How was Mega Millions created?

The history of Mega Millions is as exciting as playing the game! Following a record $363 million Big Game jackpot in 2000, interest in multi-state games was at an all-time high. And as interest in the multi-state games grew, so did the participants. In May 2002, New York and Ohio joined Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey and Virginia to create Mega Millions!

Sales for the country's newest multi-state jackpot game began on May 15, 2002, and the first drawing was May 17, 2002. Mega Millions jackpots start at $12 million and, with millions of people playing, jackpots can roll to even higher levels at a faster rate.

It didn't take long for players in other states to join the mega fun! By September 2002, Washington had joined Mega Millions and in December 2003, Texas began offering the game to its players. In June 2005, California became the 12th member, solidifying Mega Millions as the country's most widely played multi-state jackpot game.

On January 31, 2010, 23 more state lotteries joined Mega Millions as an historic cross-selling agreement between Mega Millions and Powerball went into effect. Today, all American lotteries participate in Mega Millions, including the Virgin Islands Lottery.