How to Play Mega Millions in Texas
Want to play Mega Millions? You can enter by visiting any Texas Lottery retailer or by using a lottery courier. To choose your numbers over the Internet, simply visit our Tickets page.
In order to enter Mega Millions, you must select five numbers between 1 and 70 plus a Mega Ball from 1 to 24.
Not too sure which numbers to pick? On your ticket, mark the “QP” box and the terminal will give you a random selection of numbers. You can also ask your lottery retailer for a “Quick Pick” ticket. If you play online, you can use the Mega Millions number generator and you’ll get a random set of numbers in just a few seconds.
A Mega Millions ticket is $5 per play and includes an automatic Multiplier in place of the previously used Megaplier.
Draws take place at approximately 10:00 PM CT. You need to buy your tickets before the cut-off time of 9:45 PM CT on draw nights.
Multi-Draw Option
You can enter the same set of numbers in more than one drawing. All you need to do is mark the “Multi-Draw” box to play up to 26 consecutive drawings.
Multiplier
For each line of numbers you purchase you will also be assigned a random multiplier. This multiplies each prize you win by either 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 10x. Here are the odds of each ball being drawn:
- 2X Multiplier - 1 in 2.3 chance
- 3X Multiplier - 1 in 3.2 chance
- 4X Multiplier - 1 in 8 chance
- 5X Multiplier - 1 in 16 chance
- 10X Multiplier - 1 in 32 chance
Jackpot Payment Options
The grand prize can be paid out either as annuity or cash. On your Mega Millions ticket, you can mark “30 ANNUAL PAYMENTS” or the “CASH VALUE OPTION” to indicate how you’d like to receive your winnings.
If you want to get your prize in 30 installments over 29 years, mark “30 ANNUAL PAYMENTS”.
If you want to receive your win as a single payment of the present cash value of the jackpot prize, mark “CASH VALUE OPTION”. You cannot change the payment option at a later date.
Go to the Odds and Prizes page to learn more about the Mega Millions jackpot, plus the other ways to win.
Another option is to ‘Play It Again’, where you can take an old ticket from the last 30 days to a retailer and get a new ticket with all the same selections. The cost of the new ticket matches the original play.
When to check the winning numbers?
You can check the Mega Millions winning numbers for the draws you entered on our Numbers page. For older results, you can visit Past Numbers for draws held in the last six months or Archive pages for all the winning numbers drawn in certain years.