
A cash-value option (the usual choice), when chosen by a jackpot winner, pays the approximate present value of the installments. Reflecting common practice among American lotteries, the jackpot is advertised as a nominal value of annual installments. The jackpot increases when no top-prize winner results. Under the current version's regulations (which began October 28, 2017, with the first drawing October 31) for Mega Millions, the minimum Mega Millions advertised jackpot is $20 million, paid in 30 graduated yearly installments, increasing 5% each year (unless the cash option is chosen see below for differences by lotteries on cash/annuity choice regulations). The hosts are John Crow and Adrian Wollford. Mega Millions is administered by a consortium of its 12 original lotteries the drawings are held at the studios of WSB-TV in Atlanta, Georgia, supervised by the Georgia Lottery. Mega Millions is drawn at 11 pm Eastern Time on Tuesday and Friday evenings, including holidays. What is now Mega Millions initially was offered in six states the logo for all versions of the game following the retirement of The Big Game name featured a gold-colored ball with six stars to represent the game's initial membership, although some lotteries insert their respective logos in the ball.


The first (The Big Game) Mega Millions drawing was in 2002.

Mega Millions (originally known as The Big Game in 1996 and renamed, temporarily, to The Big Game Mega Millions six years later) is an American multijurisdictional lottery game as of June 30, 2023, it is offered in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. American multi-jurisdictional lottery game
