Mega Millions

Mega Millions (initially called The Big Game Mega Millions as the successor of The Big Game) is an American multi-jurisdictional lottery game. The first (The Big Game) Mega Millions drawing was in 2002 (see below).

The minimum Mega Millions advertised jackpot is $15 million, paid in 30 graduated yearly installments, increasing 5% per annum (unless the cash option is chosen; see below for differences by state). The jackpot increases when there is no top-prize winner^[1] (see below for information on how the game's jackpot is funded).

Reflecting common practice among American lotteries, the jackpot is advertised as a nominal value of annual installments. A cash value option (the usual choice), when chosen by a jackpot winner, pays the approximate present value of the installments. As of October 18, 2013, Mega Millions uses a 5/75 (for the white balls) plus 1/15 (for the "Mega Ball") double matrix to select its winning numbers. Each game costs $1. Of the 45 Mega Millions jurisdictions, all but California offer an option, called Megaplier (such games are $2 each) where non-jackpot prizes are multiplied by 2, 3, 4, or 5. The Megaplier was made available to all Mega Millions jurisdictions in January 2011; it began as an option available only in Texas. Mega Millions is drawn at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday and Friday evenings, including holidays.^[1] Mega Millions is administered by a consortium of its 12 original lotteries^[2]; the drawings are held at the studios of ABC affiliate WSB-TV in Atlanta,^[1] supervised by the Georgia Lottery.

In the December 17, 2013 drawing, the current 5/75 + 1/15 format produced its first two jackpot winners, potentially sharing a jackpot worth $648 million (annuity value; with a cash option of $347,639,485), which is the second highest jackpot in Mega Millions and American history. The two jackpot-winning tickets were sold in San Jose, California and in Atlanta, Georgia.^[2][3][4]

The largest jackpot in Mega Millions, as well as in American lottery, history was $656 million annuity value (with a cash option of $474 million) for the March 30, 2012 drawing, in which there were three jackpot-winning tickets; one each in Illinois, Kansas, and Maryland. All three tickets had been claimed by April 18, with each set of winners choosing the cash option of $158 million, a one-third share.^[5] The largest Mega Millions prize was $319 million (annuity) for the lone winning ticket of the March 25, 2011 drawing.

The 2010 expansion of Mega Millions and Powerball

On October 13, 2009, the Mega Millions consortium and Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) reached an agreement in principle to cross-sell Mega Millions and Powerball in American lottery jurisdictions, with the two groups referred to as the "Mega Power Lottery"^[6] by many users. The expansion occurred on January 31, 2010, as 23 Powerball members began selling Mega Millions tickets for their first drawing on February 2, 2010; likewise, 10 Mega Millions members began selling Powerball tickets for their first drawing the next day. Montana (joining Mega Millions on March 1, 2010) was the first jurisdiction to add either game after the cross-sell expansion. Nebraska (March 20, 2010), Oregon (March 28, 2010), Arizona (April 18, 2010), Maine (May 9, 2010), Colorado and South Dakota (the latter two on May 16, 2010) also have joined Mega Millions since the expansion.

As of October 18, 2013, there are 45 lotteries offering Mega Millions and Powerball. Florida joined Mega Millions in May 2013 (Puerto Rico, whose lottery began in the 1930s, does not participate in either game).

Before the agreement, the only stores which sold Mega Millions and Powerball tickets were retailers whose business was on a border between jurisdictions which sold competing games.

Current and future participating members

Powerball replaced Lotto*America in April 1992; Mega Millions replaced The Big Game in May 2002 (see below for the evolution of the name Mega Millions).

Mega Millions and Powerball

Jurisdiction	Powerball	Mega Millions
Arizona	April 18, 2010	April 18, 2010
Arkansas	October 31, 2009	January 31, 2010
California	April 8, 2013	June 22, 2005
Connecticut	1995	January 31, 2010
Colorado	April 2001	May 16, 2010
Delaware	1992	January 31, 2010
District of Columbia	1992	January 31, 2010
Florida	January 2009	May 15, 2013
Georgia	January 31, 2010	1996
Idaho	1992	January 31, 2010
Illinois	January 31, 2010	1996
Indiana	1992	January 31, 2010
Iowa	1992	January 31, 2010
Kansas	1992	January 31, 2010
Kentucky	1992	January 31, 2010
Louisiana	March 1995	November 16, 2011
Maine	2004	May 9, 2010
Maryland	January 31, 2010	1996
Massachusetts	January 31, 2010	1996
Michigan	January 31, 2010	1996
Minnesota	1992	January 31, 2010
Missouri	1992	January 31, 2010
Montana	1992	March 1, 2010
Nebraska	1994	March 20, 2010
New Hampshire	November 8, 1995	January 31, 2010
New Jersey	January 31, 2010	1999
New Mexico	1996	January 31, 2010
New York	January 31, 2010	2002
North Carolina	May 30, 2006	January 31, 2010
North Dakota	2004	January 31, 2010
Ohio	April 16, 2010	2002
Oklahoma	2006	January 31, 2010
Oregon	1992	March 28, 2010
Pennsylvania	2002	January 31, 2010
Rhode Island	1992	January 31, 2010
South Carolina	2002	January 31, 2010
South Dakota	1992	May 16, 2010
Tennessee	2004	January 31, 2010
Texas	January 31, 2010	2003
US Virgin Islands	2002	October 4, 2010
Vermont	2003	January 31, 2010
Virginia	January 31, 2010	1996
Washington	January 31, 2010	2002
West Virginia	1992	January 31, 2010
Wisconsin	?	?
Wyoming	None	None

Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada and Utah do not currently operate or allow a state lottery by either law or state constitutional mandate. Although Puerto Rico has a lottery, it does not participate in either Mega Millions or Powerball; as of December 2013, it does not have any plans to join either game. On March 14, 2013, Wyoming became the 44th state to establish a lottery, although it does not sell tickets as of December 2013.

History

The Big Game

Tickets for The Big Game began to be sold in Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Virginia on August 31, 1996. The Big Game was the brainchild of the then-lottery directors Rebecca Paul (of the Georgia Lottery) and Penelope W. Kyle (of the Virginia Lottery.) The Big Game initially was drawn weekly, on Fridays.

The Georgia Lottery was a member of MUSL at the time and wanted to sell both games for the remainder of 1996; however, within a few days, Georgia was forcibly removed from MUSL, returning with the 2010 cross-selling expansion.

Beginning in January 1999, jackpot winners were given the option to receive their prize in cash. In May 1999, New Jersey joined The Big Game, the only jurisdiction to enter as a participant before The Big Game became Mega Millions in 2002.

The Big Game Mega Millions

Ohio and New York joined the consortium on May 15, 2002, when the game was renamed The Big Game Mega Millions , temporarily retaining the old name and the original "gold ball" logo. The "Big Money Ball" became the "Mega Ball." While the game's name was altered, the yellow ball in the new Mega Millions logo continued to read "The Big Game" until February 2003, after which it was replaced with six stars representing the six original members of the consortium. The first (The Big Game) Mega Millions drawing was held two days later on May 17. The Mega Millions trademark is owned by the Illinois Lottery. The first three lotteries to join Mega Millions were Washington (in September 2002), Texas (in 2003) and California (in 2005); California was the last addition to Mega Millions before the cross-sell expansion of 2010. Montana joined Mega Millions on March 1, 2010, the first addition to Mega Millions after the cross-sell expansion.

When Texas joined Mega Millions in 2003, it began offering an option, initially available only to Texas Lottery players, known as the Megaplier, which was similar to the then-current version of Powerball's Power Play. The 11 Mega Millions lotteries without Megaplier on the January 31, 2010 cross-selling date gradually added the multiplier option; by January 2011, all Mega Millions lotteries, except for California, offered the Megaplier. The Texas Lottery owns the trademark to Megaplier.^[7]

On June 24, 2005, to commemorate California joining Mega Millions, that night's drawing was held in Hollywood, with Carrie Underwood assisting host Glenn Burns for the draw.

For the November 15, 2005 drawing, a group called "The Lucky 7" held the only jackpot-winning ticket, purchased in Anaheim, California, winning $315 million. They chose the cash option, splitting $175 million before federal withholdings.^[8] This remains the largest prize won by a single Mega Millions ticket.

On March 6, 2007, the Mega Millions jackpot reached $390 million,^[9] which is the record for the third largest jackpot in U.S. history. The jackpot was shared by two tickets, both matching the numbers of 16-22-29-39-42 and Mega Ball 20. Both winners chose the cash option, with each share $116,557,083 before withholdings.^[10]

2010 cross-sell expansion

The New Jersey Lottery, among others, in early 2009 announced it would seek permission to sell Powerball tickets alongside Mega Millions. In October 2009, an agreement between Mega Millions and the MUSL allowed all U.S. lotteries, including New Jersey's, to offer both games. On January 31, 2010, Mega Millions expanded to include 23 Powerball lotteries. As of that date, 35 jurisdictions were participating in Mega Millions. On the same day, 10 existing Mega Millions-participating lotteries began selling Powerball tickets, for a then total of 43 lotteries. Ohio joined Powerball on April 16, 2010, and California joined Powerball on April 8, 2013. On March 1, 2010, Montana became the first Powerball member to add Mega Millions after the cross-sell expansion. Nebraska became the 37th Mega Millions participating member on March 20, 2010, followed by Oregon as the 38th member on March 28, Arizona as the 39th member on April 18, and Maine as 40th Mega Millions participant on May 9, 2010. Colorado and South Dakota added Mega Millions on May 16, 2010, bringing the total to 42 jurisdictions.

The most recent additions to Mega Millions were the U.S. Virgin Islands, in October 2010, and Louisiana, in November 2011. Florida joined Mega Millions on May 15, 2013; the first drawing to include Florida-bought tickets was two days later.

Presumably due to their experience with the Power Play option for Powerball, all 23 lotteries joining Mega Millions on January 31, 2010 immediately offered Megaplier to their players. The Megaplier continues to be drawn by Texas Lottery computers, as California does not offer the multiplier. Montana, offering Powerball before the expansion date, became the 24th lottery to offer the Megaplier, followed by Nebraska (the 25th), Oregon (as the 26th), Arizona (as the 27th) and Maine (as the 28th lottery to offer the Megaplier option). After Colorado and South Dakota joined Mega Millions, this raised the number of lotteries offering the Megaplier to 37.

Mega Millions tickets bought with the Megaplier, beginning September 12, 2010, automatically win $1 million (instead of $250,000) if the five white balls – but excluding the Mega Ball – are matched.

On March 13, 2010, New Jersey became the first Mega Millions participant (just before the cross-sell expansion) to produce a jackpot-winning ticket for Powerball after joining that game. The ticket was worth over $211 million annuity (the cash option was chosen). On May 28, 2010, North Carolina became the first Powerball member (just before the cross-selling expansion) to produce a jackpot-winning Mega Millions ticket after joining Mega Millions, with an annuity jackpot of $12 million.

In January 2012, Mega Millions' rival Powerball was altered; among the changes were a price increase of $1 for each play, as a result, a base game costs $2, or $3 with the Power Play option. There are no plans to change the price of a Mega Millions play, with or without the Megaplier. The price increase for playing Powerball was a major factor in Louisiana deciding to pursue joining Mega Millions, that state's lottery joined Mega Millions on November 16, 2011.

October 2013 format change

The final 5/56 + 1/46 Mega Millions drawing was held on October 18, 2013; its jackpot of $37 million was not won. The first drawing under the current 5/75 + 1/15 format, which saw the jackpot estimate "leap" to $55 million due to the change in the annuity structure, occurred on October 22. The minimum jackpot is now $15 million with rollovers of at least $5 million. Second prize (5+0) is now $1 million cash. Players now choose 5 of 75 white ball numbers, and 1 "Gold Ball" number out of 15.

The Megaplier option remains; it now includes a 5x multiplier. The Megaplier now applies to all prizes except the jackpot; a 5+0 play with the Megaplier wins $5 million cash.

Former (through October 18, 2013) and current prize tiers, based on a $1 play:

• Match 5+0: $250,000/$1 million
• Match 4+MB: $10,000/$5,000
• Match 4+0: $150/$500
• Match 3+MB: $150/$50
• Match 3+0: $7/$5
• Match 2+MB: $10/$5
• Match 1+MB: $3/$2
• Match 0+MB: $2/$1

Payouts in California remain pari-mutuel.

The odds of winning the jackpot are decreased to 1 in about 258.9 million. The odds of winning a prize has increased to 1 in 14.71, but this also includes the "push" scenario (where the money won in the prize matches the amount of the wager, as is the case when a player not activating the Megaplier matches only the "Mega Ball"; or with the Megaplier if it is 2x); thus, the odds of turning a profit on any given bet is less than advertised. Matches & Odds

• 5 numbers and the Mega Ball: 1 in 258,890,850
• 5 numbers but not the Mega Ball: 1 in 18,492,204
• 4 numbers and the Mega Ball: 1 in 739,688
• 4 numbers but not the Mega Ball: 1 in 52,835
• 3 numbers and the Mega Ball: 1 in 10,720
• 3 numbers but not the Mega Ball: 1 in 766
• 2 numbers and the Mega Ball: 1 in 473
• 1 number and the Mega Ball: 1 in 56
• Only the Mega Ball 1 in 21^[11]

The annuity, which was 20 annual payments (no cash option was available) when The Big Game began, changed from 26 equal yearly installments to 30 graduated annual payments (increasing 5% per annum) with the October 19, 2013 format change.

Record jackpots

The largest Mega Millions jackpot, advertised as $640 million at the time of the drawing (annuitized) or $462 million (cash value), was drawn on March 30, 2012. The initial estimate for that Friday's drawing (following the March 27 drawing, which was $363 million annuity) was $476 million (later increased to $500 million and again to $540 million); brisk ticket sales pushed the jackpot values, both annuitized (to $656 million) and the cash option ($474 million) higher. The amount spent on Mega Millions for drawings following its previous jackpot win, on January 24, 2012, was at least $1.5 billion.^[12] Three jackpot-winning tickets had been confirmed (one each in Illinois, Kansas, and Maryland).^[13]

Mega Millions' second-largest jackpot, $648 million, was for the December 17, 2013 drawing. Two tickets, one each from California and Georgia, were sold. The holder of the one sold in California potentially will share the jackpot, if claimed. The holder of the one sold in Georgia claimed the next morning, and the claimant "selected the cash option, which amounts to $173,819,742.50 before taxes for each jackpot winner."^{[2][3][4][14]}

Mega Millions' third-largest jackpot, $390 million, was for the March 6, 2007 drawing. Two tickets, one each from Georgia and New Jersey, split the then-record prize; both sets of winners chose the cash option, splitting $233 million (as noted below, interest rates change, resulting in different ratios between the cash values and annuity values of jackpots).

Mega Millions' fourth-largest jackpot annuity value ($380 million), and second-largest cash jackpot ($240 million), was for the January 4, 2011 drawing; two tickets, one each from Post Falls, Idaho and Ephrata, Washington, matched all six winning numbers, winning $190 million (annuity) each. The holders of each ticket also chose the cash option.

How the drawings are held

Two drawing machines are used in Mega Millions. The model used for Mega Millions is the Criterion II, manufactured by Smartplay International of Edgewater Park, New Jersey. The balls are moved around by means of counter-rotating arms which randomly mix the balls. One by one, the five white ball numbers drop through a hole in the bottom of the mixing drum. As of October 19, 2013, there are respectively 75 white balls in the first machine and the 15 gold-colored Mega Balls in the second machine.

Versions of (The Big Game) Mega Millions

Versions of The Big Game and Mega Millions have used different matrices:

Start Date	Pick 5 out of	Pick 1 out of	Jackpot odds
September 6, 1996	50	25	1:52,969,000
January 13, 1999	50	36	1:76,275,360
May 15, 2002	52	52	1:135,145,920
June 22, 2005	56	46	1:175,711,536
October 19, 2013	75	15	1:258,890,850

Megaplier

Mega Millions players, in 44 of its 45 jurisdictions, have the option to activate a multiplier, called Megaplier; it is functionally similar to the original version of Powerball's Power Play (Megaplier is not offered in California, because of California Lottery regulations that require pari-mutuel payouts in all draw games). By doubling the wager in a game (to $2), players have an opportunity to multiply any non-jackpot prize by 2, 3, 4 or 5. The Megaplier is drawn by the Texas Lottery (before the cross-sell expansion on January 31, 2010, it was the only lottery to offer Megaplier) by a random number generator (RNG). Prior to Powerball's price increase and subsequent change to a fixed prize table for Power Play, Megaplier differs from Power Play in that the odds for each Megaplier possibility are not uniform.^[15]

Megaplier	Odds (through October 18, 2013)
2x	2:21 (9.5%)
3x	7:21 (33.3%)
4x	12:21 (57.1%)

The extra weighting for a higher Megaplier results in the average expected Megaplier to be 3.476x.

Megaplier wagers made for drawings from September 12, 2010 through October 18, 2013 that won second prize were automatically elevated to 4x, winning $1 million. This "guarantee" did not carry over to the current version of Mega Millions, although the $1 million second prize becomes $5 million if the Megaplier is 5x.

Winning and probability

The current winning chart from October 19, 2013:^[16]

Matches[17]		Prize	Approximate probability of winning
Normal balls (pool of 75)	Mega ball (pool of 15)
5	1	Jackpot[18]	1 in 258,890,850
5	0	$1 million	1 in 18,492,204
4	1	$5,000	1 in 739,688
4	0	$500	1 in 52,835
3	1	$50	1 in 10,720
3	0	$5	1 in 766
2	1	$5	1 in 473
1	1	$2	1 in 56
0	1	$1	1 in 21

The probability and odds can be taken into a mathematical perspective, for example: The probability of winning the jackpot is 1:(₇₅C₅) x (15). (75 ways for the first ball x 74 ways for the second x 73 for third x 72 for fourth x 71 for fifth)/ (5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1) or 5! (five factorial) and this number is then multiplied by 15 (15 possible numbers for the "Megaball"). Therefore, (75 x 74 x 73 x 72 x 71)/ (5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1) x 15 = 258,890,850, which basically means one has a 1 :258,890,850 chance of winning the jackpot. Similarly, with the odds for the $1M prize are a 1:(₇₅C₅) x (15/14) = 1: 18,492,204 chance of winning. The overall probability of winning any prize is 1 in 14.7.

Mega Millions has an "equal payout" after it reaches $363 million. This takes into account the smaller prizes and the taxes associated with the payouts. This calculation assumes that one does not buy the 'megaplier' as this additional $1 only returns an extra $0.38 of profit on average. Additionally, this assumes that the jackpot is never split, which they often are. When considering only the jackpot (and negating smaller prizes and taxes), one would have to buy 258.9 million tickets in order to ensure that one wins; this allows for profit with a jackpot higher than that amount.

The winning chart prior to October 18, 2013:

Matches[17]		Prize	Approximate probability of winning
Normal balls (pool of 56)	Mega ball (pool of 46)
5	1	Jackpot[18]	1 in 175,711,536 (56C5×46)[19][20]
5	0	$250,000	1 in 3,904,701 (56C5×46/45)[21]
4	1	$10,000	1 in 689,065 [22]
4	0	$150	1 in 15,313[23]
3	1	$150	1 in 13,781[24]
2	1	$10	1 in 844[25]
3	0	$7	1 in 306[26]
1	1	$3	1 in 141[27]
0	1	$2	1 in 74.8 (the probability for this prize is not 1:46, because there is the possibility of matching at least one of the "white" balls, which decreases the likelihood of matching only the "Mega Ball")[16]

Overall probabilities: 1 in 755 of winning sixth prize or higher,^[16] 1 in 40 of winning any prize.^[28]

In California, prize levels are paid on a parimutuel basis, rather than the fixed lower-tier amounts for winners in other Mega Millions jurisdictions. California's eight lower-tier Mega Millions prize pools are separate from those shared by the other 44 lotteries. California's second prize is a "secondary jackpot"; its payout sometimes exceeds $1 Million cash, even though California does not offer the Megaplier.^[29]

Payment options

In Georgia, New Jersey and Texas, players must choose, in advance, whether they wish to collect a jackpot in cash or annuity. Georgia and New Jersey winners can change an annuity ticket to cash should they be eligible for a jackpot share; however, the choice is binding in Texas.

If a jackpot prize is not claimed within the respective jurisdiction's time limit, each of the 45 Mega Millions members get back the money they contributed to that jackpot. Each of the 45 lotteries have rules in regards to unclaimed prizes; most Mega Millions members set aside unclaimed winnings for educational purposes.^[30][31]

In 2007, a $31 million prize went unclaimed in New York.^[32] Many prizes of $250,000 each have been unclaimed, including several in Michigan for 2007 drawings.^[33]

Claiming prizes

Mega Millions winners have either 180 days (California non-jackpot prizes only) or one year to claim prizes, including the jackpot (although some Mega Millions winners lose the right to collect a jackpot in cash if they wait more than 60 days after the drawing).

The minimum age to purchase a Mega Millions ticket is 18, except in Arizona, Iowa and Louisiana, where the minimum is 21, and Nebraska; its minimum is 19. Generally (an exception is Virginia), minors can win on tickets received as gifts; the rules according to each Mega Millions member vary for minors receiving prizes.

Rules vary according to the applicable laws and regulations in the jurisdiction where the ticket is sold, and the winner's residence (e.g. if a New Jerseyan wins on a ticket bought near their workplace in Manhattan). Mega Millions winnings are exempt from state income tax in California and Pennsylvania, while New Hampshire, Texas and Washington do not have an income tax. On the other hand, some residents of New York City and Yonkers, New York pay three levels of income tax, as these cities levy income taxes.

Drawings

Drawings are usually held at the studios of WSB-TV in Atlanta, Georgia.^[34][1] The original host was WSB's chief meteorologist, Glenn Burns. Currently, most drawings are emceed by the full-time host of Georgia Lottery drawings, John Crow, with Brian Hooker substituting on occasion. For very large jackpots, the drawing sometimes is moved to Times Square in New York City, with New York Lottery announcer Yolanda Vega co-hosting.

Before January 31, 2010, Mega Millions was the only multi-jurisdictional lottery whose drawings were carried nationally, instead of airing only in participating jurisdictions. Powerball drawings also began to air after that date nationally via Chicago-based cable superstation WGN-TV. WGN simulcasts Mega Millions drawings on its national WGN America feed on Tuesdays and Fridays immediately following WGN's 9 p.m. (Central Time) newscast with Powerball drawings being aired on Wednesdays and Saturdays after said newscast (though both drawings air a minute later than on some television stations that carry either drawing). WGN serves as a default carrier of both Mega Millions and Powerball in certain participating states of either or both games where no local television station carries either multi-jurisdictional lottery's drawings (such as Oklahoma).

Record jackpots (listed by cash value)

Cash value (in millions USD)	Annuity value (in millions USD)	Drawing date	Winner(s)	Description
$474	$656	March 30, 2012	3 (MD, KS, IL)	World's largest jackpot (cash or annuity)
$347.639485[14]	$648[4]	December 17, 2013	2 (CA, GA)	2nd largest annuity value
$240	$380	January 4, 2011	2 (ID, WA)
$233	$390	March 6, 2007	2 (GA, NJ)
$210	$336	August 28, 2009	2 (NY, CA)	NY winner chose annuity (the cash/annuity choice made "when playing" required per then-NY Lottery rules)
$208.3	$330	August 31, 2007	4 (NJ, MD, TX, VA)
$202.9	$319	March 25, 2011	1 (Albany, NY)	Largest Mega Millions jackpot ever won on 1 ticket[35]
$180	$363	May 9, 2000	2 (IL, MI)	Largest The Big Game jackpot

Revenue

Approximately 50 percent of Mega Millions sales is returned to players as prizes; the remainder is split (each lottery has different rules regarding these funds) among retailers, marketing, and operations, as well as the 45 jurisdictions offering the game; different lotteries uses the proceeds in different ways.^[36]

Miscellany

In the aftermath of the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, the legislature in Albany, fearing a monumental loss of revenue, passed legislation the following month, which was signed by Governor George Pataki, that included joining a multi-jurisdictional lottery game. Around the same time, for entirely different reasons, Ohio's governor also gave the green light to joining a multi-jurisdictional game. Both lotteries opted to join the then-The Big Game, which, at the time, had seven members. The added populations of the two new jurisdictions, in turn, led to a larger double matrix. The first machine continued to hold 52 balls, while 16 gold balls were added in the second, meaning there were 52 numbers to pick from in each part of a $1 game. On May 15, 2002, the game was renamed The Big Game Mega Millions; soon after, it became just Mega Millions. Except for the 2010 cross-selling expansion, this was the only time The Big Game, Mega Millions or Powerball simultaneously added more than one lottery.

In 2005, Mega Millions was the target of a mailing scam. A letter bearing the Mega Millions logo was used in a string of lottery scams designed to trick people into providing personal financial information by cashing bogus checks. The letter, which had been sent to people in several states via standard mail, included a check for what the scammers said was an unclaimed Mega Millions prize. If the check was cashed, it bounced, but not before the bank stamped it with a routing number and personal account information and sent it back to the fraudulent organization, providing them with the recipients' financial information.^[37]

A budget impasse due to the 2006 New Jersey Government shutdown led to the temporary closing of its non-essential agencies on July 1, 2006. Among the casualties were the Atlantic City casinos and the New Jersey Lottery. Not only were New Jersey's in-house games (such as Pick-6) not drawn for about a week, but all New Jersey lottery terminals were shut down, meaning Mega Millions could not be played in New Jersey, even though Mega Millions was drawn as usual. A similar shutdown happened in Minnesota on July 1, 2011.

Elecia Battle made national headlines in January 2004 when she claimed that she had lost the winning ticket in the December 30, 2003 Mega Millions drawing.^[38] She then filed a lawsuit against the woman who had come forward with the ticket, Rebecca Jemison. Several days later, when confronted with contradictory evidence, she admitted that she had lied.^[39] Battle was charged with filing a false police report the following day. As a result of this false report, she was fined $1,000, ordered to perform 50 hours of community service, and required to compensate the police and courts for various costs incurred.^[40]

The January 4, 2011 Mega Millions drawing drew attention for its similarity to "The Numbers," a sequence of six numbers that served as a plot device of the ABC drama series Lost. One such usage involved character Hugo "Hurley" Reyes playing the sequence in a similar "Mega Lotto" game, winning a nine-figure jackpot and subsequently experiencing numerous misfortunes in his personal life. The first three numbers (4, 8, 15) and mega ball (42) in the Mega Millions drawing matched the first three numbers and the final number (which Hurley also used as the "mega ball" number) in the Lost sequence. The last two numbers in the Mega Millions drawing did not match the last two numbers that were used in the scene. Those who played "The Numbers", including from quick-picks, won $150 ($118 in California) in a non-Megaplier game; $600 with the multiplier.^[41]

The 12 original (before the 2010 cross-sell expansion) Mega Millions members have each produced at least one Mega Millions jackpot winner.

See also

• Lottery jackpot records
• Powerball

Notes

External links

• MegaMillions.com - Official site
• Mega Millions on Powerball Official Site
• U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Telemarketing and "Telephone Services: Prizes & Sweepstakes".
• U.S. Federal Trade Commission. "New Spin On Sweepstakes Scams."
• Portalseven.com, Map of Jackpot Winning Locations - Check on the map where the Jackpot winning tickets were sold

Preceded by Powerball	World's largest lottery jackpot May 9, 2000 – February 18, 2006	Succeeded by Powerball
Preceded by Powerball	World's largest lottery jackpot March 6, 2007 – present	Succeeded by Incumbent

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