Is California Mega Millions the same as Mega Millions?

The Mega Millions drawing is offered in 45 American states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In 2005, California became the 12th U.S. jurisdiction to offer the Mega Millions game. Drawings are every Tuesday and Friday at 7:59 p.m. PT.

Why is Mega Millions different in California?

In June 2005, the Lottery Commission voted to join Mega Millions. California is unique among the 45 Mega Millions participants in that all nine prize levels for Mega Millions within its borders are always parimutuel, rather than each non-jackpot prize having a set value.

Is Mega Millions the same in all states?

If I purchase a Mega Millions ticket in one state, can I redeem it in another? Because Mega Millions® is sold by individual lotteries, any winning tickets must be redeemed in the state in which they were purchased.

Is California part of Mega Millions?

In California, Mega Millions prize amounts are pari-mutuel, will vary depending on ticket sales and number of winners and will differ from the fixed prizes shown on the Mega Millions website. To see draw results for participating Mega Millions lotteries outside California, search Mega Millions results.

Is there different Mega Millions?

California is the only state that does not award fixed prize amounts, due to state law. The prize amounts are different each drawing, and can be found on the Mega Millions Drawing Detail page.

Learn How To Play Mega Millions

What is the difference between Mega Millions and Mega Millions Megaplier?

The Megaplier can multiply those prizes by a factor of two, three, four, or five. The Megaplier is selected before the regular Mega Millions draw from a separate pool of fifteen balls. The Megaplier most likely to be chosen is "3" and the least likely is "5", as can be seen in the table below.

What is the difference between Mega Millions and Mega Millions just the jackpot?

Just the Jackpot means a feature of the Mega Millions game that allows players to purchase two(2) Just the Jackpot™ Plays on a single ticket. Each Just the Jackpot™ ticket will have two (2) Plays that are eligible to win only the Jackpot Prize, and no other Prize levels.

What happens if you win Mega Millions in California?

By default, all Powerball, Mega Millions and SuperLotto Plus jackpots are paid in 30 graduated installments. Winners can choose the cash value of the jackpot prize within 60 days following claim approval.

Which lottery is California only?

SuperLotto Plus is a statewide lottery game that is played in the same way as Mega Millions except it is only available in the state of California. The SuperLotto Plus jackpot starts at seven million dollars, ($7 million) and continues to grow with each Wednesday and Saturday draw until someone wins.

How does California Mega Millions work?

Mega Millions® tickets cost $2.00 per play. Players may pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers - five different numbers from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 25 (the gold Mega Ball) - or select Easy Pick/Quick Pick. You win the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in a drawing.

What 5 states don t play Mega Millions?

But five — Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah — have passed on the opportunity or vetoed proposals to participate in statewide or multi-state lottery programs. That doesn't stop people from playing, of course.

How many states is Mega Millions in?

With additional lotteries joining since then, Mega Millions is now played in 47 jurisdictions: 45 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On March 30, 2012, Mega Millions made history with the world's largest prize in any jackpot game to that date: $656 million.

Do you have to be a California resident to win Mega Millions?

You don't need to be a California resident or U.S. citizen to play and win any Lottery Scratchers^® or draw game, but California Lottery games can only be purchased from a Lottery retailer in California. How can I claim my Lottery prize?

Why do some states not participate in Mega Millions?

There are five states that do not sell lottery tickets: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah. And they have their reasons. Alabama and Utah prohibit gambling in their state constitutions, and religious groups in these states have long blocked efforts to legalize casinos or start offering lotteries.

Who won the $2 billion Powerball?

California resident Edwin Castro is the sole winner of the record-breaking jackpot from November 2022. The California Lottery is maintaining it verified the rightful winner of the record-breaking $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot, after a man claimed he had the winning ticket before it was stolen from him.

Why is California Lottery different?

California, though one of 45 states that participate in Powerball and Mega Millions, is the only state that has pari-mutuel prize amounts for non-jackpot prizes. In both lottery games, there are nine ways to win with a ticket, ranging from a few dollars to the jackpot prize.

Is Powerball lottery just in California?

Powerball is played in 44 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

How are California Lottery winnings paid out?

Weekly installment winners will receive 52 payments each year and monthly winners get a payment at the same time each month. Payments can be mailed directly to your home address or to your financial institution at your request.

Has anyone in California ever won the Mega Millions?

$522 million won in June 2019 by Laarni Bibal on a ticket purchased in San Diego. $426 million won in January 2022 by Kristine Wellenstein with a ticket bought in Woodland Hills.

What is the first thing you should do if you win the lottery?

How much would a $1.1 billion Mega Millions jackpot winner actually take home in California?

With a federal tax rate of 37%, a Mega Millions winner would pay a total of $499.5 million in federal taxes and pocket $850.5 million by 2051 if the total $1.1 billion payout was chosen. If the $707.9 million cash option was taken, the winner would pay $261.9 million in federal taxes and take home $446 million.

What is the luckiest Mega Million?

Is it better to pick your own Mega Millions numbers?

A: As all numbers are equally likely the chances of winning are the same whether you make the choice yourself or have the computer do it. There is one more thing to consider: you not only would like to win you would like to be the only winner so you do not have to split the jackpot.

Is it better to cash out Mega Millions?

Most winners opt for the cash option even though doing so means you get a reduced sum. For the current jackpot, the cash option is $707.9 million. Deciding which option is best depends on a few different factors, ranging from your age and financial situation to your comfort with investing.