Current:Home > InvestThe Mega Millions jackpot is $800 million. In what states can the winner remain anonymous. -Prime Money Path
The Mega Millions jackpot is $800 million. In what states can the winner remain anonymous.
View
Date:2025-04-13 14:58:42
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! (7363)
Related
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- 1 dead, at least 22 wounded in mass shooting at Juneteenth celebration in Illinois
- 1 dead, at least 18 injured after tornado hits central Mississippi town
- Q&A: Plug-In Leader Discusses Ups and Downs of America’s E.V. Transformation
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Spotify deal unravels after just one series
- California restaurant used fake priest to get workers to confess sins, feds say
- The future terrified Nancy until a doctor gave her life-changing advice
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- Sarah Jessica Parker Shares Sweet Tribute to Matthew Broderick for Their 26th Anniversary
Ranking
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- Biden administration says fentanyl-xylazine cocktail is a deadly national threat
- The surprising science of how pregnancy begins
- Remember When Pippa Middleton Had a Wedding Fit for a Princess?
- Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
- Kim Kardashian Admits She Cries Herself to Sleep Amid Challenging Parenting Journey
- Federal appeals court preserves access to abortion drug but with tighter rules
- Teens, trust and the ethics of ChatGPT: A bold wish list for WHO as it turns 75
Recommendation
Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
Pope Francis will be discharged from the hospital on Saturday
This Week in Clean Economy: Pressure Is on Obama to Finalize National Solar Plan
In a supreme court race like no other, Wisconsin's political future is up for grabs
Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
This Week in Clean Economy: Wind Power Tax Credit Extension Splits GOP
Vitamix 24-Hour Deal: Save 46% On a Blender That Functions as a 13-In-1 Machine
Clinics offering abortions face a rise in threats, violence and legal battles