Current:Home > NewsIf there is a Mega Millions winner Tuesday, they can collect anonymously in these states -NextFrontier Finance
If there is a Mega Millions winner Tuesday, they can collect anonymously in these states
View
Date:2025-04-17 10:10:55
The Mega Millions jackpot is up to an estimated $735 million, and players are dreaming about their numbers being pulled for Tuesday's drawing.
Laws in some states allow lottery winners to collect national lottery prizes like Powerball and Mega Millions anonymously. If there is a winner in one of those 17 states, we may never know who they are.
The last winner came in December when two tickets matched the numbers drawn and the winners split the $394 million prize in California, a state that doesn't provide anonymity.
Here are the places where winners can anonymously claim lottery prizes, and the requirements for them.
Where winners can claim the Mega Millions jackpot anonymously
- Arizona: Prize must be over $100,000
- Arkansas: Prize must be over $500,000 and a winner is only anonymous for three years
- Delaware: Any prize
- Georgia: Prize must be over $250,000
- Illinois: Prize must be over $250,000
- Kansas: Any prize
- Maryland: Any prize
- Michigan: Prize must be over $10,000 in state-run games only
- Minnesota: Prize must be over $10,000
- Mississippi: Any prize
- Missouri: Any prize
- Montana: Any prize
- New Jersey: Any prize
- North Dakota: Any prize
- South Carolina: Any prize
- Texas: Prize must be over $1 million
- Virginia: Prize must be greater than $10 million
- West Virginia: Prize must be over $1 million
- Wyoming: Any prize
Feeling Lucky? Explore the Latest Lottery News & Results
More:$70M Powerball winner, who was forced to reveal her identity, is now a fierce advocate for anonymity
What is the largest Mega Millions jackpot ever?
If the right six numbers are pulled Tuesday night, the jackpot as it stands would be the sixth-highest prize of all time. The top five are:
- $1.602 billion from one winning ticket in Florida in August 2023
- $1.537 billion from one winning ticket in October 2018 in South Carolina
- $1.35 billion from one winning ticket in January 2023 in Maine
- $1.34 billion from one winning ticket in July 2022 in Illinois
- $1.05 billion from one winning ticket in January 2021 in Michigan
What are the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot?
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are long. Players have a one in 302,575,350 shot at winning the grand prize, a one in 12,607,306 shot at winning the $1 million prize and a one in 24 chance of winning any prize.
How to play Mega Millions
Tickets to Mega Millions cost $2 per play.
There are nine total ways to win a prize, from the jackpot to $2.
To play, pick five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25. You can choose Easy Pick or Quick Pick to have the terminal randomly pick numbers for you. You win the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in the drawing.
What is the Megaplier?
Most states offer the Megaplier feature, which increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four and five times.
It costs an additional $1 per play. Before each regular Mega Millions drawing, the Megaplier is drawn. From a pool of 15 balls, five are marked with "2X," three with "4X" and one with "5X."
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in-person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms and conditions.
Way out of the office:Workers are living further from employer
veryGood! (4)
Related
- 'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
- NYC schools boss to step down later this year after federal agents seized his devices
- Horoscopes Today, September 23, 2024
- You Need to See JoJo Siwa’s NSFW Cover
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Julianne Hough Reveals Her “Wild” Supernatural Abilities
- The Best Birthday Gifts for Libras
- Chiefs RB depth chart: Kareem Hunt fantasy outlook after 53-man roster signing
- Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
- Passenger killed when horse smashes through windshield during California highway crashes
Ranking
- The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
- Weeks after a school shooting, students return for classes at Apalachee High School
- Michael Strahan reveals he's a grandfather after the birth of his first grandchild
- Invitation Homes agrees to pay $48 million to settle claims it saddled tenants with hidden fees
- Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
- Proof Austin Swift's Girlfriend Sydney Ness Is Just as Big a Football Fan as Taylor Swift
- Chiefs RB depth chart: Kareem Hunt fantasy outlook after 53-man roster signing
- A's owner John Fisher's letter sparks inspired news anchor response
Recommendation
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
American consumers are feeling less confident as concerns about jobs take center stage
When does 'Grotesquerie' premiere? Date, time, where to watch new show featuring Travis Kelce
Suit seeks to overturn Georgia law on homeless voter registration and voter challenges
McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
Dancing With the Stars: Find Out Who Went Home in Double Elimination
Family of Black World War II combat medic will finally receive his medal for heroism
A snowmobiler who crashed into a parked Black Hawk helicopter is awarded $3 million