Mega Millions rules & odds
Read Mega Millions rules, number ranges, drawing schedules and jackpot odds. Compare current and historical game formats.
CURRENT GAME FORMAT
How Mega Millions works
- White balls
- Pick 5 numbers from 1–70
- Mega Ball
- Pick 1 number from 1–24
- Standard ticket price
- $5
- Draw days
- Tuesday, Friday
- Drawing time
- 11:00 PM ET
- Effective from
- April 8, 2025
Ticket options and exceptions
Multiplier options and prize amounts follow the rules for each drawing. Some prize tiers may use a fixed amount. The prize tables show reported option amounts with any applicable multiplier already included.
Claim deadlines, eligibility, sales cutoffs, option availability and prize treatment depend on jurisdiction. California may use different prize treatment. Confirm with the official lottery before playing or making a claim.
Exact match probabilities
Current rule · one combination| Match exactly | Probability | Approximate odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 white balls + Mega Ball | 3.443e-7% | 1 in 290,472,336 |
| 5 white balls, no Mega Ball | 0.000007918% | 1 in 12,629,232 |
| 4 white balls + Mega Ball | 0.0001119% | 1 in 893,761.03 |
| 4 white balls, no Mega Ball | 0.002573% | 1 in 38,859.18 |
| 3 white balls + Mega Ball | 0.007161% | 1 in 13,965.02 |
| 3 white balls, no Mega Ball | 0.1647% | 1 in 607.17 |
| 2 white balls + Mega Ball | 0.1504% | 1 in 665 |
| 1 white ball + Mega Ball | 1.165% | 1 in 85.81 |
| 0 white balls + Mega Ball | 2.844% | 1 in 35.17 |
Rule history
Why rule periods stay separate →| Effective dates | Pools | Draw days | Multiplier format | Explore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 8, 2025 – Present | 70 / 24 | Tue, Fri | See official rules | Statistics for these rules → |
| Oct 31, 2017 – Apr 7, 2025 | 70 / 25 | Tue, Fri | See official rules | Statistics for these rules → |
| Oct 22, 2013 – Oct 30, 2017 | 75 / 15 | Tue, Fri | See official rules | Statistics for these rules → |
| Jun 24, 2005 – Oct 21, 2013 | 56 / 46 | Tue, Fri | See official rules | Statistics for these rules → |
| May 17, 2002 – Jun 23, 2005 | 52 / 52 | Tue, Fri | See official rules | Statistics for these rules → |