Mega Millions: These are the numbers that have been played the most since the beginning of the game.

While your odds of hitting the jackpot remain the same no matter what, some Mega Millions numbers have become a bit more common than others over the last 20 years.

WASHINGTON. There’s a $1.35 billion prize up for grabs on Friday night, so it’s important to pick the right numbers for your Mega Millions ticket. But are all numbers the same?

The short answer is yes: each number combination has a 1 in 302 million chance of winning the jackpot. While these odds can be astronomical, some numbers seem “luckier” than others.

Fun fact: According to the lottery, if a $1.35 billion prize is won on Friday, it would be the seventh Mega Millions jackpot won on Friday the 13th.

The Wisconsin Lottery even publishes these lucky numbers on its website, showing players which numbers have been drawn the most since the game launched in 2002.

What are the most frequently drawn Mega Millions numbers? (since 2002)

While it would be easy to say that you have a better chance of hitting the jackpot by picking these numbers, it’s not that simple. There is no strategy to choose from due to the randomness associated with the winning numbers. While some numbers have been played more than others, this is to be expected given the game has been around for over two decades.

What are the most frequently drawn Megaball numbers?

The game has gone through some changes over the years. But since October 2017, players have been choosing five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25.

Are some lottery numbers more lucky?

Statistics professor Rong Chen said in a question and answer article from Rutgers University that any combination has the same chance. Just because a combination was chosen in the past does not mean that the combination is more or less likely to win: “These numbers have the same chance of winning as any other numbers today.”

Chen said that combinations that other players are less likely to pick, such as strong patterns or numbers that are too high to be a birth date, can hurt your chances of splitting the jackpot. However, this does not increase your chances of winning.

How are Mega Millions numbers selected?

Mega Millions began in 2002 with a rebrand of The Big Game and a change in how the game worked. Players had to match five numbers out of 52, with 52 options available for an individual Mega Millions ball.

Fun fact, the very first Mega Millions draw had a jackpot winner. In Illinois, the ticket was sold for $28 million.

According to lottonumbers.com, which tracks lottery statistics, the game has gone through many changes since then.

In 2005, it became more difficult to get all five numbers right; the pool has been increased from 52 to 56. To compensate, the lottery developers have reduced the pool for the Mega Millions ball to 46 options.

In 2013, the format was changed again, with the main pool expanded to 75 variants and the Mega Ball pool reduced to 15 variants.

In 2017, Mega Millions reversed course by reducing the main pool to 70 and increasing the Mega Ball pool to 25. This current iteration makes it harder to win the jackpot but makes it easier for players to claim the prize.

What will I win if I choose the correct Mega Millions number?

The prize offers for Mega Millions are a little tricky, with many relying on you getting the Mega Ball right. In general, the chance of winning a prize each time you buy a $2 ticket is 1:24. Here are the official prize payouts:

  • 1 match – No prize
  • Mega Ball Match – $2 (1 in 37 chances)
  • 2 matches – no prize
  • 1 match + Mega Ball match – $4 (1 in 89 chances)
  • 2 matches + Mega Ball match – $10 (1 in 693 chances)
  • 3 matches – $10 (1 of 606 odds)
  • 3 Matches + Mega Ball Match – $200 (1 out of 14 547 chances)
  • 4 matches – $500 (1 out of 38 792 chances)
  • 4 Matches + Mega Ball Match – $10,000 (1 out of 931 001 chances)
  • 5 matches – $1 million (1 out of 12 607 306 chances)
  • 5 Matches + Mega Ball Match – Jackpot! (1 in 302,575,350 chances)

What are the biggest US lottery jackpots ever won?

1. $2.04 billion Powerball November 8, 2022 (one ticket from California)

2. $1.586 billion Powerball, January 13, 2016 (three tickets from California, Florida and Tennessee)

3. $1.537 billion Mega Millions October 23, 2018 (one ticket from South Carolina)

4. $1.35 billion (est.), Mega Millions, January 13, 2023

5. $1.337 billion Mega Millions July 29, 2022 (one ticket from Illinois)

6. $1.05 billion Mega Millions January 22, 2021 (one ticket from Michigan)

7. $768.4 million Powerball March 27, 2019 (one ticket from Wisconsin)

8. $758.7M Powerball August 23, 2017 (one ticket from Massachusetts)

9. $731.1M Powerball January 20, 2021 (one ticket from Maryland)

10. $699.8 million Powerball, October 4, 2021 (one ticket from California)

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