Wisconsin - Megabucks

Megabucks

Megabucks is one of several popular state lottery games operated by Wisconsin Lottery.

Draws are held twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 21:00 local time, with tickets remaining on sale right up until the draw is made.

Tickets cost $1.00 for two entries into the draw.

To play, choose two sets of six numbers between 1 and 49, or go for a Quick Pick for randomly generated numbers.

EZ Match numbers are available for an additional $1.00, which are printed onto the ticket next to the corresponding prize amount. Players who match any chosen EZ Numbers with their main Megabucks numbers win an instant cash prize of up to $250.

Advance Play allows participants to enter up to 8 draws at a time.

Jackpot

Megabucks has a minimum guaranteed jackpot of $1 million.

This is a rollover lottery, with neither the jackpot or the number of rollovers being capped.

The biggest ever winning Megabucks jackpot was $22.2 million in May 2015, paid out as a cash lump sum for a reduced total of $15.7 million.

Odds and Prizes

The odds of winning the Megabucks jackpot are 1 in 6,991,908, which are typical odds for a 6/49 lottery, although there are other global lotteries with similar chances of winning but with much better prizes.

Players can win prizes at four different tiers.

Payout and Taxes

In the United States, all US lottery winnings over $600 are reported to the Inland Revenue Service, with prizes over $5,000 having 25% deducted for federal tax. Also, prizes over $2,000 are subject to state taxation of 7.65%.

Players have up to 180 days to claim Megabucks and EZ Match prizes.

Jackpot winners can choose to receive annual instalments or take a smaller cash lump sum instead. Winners have 60 days to notify Wisconsin Lottery of this decision, otherwise payments will be made as annual instalments by default.

Who Can Play Megabucks?

Participants must be at least 18 years of age.

Tickets can be purchased from authorized lottery retailers across Wisconsin.

Megabucks is not available to players in other US states or to participants from abroad.

History of Megabucks

Wisconsin Lottery was founded in 1988, with the first Megabucks draw taking place on June 18, 1992, which was also the first game to offer twice-weekly draws. Megabucks has maintained the same draw frequency and format throughout its existence.