Mega Millions review (2026): the $5 play, odds, states and claiming

Who it’s for

Mega Millions is for players who want a jackpot game and prefer one higher-priced play over a base ticket with optional extras. Since the multiplier is built into the price, there is nothing to add at the counter. It is less suited to anyone watching a small budget closely, because a single play costs $5.

Like Powerball, the game is the same wherever it is sold. The odds, the price and the draw days are fixed. What differs is the state where you buy the ticket, because prize payment, claim windows and privacy are set under each selling lottery’s own law. Our state pages show those differences.

How it works

Mega Millions is operated by the Mega Millions Consortium of state lotteries. It does not sell tickets directly. You buy from a lottery in one of the participating jurisdictions, and that lottery handles your claim. Draws take place on Tuesday and Friday at 11 pm ET, according to the official FAQ.

The price is $5 per play, and the multiplier is included. That is the main difference from Powerball, where a base play is $2 and the Power Play multiplier is an extra $1. With Mega Millions you choose your numbers, pay once, and the multiplier is already part of the play.

The game is sold in 45 states, Washington, DC and the US Virgin Islands. It is not sold in Puerto Rico, which is one of the few practical differences from Powerball’s footprint.

Odds and value

The published jackpot odds are 1 in 290,472,336. The odds of winning any prize are 1 in 23, based on the operator’s 2025 announcement of the enhanced game. Two state lotteries in our data, Maine and Minnesota, print the figure as 1 in 23.07, so you may see a slightly different decimal depending on where you look.

Set against Powerball, the any-prize odds are a little better, and the jackpot odds are a little shorter. But a play costs 2.5 times as much. Whether that is good value depends on whether you want the multiplier folded in, since the extra cost buys a different structure and not simply better chances. In both games the operator keeps a share of what is wagered, so a ticket is a purchase of entertainment, not a way to build money. Our methodology explains how we score odds and value.

Trust and regulation

Mega Millions rests on state regulation. The consortium sets the game; each selling lottery sets sales rules, pays prizes and answers to its own state law. That is a long-running arrangement, but it means consumer protection comes from the state where you buy, not from the game itself.

A minimum age is not published on the consortium pages we checked, so the age rule follows the selling lottery. Confirm it on your state page. Helpline support in the US is available at 1-800-GAMBLER.

Claiming prizes and taxes

Claim deadlines run from 90 days to one year depending on the selling jurisdiction, and claims are made through the lottery that sold the ticket. Do not assume a deadline you saw for one state applies to another.

Federal withholding is 24% on prizes over $5,000 in the state lotteries we cover, and states add their own rates where they tax winnings. The consortium does not publish a single anonymity rule, because privacy for winners is a matter of state law. If privacy matters to you, check the state page before you buy, since the answer cannot be changed after a win. Our guides cover how winners handle large prizes.

Playing online

Online purchase is possible in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, DC, which is 13 jurisdictions in all. New York offers subscriptions. In each case you buy from the state lottery, not from the consortium.

If you live in one of those places, an official account is the simplest route, and it brings the state’s limit-setting tools. See our reviews of PA iLottery, Michigan Lottery Online and Virginia Lottery Online for examples. Couriers also sell the game in some states and can charge more than the $5 face price. Compare Jackpocket and Lotto.com if you are weighing that option.

Our take

Mega Millions is transparent about its price, odds and draw days. The $5 play with the multiplier included is easy to understand, and the any-prize odds of 1 in 23 are respectable for a jackpot game. The costs are the price per play and the usual lottery maths. Treat it as occasional entertainment, set a budget before you buy, and check your state’s rules for claiming.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Mega Millions cost $5?

The multiplier is included in the $5 price. There is no separate add-on to buy.

Is it better odds than Powerball?

Slightly, per play. Mega Millions lists 1 in 23 for any prize against Powerball’s 1 in 24.87, but it costs 2.5 times as much per play.

Can I buy it online?

In 13 jurisdictions, listed above, through the state lottery. New York offers subscriptions.

How long do I have to claim?

Between 90 days and one year, depending on the selling jurisdiction. Claim through the lottery that sold the ticket.