LANSING, MI – With the Mega Millions jackpot set for the third-largest of 2022 on Tuesday night, casual lottery players are starting to take an interest in playing, even if they don’t buy tickets very often. And while it’s easy to just walk into a store and ask for tickets, knowing how to play and choosing your own numbers makes the game more fun.
So for those of you interested in throwing down a few dollars in hopes of bringing home nearly half of $1 billion, here’s our guide on how to play and what to know about the Mega Millions lottery.
How to play Mega Millions Lottery
Mega Millions is a multi-state lottery game that can be played in 45 states, Washington DC, and the US Virgin Islands. Players choose five white numbers that range from 1-70 to 1-25 to select a single gold number.
To win the jackpot, you must match all five white numbers and the gold ball. However, players can also win prizes for matching a white ball and a golf ball or you can win your money back just by matching a gold ball. The more numbers you match, the bigger your prize.
Each ticket with a set of numbers – five white and one gold – is $2, meaning that 10 sets will cost $20. You can also add a “multiplier” option for an additional $1 per ticket that is guaranteed to double your winnings anywhere from 10 to 10 times if you win. Meaning if you play the multiplier and the 10x option comes up, a $10 win can become $100.
However, the multiplier does not apply to the grand prize, so you cannot win the jackpot and multiply it.
Mega Millions drawings take place every Tuesday and Friday at 11 PM EST. In Michigan, you can purchase tickets for the drawing at more than 10,500 lottery retail locations in Michigan until 10:45 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants, and more.
If you don’t have time to visit a retailer before the draw and are in Michigan, you can also purchase tickets online through the Michigan Lottery website. To do this, you just need to create an account, add your payment information, find the game you want to play, and purchase tickets.
To create an account, visit the website and click “Register” near the top of the page. From there you enter your email address, name, date of birth, Social Security number, and other information that the state will use to verify your age/identity and help them contact you if you win a big prize.
Once you have created your account, you can deposit money via credit/debit card, PayPal, online bank transfer, etc. The minimum deposit is $10.
When the money is in your account, you can search for Mega Millions and the system will help you get tickets. You can select your own set of special numbers or use the autofill option and a set of computer-generated numbers will be selected for you.
From there, add those tickets to your cart, checkout and your tickets will be credited to your account. The online option is also helpful in that if you win a small prize, the money goes into your account and if you win a big prize, the lottery will contact you to tell you that you won the big one.
For the latest on the Michigan Lottery, check out the official Michigan Lottery site, which offers Tatkal tickets, raffles, and more information on other lottery games.
The last player to win the Mega Millions or Powerball jackpot from Michigan is the Wolverine FLL Lottery Club, which claimed a jackpot of $1.05 billion in March 2021. With their victory, the group plans to give back to the community.
And while they were the lucky winners, it’s smart for players to check their tickets right away because the $1 million they sold at Warren last year was unclaimed. Instead, the money went to the state’s school aid fund.
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