The six numbers are split into two parts: the five main “white” numbers can range between 1 and 70, while the gold “mega ball” number can range between 1 and 25. You can select your own numbers or purchase an “Easy Pick” ticket that will automatically select random numbers for you. Lottery tickets can typically be purchased at gas stations, grocery stores, and convenience stores. Make sure that your state participates in the Mega Millions before attempting to purchase a ticket, though. Also note that you need to be 18 or older to play the Mega Millions. As such, you may need to show proof or your ID when making a purchase.
Check the numbers from an official Mega Millions source instead of accepting secondhand information. You can view the Mega Millions drawings on the official YouTube page or check the current numbers on the Mega Millions homepage. The YouTube page can be found here: https://www. youtube. com/user/megamillions46/videos The official listing of winning numbers can be found here: http://www. megamillions. com/winning-numbers
The jackpot is the only amount that is not fixed. All other prize amounts will remain the same regardless of the current value of the jackpot. Matching certain numbers will allow you to win certain amounts of money:[2] X Research source Five main/white numbers: $1,000,000 Any four main/white numbers and the mega ball: $10,000 Any four main/white numbers: $500 Any three main/white numbers and the mega ball: $200 Any three main/white numbers: $10 Any two main/white numbers and the mega ball: $10 Any main/white number and the mega ball: $4 The mega ball only: $2
Anyone authorized to sell Mega Millions lottery tickets is also authorized to accept winning tickets. When turning in your ticket, you will need to sign the back. If the prize exceeds $599, you will likely need to complete a claim form and send it into the state’s lottery commission. Make sure that you claim the ticket winnings within the correct deadline. The exact deadline can vary by state, but it can range anywhere from 90 days to one year.
The key here is to choose a different set of numbers for each ticket. Do not buy multiple tickets with the same string of six numbers. In fact, it might be a good idea to choose completely different numbers for each ticket to maximize your odds of winning at least one of the smaller prizes. As of early 2015, the odds of winning the jackpot were roughly 1 in every 258. 9 million. By purchasing a second ticket, those odds increase to 2 in every 258. 9 million. In this manner, you can slightly improve your odds of success with each ticket, even though the improvement might seem nominal. Note that the metric of the new system decreases your odds of winning the jackpot to 1 in 302,575,350. Also note that your odds of winning at least one of the nine possible prizes is about 1 in 14. 71, so buying more than ticket greatly improves those chances. In fact, purchasing just two tickets already increases your odds to 1 in 7. 355.
Your odds of winning do not increase with the number of lottery games you play. Those odds can only improve by purchasing more entries/tickets per game, so it’s wiser to invest your money in one game than in spreading it out over the course of several. The game you choose to play on is ultimately your choice. More people tend to play when the jackpot is high. The number of people playing won’t affect your odds of winning, but it does mean that there is a greater chance of more people selecting the winning numbers, and as such, a greater chance that you will need to split the jackpot even if you do win it.
Note that this even-to-odd ratio only affects the five main white balls. You should be able to choose either an odd or even number for the mega ball, regardless of which numbers you choose as your main five. Even if you don’t maintain an ideal ratio, you should avoid having all odd or all even numbers. All even or all odd strings only make up roughly 3 percent of the past winning combinations.
Split the total playing range in half. Since you can only play numbers 1 through 75, this means your low half will be 1 through 38 and your high half will 39 through 75. Try to choose a relatively equal amount numbers from both halves when picking numbers for the five main balls. As with even and odd numbers, only approximately 3 percent of the past winning combinations have consisted of either all high numbers or all low numbers.
The lowest sum your numbers could possibly equal would be 5 and the highest sum would be 375. When you have a sum in between 140 and 240, you’ve hit the ideal median range and your game is said to be “balanced. " Approximately 70 percent of past winning combinations were balanced.
Number groups count off in groups of ten: 0s, 10s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. It’s unlikely that all five main numbers will come from one number group, but it’s fairly common for one number group to be represented more than once. As a general rule, try to choose numbers that represent three to four of these number groups.
There’s no fixed ratio of hot to cold numbers, but you should try to include at least one of each in your group of five. It’s just as unlikely that all five numbers will be “cold” as it is that all five will be “hot. " Also note that it is impossible to predict when a cold number will enter into circulation again. Two cold numbers can be inactive for equal amounts of time, and one might suddenly become hot while the other stays cold.
Statistically, any specific string of numbers has a chance of being drawn only once in approximately 2,500,000 years. That doesn’t mean it can’t happen, of course. There has been one set of five numbers drawn twice since the start of Mega Millions (11-14-18-33-48),[4] X Research source but such incidents are highly uncommon. For this reason, it’s also a good idea to change your number combination each time you play instead of sticking with the same one. Your initial combination is no more likely to win than any other combination you could choose.
Consecutive strings are so poorly balanced that they are extremely rare and almost never occur. Note, however, that it is not uncommon for two numbers within a string of five to directly follow one another (e. g. , 15 and 16, 43 and 44, 59 and 60, etc. ). Consecutive pairs are okay, but consecutive strings of five are very rare.
One pattern people mistakenly play involves creating a straight line vertically or diagonally across the number ticket. Number multiples (e. g. , 4-8-12-16-20, 8-16-24-32-40, etc. ) are another pattern people tend to gravitate toward erroneously. A final pattern you should avoid involves choosing numbers that all have the same last digit (e. g. , 7-17-27-37-47).
Since the Mega Millions winning numbers are chosen at random, using a randomized system to blindly choose the numbers you play can actually work to your favor. You’ll be more likely to end up with a set of numbers that is truly random, rather than a set that has been subliminally influenced by your own biases and ideas. If you plan on purchasing more than one ticket, consider both strategies. Choose your numbers for one ticket and let the machine choose random numbers for your second ticket.
