ORLANDO, Florida – Florida Lottery players will soon have the opportunity to win another multi-state, mega-jackpot game, when MEGA MILLIONS® makes its debut in the Sunshine State on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, just one day after the next MEGA MILLIONS drawing on Tuesday where the jackpot has grown to an estimated $170 Million ($126 Million Cash Option).
MEGA MILLIONS offers players opportunities to win multi-million-dollar jackpots starting at $12 million and non-jackpot prizes ranging from $2 to $250,000, or up to $1 million if the ticket includes Megaplier®. Overall odds of winning a prize in the game are 1 in 40. The odds of winning the MEGA MILLIONS jackpot are 1 in 175,711,536.
“MEGA MILLIONS will be a great addition to the Florida Lottery’s product mix,” said Florida Lottery Secretary Cynthia O’Connell. “Players can enjoy playing a multi-state game at a $1 price point, and two additional drawings a week means more chances to win!”
Florida will become the 43rd state to join the game, which is also offered in the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Florida Lottery officials say that the MEGA MILLIONS will generate millions of additional dollars for education and grow commissions for the benefit of the Lottery’s more than 13,000 retailers, the majority of which are small, independently-owned businesses.
MEGA MILLIONS drawings are held Tuesday and Friday nights at 11:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Tickets may be purchased until 10:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the night of the drawing.
All MEGA MILLIONS prizes are set payouts, except the jackpot. The jackpot prize will be shared among winners in all MEGA MILLIONS states. The jackpot will be paid in 26 annual payments or a one-time cash payment of a reduced amount. If there is no jackpot winner, the money in the jackpot pool rolls over to the next MEGA MILLIONS drawing.
All MEGA MILLIONS prizes must be claimed in the state where the ticket was purchased. MEGA MILLIONS prizes must be claimed within 180 days after the winning drawing date. Federal income taxes will be withheld from MEGA MILLIONS prizes as required by the Internal Revenue Code at the time payments are made. Any additional federal, state and/or local taxes shall be the responsibility of the winner. Prizes of up to $1 million may be claimed at a Florida Lottery district office. Prizes of more than $1 million must be claimed at Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee.