Should i buy a mega millions ticket

Don't miss: The best credit cards for building credit of Skip Navigation. Jennifer Liu. VIDEO How the Mega Millions and Powerball lotteries work. Business News. How millennials have been affected by unemployment during coronavirus. Please check with the lottery in the state where your ticket was purchased to get the applicable claim period for that ticket.

Winners can decide how to share a prize when they claim it. Some restrictions do apply. Please check with the lottery in the state where you bought your tickets. The scams take many forms and the scammers use many tricks. In most cases, the criminals e-mail or call to tell intended victims they have won a large prize. They might identify themselves as being with Mega Millions or another legitimate lottery, even though Mega Millions is a game, not an organization, and is only sold through participating lotteries.

These scams all have one thing in common: They try to trick you into sending them money or personal information by claiming that you have won a large lottery prize.

Please contact your local lottery if you have any questions or have received a suspicious email or phone call. More information. Visitors to the United States are always welcome to purchase tickets for our game from an American lottery retailer while they are visiting this country; you do not need to be a resident to win.

Mega Millions is not affiliated with and does not endorse any company claiming to sell our tickets around the world, online or otherwise. If you choose to do business with one of these companies, you do so at your own risk; Mega Millions rules prohibit the purchase of tickets by agents representing players in other jurisdictions. You may also purchase subscriptions for Mega Millions online in New York.

In most cases, you must be residents of these jurisdictions to participate in these purchase options, but in all cases you must be physically within their borders when you make any online ticket purchases. Details may be found on those lotteries' websites see Where to Play. Most lotteries have their own apps, which typically contain information about the games they offer, including Mega Millions.

Winners who choose the annuity method will receive an immediate payment followed by 29 annual Mega Millions payments. Check with your state lottery for more specific information. All prizes are subject to income taxes. Annuity option: Provides for an initial annual payment followed by 29 annual payments. Each payment is 5 percent larger than the previous one.

Cash option: A one-time, lump-sum payment that is equal to all the cash in the Mega Millions jackpot prize pool. Prize claim parameters vary from state to state. Contact your Mega Millions state lottery for detailed information. Protect yourself by signing the back of your tickets. Lottery tickets are bearer instruments. Unless signed, anyone in possession of the ticket can file a claim. Each state uses its unclaimed lottery prizes for different purposes. Contact the lottery where you play to find out how unclaimed prizes are used.

Public disclosure laws vary from state to state. Some states require their lotteries to publicly identify winners, while others do not. To play, in each panel:. Drawings are held Tuesday and Friday nights at p. Tickets may be purchased until p. Tickets purchased after that time will be for the next drawing. See chart below for all Megaplier prize payouts.

Match all five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win the jackpot or match any of the non-jackpot-winning combinations to win other great cash prizes! The jackpot will be paid in 30 graduated annual payments or a one-time cash payment of a reduced amount. Read more about claiming Lottery prizes.