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.