Mega Millions, initially launched as "The Big Game" on September 6, 1996, in six states, is a prominent American multijurisdictional lottery. Renamed Mega Millions in 2002, it has significantly expanded its reach, now offered in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands as of June 2023.
Drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday evening in Atlanta, where players select five white balls from a pool of 70 and one gold "MegaBall" from a separate pool of 24 to win the jackpot, with a minimum advertised prize of $50 million under upcoming regulations. Each game costs $5 and includes the "Megaplier" option for an additional dollar, which can multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times.
A major milestone occurred in 2010 when Mega Millions and Powerball began cross-selling, making both popular lottery games widely accessible across most U.S. lottery jurisdictions.