How to Play Mega Millions?
Is your dream to win the lottery? If so, you have many different options – and Mega Millions is one of them!
What is Mega Millions?
Mega Millions is a drawing that occurs twice each week, giving players the opportunity to win a jackpot or other cash prizes. Each ticket costs $2. The jackpot grows until it is won and can be claimed by a single individual or multiple winners.
When are the Mega Millions Drawings?
Mega Millions drawings take place every week on Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. You can check the results of each drawing on our website or visit any Lottery retailer to scan your ticket and see if you’ve won. Please note that ticket sales stop at 10:45 p.m. on draw nights, so be sure to get your tickets early! Remember, Mega Millions tickets and online plays cannot be canceled, and all sales are final.
Create an Account to Play Now!
You can open a Virginia Lottery account to play Mega Millions online and never miss a chance to win big! Set up a MyGameRoom account and have some fun today! Even if you don’t win, you’re helping students in Virginia because 100 percent of the Virginia Lottery’s profits have been used to support K-12 public education since 1999.
Game Play
Click for a closer view of the playslip.
- Choose your own numbers on a playslip. Pick five different numbers from 1 through 70; then select one Mega Ball number from 1 through 25.
- You can also play Easy Pick and let the computer choose your numbers.
- Use a combination of these play methods – pick some favorite numbers and let the computer fill in the rest.
- Each ticket costs $2.
- Mega Millions draws are held Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 p.m.
- All prizes, except the jackpot, are fixed dollar amounts. The jackpot total is dependent on the amount of money in the draw’s prize pool.
Bigger Game with Megaplier
Step up your game with Megaplier, an add-on feature that multiplies a non-jackpot prize by 2, 3, 4, or 5! Megaplier can increase your winnings up to $5,000,000! Add Megaplier to any Mega Millions ticket for $1 per play. The Megaplier number is randomly drawn before each Mega Millions draw show – so it won’t appear on your ticket when you buy it.
Play Options
It’s always great to have options! Mark the Optional Plays box on your playslip for any of the following:
- Multi-Draw: Play the same numbers for more than one draw on a single ticket, up to 26 consecutive draws. Ticket price increases for each draw added.
- Future Draw: Purchase a ticket for a future draw date. Mark the Optional Plays box and inform the clerk of your chosen date.
- Repeat: Have the same numbers printed on more than one ticket, up to 20 times.
- Just the Jackpot: Get two Easy Pick plays that allow you only to win the jackpot prize for $3, saving you $1.
Two Chances to Win per Week
Mega Millions draws are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Here are some important reminders:
- Mega Millions tickets are not sold after 10:45 p.m. on draw nights – so get your tickets early!
- Virginia’s Mega Millions tickets and online plays cannot be canceled. All sales are final!
- Use a playslip to ensure your numbers are correct.
- Any winning tickets bought in Virginia must be redeemed in Virginia.
Watch the Draws
You can watch Mega Millions Draws live every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. by clicking the Winning Numbers tab at the top of the page. You can even watch them later, as draws will be available on our site!
Never Miss a Draw
Play the easy way! Purchase multiple draws at a time to stay in the game, and select the Auto-Renewal option to ensure you never miss a draw. Forget about waiting in lines or checking your tickets – if you win, we’ll contact you!
Get Game Information from Alexa!
If you download the Virginia Lottery Alexa Skill, you can ask Alexa for information about this game, including recent winning numbers and more.
Legal Stuff
Immediately following the drawing on April 3, 2020, the next new starting jackpot and the rate at which the jackpot increases will be established based on game sales and interest rates, with no fixed minimum amount. Subsequent jackpot amounts will be determined and announced prior to each drawing.
Need more info? Here are our official rules for Mega Millions!