getting hit by a truck." "I think they should have left
it the way it was," said Lynn Bohannon, who was buying lottery tickets at a
Savannah Chevron station Tuesday. "Chances of winning were slim to begin with."
Some church groups and anti-gambling activists in Ohio thought their state
should have stayed out of Mega Millions. They filed a lawsuit trying to block
Ohio from participating. The suit argues that the Ohio Constitution
permits only a lottery run exclusively by Ohio with no involvement by other
states. A judge this week denied a request to delay ticket sales, which begin
Wednesday for the Friday night drawing. ©Associated Press. Used with
permission.
Mega Millions Set to
Sweep The Nation May 15, Expected to Achieve Average Jackpots of $80 Million,
With the Potential to Reach Over $500 Million! THE MEGA
MILLIONS / BIG GAME MEDIA CENTER (April 10, 2002) The nine member states
comprising the BIG GAME Group today
announced the launch of Mega Millions, the nations newest and most
exciting multi-state, mega-jackpot lottery game. Mega Millions expects to
achieve an average jackpot of $80 million with the potential to exceed $500
million based on expected ticket sales across all participating jurisdictions.
Tickets for the Mega Millions game will be sold exclusively in Georgia,
Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and
Virginia. And, starting in September 2002, the game will also be sold in the
State of Washington. The game will produce a minimum jackpot of $10 million,
offer nine ways to win and have overall odds of 1 in 43 of winning a cash
prize. Tickets for Mega Millions will go on sale Wednesday, May 15, 2002 at
a cost of $1 per game. The live drawings will be conducted every Tuesday and
Friday in Atlanta, Georgia. The first televised drawing will be conducted on
Friday, May 17, 2002 at 11 p.m. EST. Mega Millions will succeed the BIG
GAME, which has been played across the country since September 1996. The final
drawing for the BIG GAME will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2002. If there is no
top prize winner(s), the BIG GAME jackpot prize will roll into and become the
jackpot for the first draw of Mega Millions. "I am very excited to
announce this new game," said Rebecca Paul, President of the Georgia Lottery
Corporation. "Mega Millions means more players, higher jackpots, and most
importantly, more money for the vital programs lotteries fund, such as
education here in Georgia," she added. "We look forward to sharing the
excitement and fun that Mega Millions promises, because higher jackpots and
secondary prizes are sure to be fun for our players," said Illinois Lottery
Director Lori Montana. "In addition, we want to remind players that they can
still have fun while playing responsibly. After all, it only takes a dollar to
get in the game!" Mega Millions Coming to a Lottery Retailer Near
You "As the Mega Millions Game generates super large jackpot
levels for our players enjoyment, we certainly hope that Marylanders will
be among the biggest winners in this multi-state game," said Buddy Roogow,
Executive Director of the Maryland
Lottery. "The New
Jersey Lottery is thrilled to bring Mega Millions to the Garden
State," said Carole Hedinger, Acting Executive Director of the New Jersey
Lottery. "This enhanced game will create super jackpots, produce
record-breaking commissions for our retailer network and most importantly
generate millions of dollars for New Jersey education and institutions."
"The Michigan Lottery is
excited about the introduction of this new mega-jackpot game," James Kipp,
Acting Commissioner for the Michigan Lottery, said. "We believe our players
will like the bigger jackpots the Mega Millions Game promises to bring and the
larger secondary prize levels as well. The BIG GAME has been very popular with
Michigan Lottery players since it started over five years ago. We expect Mega
Millions will continue to build on The Big Games success!"
"Its been a long time coming," said New York Lottery Director Margaret
R. DeFrancisco. "The New York Lottery is delighted to bring the Mega Millions
game to our players and retailers statewide. New Yorkers from one end of the
Empire State to the other will now be able to experience the fun and excitement
of a mega-jackpot game year-round, and New Yorks schools will benefit
greatly from the millions of dollars in additional revenue we expect to
generate through the sale of tickets for the Mega Millions game." "In
Massachusetts, where the
Lottery has a long history and is very popular, the launch of Mega Millions is
especially exciting," Jay Mitchell, Executive Director of the Massachusetts
Lottery, said. "The addition of New York and Ohio to our multi-state
partnership will enable us to offer larger jackpots that will generate fresh
excitement among our players." "Ohio is proud to be associated with our
new Mega Millions partner states," Ohio
Lottery Director Dennis Kennedy added. "We will not only be
offering our players a new game, but what we believe to be the premier lottery
game in the country." "In Virginia we are building on the well-established
success of The BIG GAME, and enhancing it," said Virginia Lottery Executive Director
Penelope W. Kyle. "Players in the Commonwealth will find everything about Mega
Millions bigger and better."
|
If a Players Matches
|
He/She Wins
|
Odds of Winning |
|
Five (5) White Balls plus the
Gold Mega Ball |
Jackpot |
1:135,145,920 |
|
Five (5) White Balls
only |
$175,000 |
1: 2,649,920 |
|
Four (4) White Balls plus the
Gold Mega Ball |
$5,000 |
1:575,089 |
|
Four (4) White Balls
only |
$150 |
1:11,276 |
|
Three (3) White Balls plus the
Gold Mega Ball |
$150 |
1:12,502 |
|
Two (2) White Balls plus the
Gold Mega Ball |
$10 |
1:833 |
|
Three (3) White Balls |
$7 |
1:245 |
|
One (1) White Ball plus the Gold
Mega Ball |
$3 |
1:152 |
|
Gold Mega Ball only |
$2 |
1:88 |
Mega Millions is an enhanced version of the BIG GAME,
the popular, multi-state game that existed since September 1996.
|
Mega Millions vs. THE BIG GAME |
|
Mega Millions offers a minimum jackpot of $10
million, with nine ways to win and overall odds of 1 in 43. |
BIG GAME offered a minimum jackpot of $5
million, with nine ways to win and overall odds of 1 in 31. |
|
Average Mega Millions Jackpot will be $80
million. |
Average BIG GAME jackpots were $26 million.
|
|
To play Mega Millions, players choose five
numbers from 1 to 52 and then select one Gold Mega Ball number from 1 to
52 |
BIG GAME players chose five numbers from 1 to 50
and select one Big Money Ball number from 1 to 36 |
|
Mega Millions players match five numbers and win
$175,000. |
BIG GAME offered $150,000 for matching five
numbers. |
|
Secondary prizes for Mega Millions have
increases in six of the eight prize levels. |
Mega Millions, member states are Georgia, Illinois,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and
Virginia.
Please direct all Mega Millions inquiries to the
individual state concerned:
SOURCE: The Mega Millions / Big Game Media Center.

|