History of Mega Millions in Timeline
Mega Millions is a multijurisdictional American lottery game that began on September 6, 1996. Initially involving six states, it has expanded to 45 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands as of June 30, 2023. A Tuesday drawing was added in 1998. The original name was "The Big Game", with the first Mega Millions drawing taking place in 2002. The logo features a gold ball with six stars, representing the game's initial membership.
August 31, 1996: Tickets Sales Began
On August 31, 1996, tickets for The Big Game began to be sold in Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Virginia.
September 6, 1996: First Drawing
On September 6, 1996, the first Mega Millions drawing (originally known as The Big Game) took place with six participating states: Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Virginia.
January 1999: Cash Option Introduced
Beginning in January 1999, jackpot winners were given the option to receive their prize in cash.
May 15, 2002: Ohio and New York Join
On May 15, 2002, Ohio and New York joined The Big Game consortium, and the game was temporarily renamed The Big Game Mega Millions.
February 2003: Logo Change
In February 2003, the yellow ball in the Mega Millions logo, which previously read "The Big Game", was replaced with six stars representing the original members of the consortium.
December 30, 2003: Elecia Battle claims to have lost winning ticket
In January 2004, Elecia Battle claimed that she had lost the winning ticket in the December 30, 2003, Mega Millions drawing and filed a lawsuit against Rebecca Jemison.
January 2004: Elecia Battle admits to lying about lost ticket
In January 2004, Elecia Battle admitted she lied about losing the winning Mega Millions ticket from December 30, 2003, and was charged with filing a false police report.
June 24, 2005: Drawing in Hollywood
On June 24, 2005, to commemorate California joining Mega Millions, that night's drawing was held in Hollywood, with Carrie Underwood assisting host Glenn Burns for the draw.
November 15, 2005: "The Lucky 7" wins Jackpot
For the November 15, 2005, drawing, a group called "The Lucky 7" held the only jackpot-winning ticket, purchased in Anaheim, California, winning $315 million.
2005: Mega Millions targeted in mailing scam
In 2005, Mega Millions was the target of a mailing scam. Scammers sent letters with bogus checks claiming to be unclaimed prizes to trick people into providing personal financial information.
July 1, 2006: New Jersey Lottery shut down due to government shutdown
Due to the 2006 New Jersey Government shutdown, the New Jersey Lottery was temporarily closed on July 1, 2006, preventing Mega Millions from being played in New Jersey.
March 6, 2007: Jackpot Reaches $390 Million
On March 6, 2007, the Mega Millions jackpot reached $390 million, which was then the third-largest jackpot in U.S. history. The jackpot was shared by two tickets.
2007: Unclaimed Mega Millions prizes
In 2007, a $31 million Mega Millions prize went unclaimed in New York. Additionally, many prizes of $250,000 each were unclaimed, including several in Michigan for 2007 drawings.
2008: Mega Millions drawings hosted by WSB and Georgia Lottery hosts
From 2008-2025, Mega Millions drawings were emceed by the hosts of the Georgia Lottery drawings John Crow, Atlanta radio host Carol Blackmon and Adria Wofford. The drawings are supervised by Lottery Security and certified by Preston, CPA.
October 13, 2009: Agreement to Cross-Sell
On October 13, 2009, the Mega Millions consortium and Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) reached an agreement in principle to cross-sell Mega Millions and Powerball in American lottery jurisdictions.
October 2009: Agreement Between Mega Millions and MUSL
In October 2009, an agreement between Mega Millions and MUSL allowed all U.S. lotteries, including New Jersey's, to offer both games.
January 31, 2010: Cross-Sell Expansion
On January 31, 2010, the cross-sell expansion occurred, as 23 Powerball members began selling Mega Millions tickets, and 10 Mega Millions members began selling Powerball tickets.
February 2, 2010: First Drawing
On February 2, 2010, 23 Powerball members began selling Mega Millions tickets for their first drawing.
March 1, 2010: Montana Joins
On March 1, 2010, Montana became the first jurisdiction to add either game after the cross-sell expansion.
March 13, 2010: New Jersey Wins Powerball Jackpot
On March 13, 2010, New Jersey became the first Mega Millions participant to produce a jackpot-winning ticket for Powerball after joining that game.
March 20, 2010: Nebraska Joins
On March 20, 2010, Nebraska joined Mega Millions after the cross-sell expansion.
March 28, 2010: Oregon Joins
On March 28, 2010, Oregon joined Mega Millions after the cross-sell expansion.
April 16, 2010: Ohio Joins Powerball
Ohio joined Powerball on April 16, 2010.
April 18, 2010: Arizona Joins
On April 18, 2010, Arizona joined Mega Millions after the cross-sell expansion.
May 9, 2010: Maine Joins
On May 9, 2010, Maine joined Mega Millions after the cross-sell expansion.
May 16, 2010: Colorado and South Dakota Join
On May 16, 2010, Colorado and South Dakota joined Mega Millions after the cross-sell expansion.
May 28, 2010: North Carolina Wins Mega Millions Jackpot
On May 28, 2010, North Carolina became the first Powerball member to produce a jackpot-winning Mega Millions ticket after joining Mega Millions.
September 12, 2010: Increased Prize with Megaplier
Beginning September 12, 2010, Mega Millions tickets bought with the Megaplier option automatically won $1 million (instead of $250,000) if the five white balls – but excluding the Mega Ball – are matched.
October 2010: U.S. Virgin Islands Joins
In October 2010, the U.S. Virgin Islands joined Mega Millions.
January 4, 2011: Mega Millions drawing resembles 'Lost' numbers
On January 4, 2011, the Mega Millions drawing drew attention for its similarity to "The Numbers" from the ABC drama series Lost. The first three numbers and the mega ball matched numbers used in the series, resulting in some players winning $150 (or $600 with the multiplier).
January 2011: Megaplier Expansion
By January 2011, all Mega Millions lotteries, except for California, offered the Megaplier option.
November 2011: Louisiana Joins
In November 2011, Louisiana joined Mega Millions.
November 16, 2011: Louisiana Joins Mega Millions
On November 16, 2011, Louisiana's lottery joined Mega Millions.
January 2012: Powerball Altered
In January 2012, Mega Millions' rival Powerball was altered, among the changes were a price increase of $1 for each play.
January 24, 2012: Mega Millions jackpot won before March 30 drawing
At least $1.5 billion was spent on Mega Millions tickets for the drawings following its previous jackpot win on January 24, 2012, leading up to the March 30, 2012 drawing.
March 30, 2012: Mega Millions jackpot reaches $656 million
On March 30, 2012, the Mega Millions jackpot reached $656 million (annuitized) or $462 million (cash value) after brisk ticket sales pushed the jackpot values higher. Three jackpot-winning tickets were confirmed in Illinois, Kansas, and Maryland.
May 15, 2013: Florida Joins Mega Millions
On May 15, 2013, Florida joined Mega Millions.
October 18, 2013: Final 5/56 + 1/46 Drawing
The final 5/56 + 1/46 Mega Millions drawing was held on October 18, 2013; that night's jackpot of $37 million was not won.
October 19, 2013: Odds of Winning Changed
From October 19, 2013, to October 27, 2017, the odds of winning or sharing a Mega Millions jackpot were one in about 258.9 million. The overall odds of winning a prize were one in 14.71.
October 22, 2013: First Drawing Under Revised Format
On October 22, 2013, the first drawing under the revised 5/75 + 1/15 format occurred. The minimum jackpot was then $15 million, with rollovers of at least $5 million. Second prize (5+0) became $1 million cash.
December 17, 2013: Mega Millions jackpot won with two tickets
The Mega Millions jackpot for the December 17, 2013, drawing was $648 million, with two winning tickets sold, one each from California and Georgia.
January 3, 2014: California ticket holder claims prize
On January 3, 2014, the holder of the California ticket from the December 17, 2013, drawing claimed the prize, receiving an equal share but potentially a larger cash-option amount due to California lottery winnings being exempt from state income tax.
2014: Mega Millions drawings removed from WGN America
In late 2014, Mega Millions drawings were removed from WGN America when it ceased carrying WGN's newscasts.
July 8, 2016: Mega Millions jackpot won in Indiana
The Mega Millions jackpot for the July 8, 2016, drawing was $540 million. One ticket from Indiana won the jackpot; the winner chose the cash option.
October 28, 2017: Previous Format Begins
On October 28, 2017, Mega Millions' previous format began. In this version, five white balls are drawn from a pool of 70, and one gold-colored "MegaBall" is drawn from a separate pool of 24. A player must match all six numbers to win the jackpot.
October 31, 2017: First Drawing at New Price Point
On October 31, 2017, the first Mega Millions drawing was held under the new price point of $2 per play. The Mega Millions double matrix changed, from 5/75 + 1/15 to the existing 5/70 + 1/25. The starting jackpot became $40 million.
March 30, 2018: Mega Millions jackpot won in New Jersey
The Mega Millions jackpot for the March 30, 2018, drawing was $533 million. One ticket from New Jersey won the jackpot; Riverdale Lukoil South Gas Station sold the winning ticket.
July 24, 2018: Ninth-largest Mega Millions jackpot won
The July 24, 2018, drawing produced the ninth-largest Mega Millions jackpot, with an annuity value of $543 million. The 11 co-workers at a Wells Fargo branch in San Jose who held the winning ticket chose to split the $320 million cash lump sum.
August 2018: Lottery Bill Passed in Mississippi
In August 2018, a bill establishing a lottery in Mississippi was passed and sent to its governor for his signature.
October 23, 2018: Second-largest Mega Millions jackpot won in South Carolina
On October 23, 2018, the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot, worth $1.537 billion, was won by a single ticket sold in South Carolina.
March 5, 2019: South Carolina jackpot winner claims prize anonymously
On March 5, 2019, the winner of the $1.537 billion Mega Millions jackpot claimed their prize anonymously under South Carolina law.
November 25, 2019: Mississippi Lottery Begins
On November 25, 2019, the lottery in Mississippi began.
January 30, 2020: Mississippi Joins Mega Millions
On January 30, 2020, Mississippi officially joined Mega Millions.
April 7, 2020: Mega Millions jackpot temporarily reset due to COVID-19
On April 7, 2020, the Mega Millions starting jackpot was temporarily reset from $40 million to $20 million due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, with a minimum $2 million rollover per drawing to discourage crowding and account for lower interest rates.
May 11, 2022: Incorrect mega ball number called
On May 11, 2022, Crow incorrectly called the mega ball number as a "6" instead of the actual "9". The New York Lottery paid $5,538 to customers before discovering the error.
July 29, 2022: Fourth-largest Mega Millions jackpot won in Illinois
On July 29, 2022, the fourth-largest Mega Millions jackpot worth $1.34 billion was won following the drawing, with one winning ticket sold in Illinois.
2022: Adria Wofford replaces Sabrina Cupit
In 2022, Sabrina Cupit was replaced by Adria Wofford as secondary host for Mega Millions drawings.
January 13, 2023: Third-largest Mega Millions jackpot won in Maine
On January 13, 2023, the third-largest Mega Millions jackpot, worth $1.35 billion, was won following the drawing, with one winning ticket sold in Maine, marking the first jackpot ticket sold in the state.
August 8, 2023: Largest Mega Millions jackpot won in Florida
On August 8, 2023, the largest Mega Millions jackpot of $1.602 billion was won in Neptune Beach, Florida. The winning ticket was sold at Publix, with the winner choosing the cash option of $794.2 million.
2023: Adria Wofford promoted, Carol Blackmon demoted
In 2023, Adria Wofford was promoted to co-host serving alongside Crow, while Carol Blackmon was demoted to back-up host if neither primary host is available.
March 26, 2024: Sixth-largest Mega Millions jackpot won in New Jersey
On March 26, 2024, the sixth-largest Mega Millions jackpot worth $1.13 billion was won following the drawing, with one winning ticket sold in New Jersey.
October 7, 2024: Mega Millions announces new format taking effect in April 2025
On October 7, 2024, Mega Millions announced a new format that would take effect on April 5, 2025, increasing the play cost to $5, including the Megaplier, raising the starting jackpot to $50 million, and reducing the Mega Ball matrix.
December 27, 2024: Fifth-largest Mega Millions jackpot won in California
The fifth-largest Mega Millions jackpot worth $1.22 billion was won on December 27, 2024. The winning ticket was sold in Cottonwood, California. Additionally, five others won the secondary prize across multiple states.
April 5, 2025: New Regulations Begin
April 5, 2025 marked the beginning of the existing version's regulations for Mega Millions, with the first drawing planned for April 8. These regulations include a minimum advertised jackpot of $50 million, paid in 30 graduated yearly installments, increasing 5% each year, unless the cash option is chosen.
April 8, 2025: New Mega Millions format takes effect
The new Mega Millions format took effect on April 5, 2025 in time for the April 8, 2025 drawing, increasing the play cost to $5 which includes the Megaplier. The Megaplier received a 10x multiplier. The starting jackpot also increased from $20 million to $50 million, and the matrix features one less Mega Ball.
April 2025: Mega Millions format changes in April 2025
In April 2025, format changes to Mega Millions included allowing the Megaplier to be activated for an extra $1. A player could have their non-jackpot prize multiplied by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10. The 10X multiplier was introduced with the April 2025 format change.
April 2025: California prize levels are parimutuel, Megaplier not offered until April 2025
In California, prize levels are paid on a parimutuel basis. California's second prize is a "secondary jackpot". California's eight lower-tier Mega Millions prize pools are separate from those shared by the other 45 lotteries. California did not offer the Megaplier until the April 2025 format changes.
April 2025: Existing Format Begins
The existing Mega Millions format began in April 2025. Plays are $5 per game. Each game has an attached, randomly-generated value known as the Megaplier, which multiplies nonjackpot prizes.
2025: John Crow announces soft retirement from Mega Millions
On Friday, December 12 2025, Crow announced that he will be soft retiring from Mega Millions and The Georgia Lottery on December 26 to spend more time with family. He will remain with the lottery on an “emeritus” status.
2026: Carol Blackmon and Adria Wofford become primary hosts of Mega Millions
As of 2026, Carol Blackmon hosts Mega Millions drawings on Tuesdays, and Adria Wofford hosts the drawings on Fridays, supervised by Lottery Security and certified by Preston, CPA.
Mentioned in this timeline
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