Louisiana Lottery adds Mega Millions

Oct 21, 2011, 2:33 pm (16 comments)

Mega Millions

Mega Millions on sale in Louisiana starting Nov. 16

Jackpot lovers will have more reasons to smile on Nov. 16 when the Louisiana Lottery begins sales for the multi-state game Mega Millions, with drawings on Tuesdays and Fridays.

The Louisiana Lottery currently offers the multi-state jackpot game Powerball with drawings on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

"Featuring a starting jackpot of $12 million, unique draw nights and only $1 per play, Mega Millions brings our players more jackpot game choices than ever before," explained Lottery President Rose Hudson. "With Mega Millions, we continue to diversify our draw-style game portfolio — including Powerball, Lotto, Easy 5, Pick 3 and Pick 4 — offering something for everyone."

Starting Nov. 16, Mega Millions can be played for $1 per play at any official Lottery retailer by selecting five numbers from a field of 56 and one yellow Mega Ball number from a field of 46.

For matching all six numbers, players win the jackpot prize which starts at $12 million and continues to grow, based on sales, until it is won. The jackpot prize is advertised as an annuity, payable in 26 equal annual installments; however, players have the option of choosing a one-time lump sum payment equal to the amount of money that would have been invested to provide the annuity. The jackpot prize is pari-mutuel, meaning it will be divided equally among multiple winners. The odds of winning the jackpot prize are 1 in 175.7 million.

Louisiana Mega MillionsMega Millions also features eight additional prize levels for different number-matching combinations that range from $250,000 for matching all five white ball numbers but missing the Mega Ball to $2 for matching just the yellow Mega Ball. Overall odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are 1 in 40.

Louisiana will also sell the Megaplier option for Mega Millions.

Mega Millions players can multiply any non-jackpot prize up to four times when they add the Megaplier option to their ticket for an additional $1 per play. At the time of each Mega Millions drawing, a Megaplier number of 2, 3 or 4 is drawn from a weighted field of 21 numbers (two 2s, seven 3s and twelve 4s). Mega Millions prizes for the bottom seven tiers ($2 to $10,000) are multiplied by that number. For example, if a player wins the $10 Mega Millions prize and the Megaplier is 4, the prize becomes $40. Also, the $250,000 match-5 prize becomes a set prize of $1 million when the Megaplier is purchased.

Mega Millions drawings are held at 10 p.m. CST every Tuesday and Friday in Atlanta, Georgia. Tickets can be purchased in Louisiana until 9 p.m. on the day of the drawing; tickets purchased after 9 p.m. on drawing nights will be valid for the next drawing(s). Beginning Nov. 18, Mega Millions drawings will be broadcast on official Louisiana Lottery Drawing Show TV stations. Winning numbers will also be published minutes after the drawing on Lottery Post's Louisiana Lottery Results page, and at USA Mega.

As with all Lottery prizes, Mega Millions prizes are subject to federal and state tax withholding as required by law and in Louisiana must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing in which they are won.

Mega Millions match-5 prizes with Megaplier ($1 million prize) and jackpot prizes must be claimed at Lottery headquarters in Baton Rouge. Mega Millions prizes over $600 must be claimed at a Lottery regional office, and prizes of up to $600 may be paid by participating retailers.

"As we celebrate our 20th year of providing exciting entertainment options for our players, it's the perfect time to introduce Mega Millions," said Hudson. "We're anxious to welcome new Mega Millions millionaires into our family of mega-jackpot winners that includes 14 Louisiana Powerball jackpot winners."

Mega Millions is currently played in 41 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Louisiana will become the 42nd state offering the game.

Thanks to PrisonerSix for the tip.

Press Release, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Congrats Louisiana......Thumbs Up

CLETU$

Congratulations.Louisiana.

Raven62's avatarRaven62

Play On America: Celebrate Having Enough Money to Play!

sully16's avatarsully16

Congrats, wishing the players good luck.

joshuacloak's avatarjoshuacloak

1 more down, 2 more states to go ,      to cross selling agrement leads national games

 

now florida needs to take mega millions, and CA needs to take powerball, and we have a true"national" jackpot games offered in ever single one of our lottery states.

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Congrats to Louzianna !  Dance

PrisonerSix

I'm glad we're getting it, especially with Powerball going to $2/ticket in January.  I run a lottery club at my office and I was concerned about having to either raise the price or cut back on the number of tickets we buy.  We now have another option.  They go on sale November 16 and I want to be one of the first to buy.

earthdragon72

Florida next please!!!!

Imgonnawin19's avatarImgonnawin19

Congrats Louisiana! Yes California needs a powerball I'm originally from Michigan but now residing in Cali.Thumbs Up

LottoGuyBC's avatarLottoGuyBC

Congratz Louisiana Cheers

dusty55's avatardusty55

'Bout time. It'll be nice to have a choice.

BuyLow's avatarBuyLow

Quote: Originally posted by earthdragon72 on Oct 22, 2011

Florida next please!!!!

I emailed them......here's what I got...

 

Thank you for taking the time to write and share your thoughts with the Florida Lottery. The Florida Lottery has no plans at this time to launch or join MEGA MILLIONS. Careful deliberation and due diligence is applied in determining the Lottery's future games. Since the ability to offer both POWERBALL® and MEGA MILLIONS by any one lottery was granted last year, the Florida Lottery has decided to take some additional time to gauge the success of providing players with both multi-state games and the impact this may have on contributions to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund.  Once we have a more solid sense of this, we will make a determination as to whether it is in Florida’s best interest to offer both games. Please rest assured that we will continue to review and consider future enhancements to our game portfolio that will both appeal to our players and benefit education in our state.

 

We thank you for taking the time to voice your opinion on this matter, and for your support of Florida Lottery games. The Florida Lottery takes its mandate of generating additional funds for education very seriously, and we do appreciate your input.  In fact, our Product Development team pays close attention to player preference as new games are evaluated and added to the Lottery’s product mix. If you have additional questions, please write back or contact the Customer Service office by telephone at (850) 487-7787 where a representative will gladly assist you from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

 

Sincerely,

Florida Lottery Customer Service

AskLott/yp

ressuccess's avatarressuccess

Good luck to Louisana in Mega Millions sales.

PrisonerSix

Quote: Originally posted by ressuccess on Oct 28, 2011

Good luck to Louisana in Mega Millions sales.

I plan to be the first big winner!

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