Current:Home > NewsIf there is a Mega Millions winner Tuesday, they can collect anonymously in these states -Capitatum
If there is a Mega Millions winner Tuesday, they can collect anonymously in these states
View
Date:2025-04-14 17:30:50
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! (75)
Related
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Union reaches deal with 4 hotel-casinos, 3 others still poised to strike at start of Super Bowl week
- New cancer cases to increase 77% by 2050, WHO estimates
- Joni Mitchell Makes Rare Appearance Ahead of First-Ever Grammys Performance
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Ayo Edebiri confronts Nikki Haley, 'SNL' receives backlash for cameo
- Man sentenced to life without parole in 1991 slaying of woman
- Why this mom is asking people to not talk about diet when buying Girl Scout cookies
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- What if Super Bowl Monday became a national holiday? Here's what would have to happen
Ranking
- Oklahoma parole board recommends governor spare the life of man on death row
- Last year's marine heat waves were unprecedented, forcing researchers to make 3 new coral reef bleaching alert levels
- Bon Jovi rocks with Springsteen, McCartney dances in the crowd at Grammys MusiCares event
- Inferno set off by gas blast in Kenya's capital injures hundreds, kills several; It was like an earthquake
- Billy Bean was an LGBTQ advocate and one of baseball's great heroes
- Claims that Jan. 6 rioters are ‘political prisoners’ endure. Judges want to set the record straight
- At least 46 were killed in Chile as forest fires move into densely populated areas
- Hordes of thunderous, harmless cicadas are coming. It's normal to feel a little dread.
Recommendation
Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
Smith-Wade delivers big play on defense, National beats American 16-7 in Senior Bowl
Smith-Wade delivers big play on defense, National beats American 16-7 in Senior Bowl
Suburban Chicago police fatally shoot domestic violence suspect
Elon Musk’s Daughter Vivian Calls Him “Absolutely Pathetic” and a “Serial Adulterer”
Pennsylvania police shoot and kill a wanted man outside of a gas station, saying he pointed gun
'Curb your Enthusiasm' Season 12: Cast, release date, how to watch the final episodes
The 2024 Grammy Awards are here; SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Victoria Monét lead the nominations