About Mega Millions
Mega Millions is a US multi-state lottery operated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) on behalf of participating US state lotteries. It is one of the two largest lottery games in the United States.
Players select 5 main numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball from 1 to 24. Each play costs $5. Draws take place every Tuesday and Friday at 23:00 ET. Because South Africa (SAST, UTC+2) is approximately 6–7 hours ahead of US Eastern Time, results are typically available on ResultsZA by approximately 05:00–06:00 SAST the following morning.
The jackpot starts at $50 million, rolls over until won, and has no announced cap.
Since April 2025, every $5 ticket includes a built-in multiplier of 2× to 10× at no extra cost. All non-jackpot prizes are automatically multiplied by the player's assigned multiplier. Every winning ticket receives at least double the base prize. There are 9 prize divisions.
Prize Structure
| Div | Match | Base Prize (USD) | At 2× (min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 + Mega Ball | 🏆 Jackpot · from $50M | |
| 2 | 5 numbers | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| 3 | 4 + Mega Ball | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| 4 | 4 numbers | $500 | $1,000 |
| 5 | 3 + Mega Ball | $200 | $400 |
| 6 | 3 numbers | $10 | $20 |
| 7 | 2 + Mega Ball | $10 | $20 |
| 8 | 1 + Mega Ball | $7 | $14 |
| 9 | Mega Ball only | $5 | $10 |
Every $5 ticket includes a built-in 2×–10× multiplier. Base prizes are multiplied automatically. Every winning ticket pays at least the 2× amount shown. Source: megamillions.com official prize matrix (April 2025 structure).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you play Mega Millions?
Pick 5 numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball from 1 to 24. Each play costs $5 and automatically includes a multiplier between 2× and 10×. Match all 5 numbers and the Mega Ball to win the jackpot (starts at $50 million). There are 9 prize tiers.
How does the built-in multiplier work?
Since April 2025, every $5 ticket is automatically assigned a multiplier of 2×, 3×, 4×, 5× or 10× at the time of purchase. All non-jackpot prizes are multiplied by this amount. The 2× multiplier is the most common; 10× is the rarest. Every winner receives at least double the base prize.
When are results available for South African players?
Mega Millions draws on Tuesday and Friday evenings at 23:00 ET. South Africa is approximately 6–7 hours ahead of US Eastern Time, so results are typically published on ResultsZA by around 05:00–06:00 SAST the following morning.
Can South Africans play Mega Millions?
Mega Millions tickets are sold in participating US states. South African residents cannot purchase official tickets directly. ResultsZA publishes the results for information purposes only.