When playing the jackpot lottery, you may win more than one prize. However, in most states, you’ll receive a lump sum of 60 percent of the total jackpot. This amount is split among all winners, so you need to know the rules in advance. This way, you’ll avoid having to share your prize with many other lottery players.
Mega Millions
Mega Millions is a popular lottery that has a one-in-300-million chance of winning a jackpot prize. This game has seen record-breaking traffic on its website, with more than 62 million requests made within a single 24-hour period. In addition to its enormous cash value of $625 million, Mega Millions also boasts a second-tier prize of $1 million or $5 million, depending on the winning ticket.
Mega Millions draws are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. ET, with five white balls numbered one through seventy and one gold Mega Ball numbered one through 25. To win the jackpot, players must match all six numbers on a single row on their tickets. If you choose the Easy Pick option, you can choose any five numbers on the ticket. If you pick the Quick Pick option, you only need to match three or four numbers to win the jackpot.
Mega Millions lottery tickets cost $2 a piece and are valid for one week. Each play costs a dollar and the jackpot will rise in size the longer no one wins. The jackpot is announced prior to the draw each week. The prize payouts are divided into second, third and fourth place prizes, so it is important to check your local lottery website for details. You also have the option to play Megaplier, which costs $1 per play and multiplies non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four or five times.
Power Play
The Power Play in jackpot lottery games adds an extra chance of winning the jackpot. This is a game in which you pick one number from one to five and press the Power Play button. The jackpot amount is increased by the multiplier, and you can win up to $2 million if you choose all five numbers. This option can be played more than once and is only available when the jackpot is over $200 million.
The Power Play feature increases the non-jackpot prize amount by two, three, or even five times. You can purchase up to 14 Power Play tickets. Power Play costs $1 per play and applies to all panels on your playslip, including Quick Picks. However, it does not apply to the Double Play prize. In some states, Power Play is automatically included on Powerball tickets. Power Play can increase non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, or five times, and is not available in all games.
Mega Millions Triple Play
A jackpot prize of up to $5 million is possible with the Mega Millions jackpot lottery. The prize must be claimed within 180 days in the state in which the ticket was purchased. The jackpot prize is paid out as an annuity over 25 years. Each payment is 5% larger than the last. This helps protect the winner’s purchasing power and lifestyle during inflation. The prize is equivalent to all the cash in the Mega Millions jackpot prize pool.
To be eligible to win a jackpot, you must match at least three of the six main numbers drawn. You may also match two or more of these numbers for an additional chance to win $10,000. You must match at least three numbers in order to win, but the jackpot is split evenly amongst players.