How does megaplier work

This mix results in the following odds for each of the Megaplier numbers and their associated prize values:. Latest Winning Numbers: Megaplier. Next Estimated Jackpot: Cash Option:. To play, in each panel: Select five numbers from 1 through 70 in the upper play area, or mark the QP Quick Pick box and let the terminal randomly pick some or all of your numbers. Select your Mega Ball number from 1 through 25 in the lower play area, or mark the QP Quick Pick box for the terminal to randomly select your Mega Ball number.

To win two to five times more on your non-jackpot prizes, select the Megaplier box. To play the same numbers for more than one draw, simply tell the retailer how many advance draws you wish to play or select the number of draws in the Advance Play section of your playslip. Review your selections carefully. You will receive a ticket printed with your numbers, drawing date s , and total cost of the ticket. Players are eligible to win Megaplier prizes in all participating states, except for California.

Gladys Salzwedel, a year-old from Oakley, Michigan, bought a Mega Millions ticket with the Megaplier option for the drawing on October 27th. She matched the five main numbers 17, 27, 41, 51, and 52, just missing out on the Mega Ball, which was The only location where there is no Megaplier option is California. Unlike other states, California pays Mega Millions prize levels two through nine according to a pari-mutuel distribution of the Mega Millions prize pool aggregated in California for those prize levels.

The reason for this alternate prize distribution system is California's penal code, which distinguishes between a "lottery" which cannot be broken and a "banked game" whose bank theoretically could be broken. California authorized only a "lottery" in its Lottery Act, passed in As a result of this difference, Californian winners of non-jackpot prizes receive different prize amounts than equivalent winners in other states.

The Megaplier does not affect the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot or of any of the secondary prizes. Instead, the Megaplier affects the size of the non-jackpot prizes awarded in a draw. The Megaplier can multiply those prizes by a factor of two, three, four, or five. The Megaplier is selected before the regular Mega Millions draw from a separate pool of fifteen balls.

The Megaplier most likely to be chosen is "3" and the least likely is "5", as can be seen in the table below. Mega Millions is not the only lottery to have an optional multiplier feature to boost secondary prizes.