How to pick winning mega million lottery numbers

Everyone wants to win the lottery. Keep an eye out for these common lottery numbers if you want to up your chances of hitting it big.

The chances of winning the lottery are about one in 300 million, but the unlikely odds don’t mean you can’t do more to up your chances of winning, like buying multiple tickets, playing every draw, or living in the state with the most lottery winners. Lucky lottery numbers are also a way to increase your chances. Here’s how to win the lottery (or at least boost your chances) by picking the most common lottery numbers (just one of the things lottery winners won’t tell you.)

How to pick lottery numbers

Instead of picking a meaningful date, like a birthday or anniversary, it’s a no-brainer to select the most common lottery numbers to boost your odds. And, yes, there is a way to find out lucky lottery numbers! There are a few websites that track the lottery numbers that are pulled the most; keeping track of them is a good method for how to pick lottery numbers. The most common Mega Ball number is 22. Meanwhile, stay clear of 21, 45, 50, 55, and 51 when choosing your first five numbers. (But keep in mind that the unlucky and lucky lottery numbers and their exact number of calls are always changing!)

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Most winning lottery numbers: Mega Millions

According to USA Mega, here are the most common Mega Millions numbers drawn since October 31, 2017:

  • 22
  • 11
  • 9
  • 10
  • 4
  • 19

22 was drawn 26 times and 11 was drawn 24 times. Several other of the most common Mega Millions numbers were drawn 18 times; these numbers are 13, 14, 17, 18, 24, and 25.

ZikG/Shutterstock

Most winning lottery numbers: Powerball

As for the most common Powerball numbers, you can check those out online as well, but here are a few:

  • 66
  • 23
  • 61
  • 53
  • 21
  • 63
  • 59
  • 69
  • 64
  • 20

According to CNBC, the Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots have both been on the rise. The Mega Millions jackpot is a hefty $244 million, but the Powerball jackpot is tipping the scale at $540 million!

There might not be a better time to buy a ticket, cross your fingers, and select these lucky numbers. Of course, there’s no guarantee that choosing these digits will win you the lotto, since past frequency doesn’t determine what numbers come next. Read up on this lottery ticket dispute in which a couple agreed to split the earnings if they won, but one left with everything.

Sources:

  • USAMega.com: “Mega Millions Statistics”
  • LottoNumbers.com: “Most Common Powerball Numbers”
  • CNBC: “Powerball’s jackpot surges to $540 million — yet doesn’t even crack the list of 10 largest lottery wins”

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How to pick winning mega million lottery numbers

$259

Million

Estimated Jackpot

Draw Date:

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

How to Play

For just $2, you could win the multi-state, multi-million-dollar MEGA MILLIONS® jackpot, which starts at $20 million. Match all 5 white balls and the Mega Ball to win the jackpot! Match just the 5 white balls and win $1,000,000; if your ticket includes the Megaplier® you win up to $5 million! Players can add Megaplier for $1 more per play to increase their non-jackpot winnings by up to five times!

To play, pick up a MEGA MILLIONS playslip at an authorized Florida Lottery retailer, use your FLorida Lottery mobile app to create a digital playslip, or purchase a QUICKTICKET™ in the check-out lane at select Lottery retail locations.

To Play at a Retailer Using a Playslip

Each playslip contains five panels (A-E). in each panel:

  1. Select five numbers from 1 through 70 in the upper play area or mark the QP(Quick Pick) box and let the terminal randomly pick some or all of your numbers.
  2. Select your Mega Ball number from 1 through 25 in the lower play area or mark the QP box for the terminal to randomly select your Mega Ball number.
  3. To win two to five times more on your non-jackpot prizes, select the Megaplier box. Megaplier costs $1 more per play. Please Note: The Megaplier box applies to all panels and Quick Picks played on the playslip.
  4. To play the same numbers for more than one draw, simply tell the retailer how many advance draws you wish to play or select the number of draws in the Advance Play section of your playslip.
  5. Review your selections carefully. MEGA MILLIONS tickets cannot be canceled.
  6. Give your completed playslip and payment to the retailer ($2 per play for MEGA MILLIONS, or $3 per play for MEGA MILLIONS with Megaplier). You will receive a ticket printed with your numbers, drawing date(s), and total cost of the ticket. MEGA MILLIONS with Megaplier tickets will display "MEGAPLIER YES."

How to pick winning mega million lottery numbers

Create a Playslip Using the Mobile App

  1. Download the free Florida Lottery mobile app, available to iOS and Android users.
  2. Open the Florida Lottery mobile app and select "MEGA MILLIONS," then scroll down and select the green "Pick Numbers" button.
  3. Select the number of draws you want to play. If none are selected, it will default to 1.
  4. Select five numbers from 1 through 70 or mark the QP (Quick Pick) box and let the terminal randomly pick some or all of your numbers. You can also use the "Shake to Play," "Play My Favorites," or "Random Numbers" options to select your numbers.
  5. Select your Mega Ball number from 1 through 25 or mark the QP box for the terminal to randomly select your Mega Ball number. You can also use the "Shake to Play," "Play My Favorites," or "Random Numbers" options to select your numbers.
  6. To win two to five times more on your non-jackpot prizes, select the Megaplier box. Megaplier costs $1 more per play. Please Note: The Megaplier box applies to all panels and Quick Picks played on the playslip.
  7. Mark the JACKPOT COMBO box to receive a $2 POWERBALL, a $2 FLORIDA LOTTO, and a $2 MEGA MILLIONS Quick Pick ticket for the next available draw date.
  8. To add additional plays, select "Add a Panel."
  9. When finished, select the "Create Playslip" button and a QR code will appear.
  10. Show this QR code to the retailer to scan. You will receive a ticket for each set of selected numbers and draw date(s). Please check your ticket(s) before you leave the store. You are responsible for the accuracy of your ticket(s).
  11. To keep your playslip QR code for future drawings, select "Add to Favorites."

To Play at a Retailer Using QUICKTICKET

Click here to view more information on how to play MEGA MILLIONS using a QUICKTICKET.

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. Tickets purchased after that time will be for the next drawing.

Megaplier®

Megaplier is a special feature that allows players to win two to five times their non-jackpot prizes, for just $1 more per play! A player must choose the Megaplier option on his/her MEGA MILLIONS playslip or tell the retailer that he/she wishes to purchase Megaplier. The Megaplier number, selected right before the MEGA MILLIONS draw, will determine the multiplier for that draw. See chart below for all Megaplier prize payouts.

MEGA MILLIONS® ODDS and PRIZES MEGAPLIER®PRIZES (increase your non-jackpot MEGA MILLIONS for $1 more per play.)
MatchOddsPrizex2
ODDS 1 in 3
x3
ODDS 1 in 2.5
x4
ODDS 1 in 5
x5
ODDS 1 in 15
Overall odds 1:24

     + 

1:302,575,350 $20 Million* - - - -
1:12,607,306 $1 Million $2 Million $3 Million $4 Million $5 Million

     + 

1:931,001 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000
1:38,792 $500 $1,000 $1,500 $2,000 $2,500

     + 

1:14,547 $200 $400 $600 $800 $1,000
1:606 $10 $20 $30 $40 $50

     + 

1:693 $10 $20 $30 $40 $50

     + 

1:89 $4 $8 $12 $16 $20
1:37 $2 $4 $6 $8 $10

*$20 million starting jackpots

How to Win

Each Tuesday and Friday night MEGA MILLIONS® drawings are conducted, in which five out of 70 numbers (white balls) and a Mega Ball number between 1 and 25 (gold ball) will be drawn at random. There are nine ways to win MEGA MILLIONS prizes by matching the winning numbers drawn in the official drawing for the date played. Match all five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win the jackpot or match any of the non-jackpot-winning combinations to win other great cash prizes!

All MEGA MILLIONS prizes are set payouts, except the jackpot. The jackpot prize will be shared among all jackpot winning plays in all MEGA MILLIONS states. The jackpot will be paid in 30 graduated 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 up to $599 may be claimed at any authorized Florida Lottery retailer; prizes $600 to less than $1 million may be claimed at any Florida Lottery district office; prizes $1 million or more must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. Beginning May 25, 2022, the names of Lottery winners claiming prizes of $250,000 or greater will be temporarily exempt from public disclosure (pursuant to F.S. 24.1051(3)(a)) for 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, unless otherwise waived by the winner. Read more about claiming Lottery prizes.

If you claim a prize on a winning Advance Play ticket before all of the draws on the ticket have occurred, you will be issued a continuation ticket for the remaining draws with the same play numbers as the original ticket.

All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the applicable drawing date. All MEGA MILLIONS prizes must be claimed in the state where the ticket was purchased.

What are the best numbers to pick for Mega Millions?

According to Lotto Numbers, the Mega Millions numbers that have appeared in the most draws since the start of the lottery are: 31, 17, 4, 20 and 10; while the most drawn Mega Ball number is 10. The least common numbers in recent years have been: 51, 49, 35, 55 and 5. The Mega Ball that has drawn the least is 7.

How do they pick Mega Millions numbers?

Five white balls are drawn from a set of balls numbered 1 through 70; one gold Mega Ball is drawn from a set of balls numbered 1 through 25. You win if the numbers on one row of your ticket match the numbers of the balls drawn on that date. There are nine ways to win a prize, from $2 to the jackpot.

What are the 6 most common winning lottery numbers?

According to data by LottoNumbers.com, which tracks lottery statistics and analysis, the 10 most commonly drawn Powerball numbers are:.
61 (drawn 78 times).
77 (77 times).
63 (73 times).
21 (73 times).
69 (71 times).
36 (70 times).
23 (70 times).
39 (69 times).

Is it better to pick your own numbers for Mega Millions?

No system of choosing randomly generated picks is better than any other system. Players are encouraged to use whatever system works for them, including their own picks.