Current Jackpot: $453,000,000
Mega Millions Lottery is a multi-state lottery game with multimillion jackpots and lots of fun!
Today you can buy lottery tickets from a retailer in 44 states as well as the US Virgin islands and the District of Columbia. You can also play even if you don't live in America by simply buying lottery tickets online!
Mega Millions is one of the two most popular lottery games in America. Powerball is the other "giant" American lottery. With millions of lotto players, jackpots can roll over to humongous levels in no time.
Originally known as The Big Game, Mega Millions was initially played in six states: Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and Virginia. Friday lottery draws were held until February 1998, when lottery officials commenced first Tuesday drawings. Prior to January 1999, jackpot winners could only receive their winning payments in annual installments over several dozen years. Allowing lottery winners to claim their prizes in cash as a lump sum contributed enormously to the lottery's popularity.
The name was changed to Mega Millions in May, 2002. To improve brand perception, the sixth lotto ball, "Big Money Ball", was changed to the "Mega Ball."
Buying Mega Millions Lottery Tickets
The only states that do not participate in the Mega Millions Lottery are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada and Utah.
With the cross-sell expansion agreement in 2010 between Mega Millions and the Multi-State Lottery Association to begin cross-sales of Mega Millions Lottery tickets and Powerball Lottery tickets, players now have more locations to hit the jackpot! Tickets cost only $1 each and if you want to add the Megaplier, which multiplies the amount of money you receive if you match winning numbers, each Megaplier is $2.
If you don't live in a state that has the Mega Millions Lottery or if you are outside of the USA, you can buy lottery tickets online.
Mega Millions official website
Wikipedia page about Mega Millions