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WORLD'S BEST LOTTERY GAMES
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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


Lottery News 2009

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 Lottery’s 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 Friday’s $333 million advertised jackpot were $49.8 million for the prize’s 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


Lottery News 2008

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 America’s 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

Lottery News 2007

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.

Lottery News 2006

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 California’s 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

Lottery News 2005

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

Lottery News 2004

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

Lottery News 2003

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 News 2002

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 it’s 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 don’t care what the odds are. If it’s a $100 million jackpot, they’re going to play," Georgia Lottery CEO Rebecca Paul said. "With this game, we’ll 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 they’ll 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 he’ll try to curtail his habit because of the higher odds.
"I won’t 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 it’s 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 nation’s 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 Game’s success!"
"It’s 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 York’s 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:

Lottery

Contact

Email

Georgia Lottery

Public Relations Office

treddick@galottery.org

Illinois Lottery

Public Relations Office

anne.plohr@isl.state.il.us

Maryland Lottery

Communications Office

jwhite@msla.state.md.us

Massachusetts Lottery

Public Relations Office

scadres@masslottery.com

Michigan Lottery

Public Relations Office

schlinkers@michigan.gov

New Jersey Lottery

Public Information Office

linda.melone@lottery.state.nj.us

New York Lottery

Press & Community Relations

pcr@lottery.state.ny.us

Ohio Lottery

Public Relations Office

mardele.cohen@olc.state.oh.us

Virginia Lottery

Public Affairs Office

escarborough@valottery.state.va.us

SOURCE: The Mega Millions / Big Game Media Center.

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