Mega Millions soars again. How to play, where you can buy tickets
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LANSING, MI -- With the third largest Mega Millions jackpot of 2022 up for grabs Tuesday night, casual lottery players are starting to take interest in playing even though they may not buy tickets very often. And while it’s easy to just walk into a store and ask for a ticket, knowing how to play and choosing your own numbers makes playing that much more fun.
So for those of you who are interested in throwing down a few dollars in hopes of bringing home nearly half of $1 billion, here’s our guide on how to play and what know about the Mega Millions lottery.
Mega Millions is a multi-state lottery game that can be played in 45 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Players select five white numbers that range from 1-70 and a single gold number between 1-25.
In order to win the jackpot, you must match all five white numbers and the gold ball. However, players can also win prizes for matching as few as one white ball and the gold ball or you can win your money back by just matching the gold ball. The more numbers you match, the larger your prize will be.
Each ticket with a set of numbers -- five white and one gold -- is $2, meaning 10 sets would cost $20. You can also add the “multiplier” option for $1 extra per ticket which guarantees to multiply your winnings by anywhere from double to 10 times the amount if you win. Meaning a $10 win can become $100 if you play the multiplier and the 10x option comes up.
However, the multiplier does not apply to the grand prize, so you cannot win the jackpot and multiply it.
Mega Millions drawings take place at 11 p.m. EST every Tuesday and Friday. In Michigan, you can purchase tickets for the drawing until 10:45 p.m. at more than 10,500 lottery retail locations in Michigan. Tickets can be purchased at gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants and more.
If you don’t have time to make it to a retailer ahead of the drawing and are in Michigan, you can also purchase tickets online through the Michigan Lottery website. To do so, you simply need to create an account, add your payment information, find the game you want to play and buy the tickets.
To create an account, visit the website and click “register” near the top of the page. From there you enter your email address, name, birthdate, social security number and other information that the state will use to verify your age/identity and help them contact you in case you win a large prize.
Once you’ve created your account, you can deposit money via credit/debit cards, paypal, online bank transfer and more. The minimum deposit is $10.
When the money is in your account, you can search for Mega Millions and the system will help you get your tickets. You can select your own set of special numbers or use the autofill option and a set of computer generated numbers will be selected for you.
From there, add those tickets to your cart, checkout and your tickets will be stored in your account. The online option is also helpful in that if you win a smaller prize, the money goes right into your account and if you win a large prize, the Lottery will contact you to let you know you’ve won big.
The last players from Michigan to win a Mega Millions or Powerball jackpot is the Wolverine FLL lottery club which claimed a $1.05 billion jackpot in March 2021. With their winnings, the group plans to give back to the community.
And while they were lucky winners, it’s smart for players to check their tickets immediately as a winner worth $1 million sold in Warren last year went unclaimed. The money instead went to the state’s School Aid Fund.
