Current:Home > MarketsIf there is a Mega Millions winner Tuesday, they can collect anonymously in these states -CapitalCourse
If there is a Mega Millions winner Tuesday, they can collect anonymously in these states
View
Date:2025-04-17 11:40:35
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! (48748)
Related
- 'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
- Fatal Illinois stabbing of 6-year-old Palestinian refugee alarms feds
- IDF reservist offers harrowing description of slaughters and massacres of Israeli civilians
- David Brooks on his mission: To counter our nation's spiritual crisis
- Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
- Answers About Old Gas Sites Repurposed as Injection Wells for Fracking’s Toxic Wastewater May Never Be Fully Unearthed
- Jewish students plaster Paris walls with photos of French citizens believed held hostage by Hamas
- DeSantis says US shouldn’t take in Palestinian refugees from Gaza because they’re ‘all antisemitic’
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Suzanne Somers of 'Three's Company' dies at 76
Ranking
- Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
- Buffalo Bills running back Damien Harris leaves field in ambulance after suffering neck injury in Giants game
- Even with economic worries, Vivid Seats CEO says customers still pay to see sports and hair bands
- Italy approves 24 billion-euro budget that aims to boost household spending and births
- Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
- Norway’s prime minister shuffles Cabinet after last month’s local election loss
- Australian safety watchdog fines social platform X $385,000 for not tackling child abuse content
- Hackers attack Guatemalan government webpages in support of pro-democracy protests
Recommendation
Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
Have you heard of Margaret Winkler? She's the woman behind Disney's 100th birthday
After her partner's death, Lila Downs records 'La Sánchez,' her most personal album
5 Israelis plead not guilty to charges of raping a British woman in a Cyprus hotel room
Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
Italy approves 24 billion-euro budget that aims to boost household spending and births
Virginia school bus driver and 12 children hurt after bus overturns, officials say
France player who laughed during minute’s silence for war victims apologizes for ‘nervous laugh’