The Ohio Lottery Mega Millions

What is “Play it Again”?

The “Play it Again” feature is part of most Ohio Lottery on-line games, including Pick 3, Pick 4, Rolling Cash 5, Classic Lotto, Ten-OH!, KENO and Mega Millions/ MEGAPLIER. A second barcode, printed on each ticket above the game logo, permits a retailer to scan the ticket with the 2D reader and duplicate the exact wager information for the next scheduled drawing.

Why was the “Play it Again” feature added?

“Play it Again” was added as a convenience for players because it eliminates the need for a new bet card. The feature also allows retailers to reproduce a customer's wager by eliminating the need to manually enter the numbers.

How does it work?

Once the added bar code at the top of a ticket is scanned by the 2D reader the terminal will print out the exact wager showing on that ticket. The terminal will show a confirmation screen before printing the wager so the customer can verify the cost of the new wager.

What does it cost?

There is no additional charge for “Play it Again”. The customer pays only the cost of the duplicated ticket.

How are Mega Millions and MEGAPLIER wagers affected?

A Mega Millions ticket generated by the "Play it Again" barcode will include the same numbers played for each board, the draw duration, and the total wager amount.

What about Pick 3 and Pick 4 tickets?

“Play it Again” will duplicate the bet type, while offering players a choice of changing the following items:

• Midday or evening draws
• The number of draws
• The days of the week

 How does “Play it Again” work for the Bundle Play package?

The “Play it Again” feature will work only with the specific game ticket presented to a retailer.  It will function just like it does for most online game tickets.  A second barcode, printed on each ticket above the game logo, permits a retailer to scan the ticket with the 2D reader and duplicate the exact wager information for the next scheduled drawing.

How does “Play It Again” work on Bundle Play tickets?

Once the added bar code at the top of any Bundle Play ticket is scanned by the 2D reader the terminal will print out the exact wager showing on that ticket.  Using “Play It Again” on a Bundle Play ticket will only reproduce that game wager.  The entire Bundle Play package will not be duplicated.

If the ticket has the “Play it Again” barcode, can it be read regardless if it’s a winning, non-winning or expired ticket?

Yes. The “Play it Again” barcode located at the top of the ticket will read just like a bet card and duplicate the wager regardless of the status of the ticket.

Where can I play Mega Millions?

Mega Millions tickets may be purchased at licensed Ohio Lottery retailers.

Mega Millions tickets may also be purchased in another 41 U.S. jurisdictions. Mega Millions tickets purchased outside of Ohio are not redeemable in Ohio. The only U.S. jurisdictions that do not offer Mega Millions are Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Alaska, and Florida.

When and where are the drawings held?

Mega Millions drawings are held Tuesday and Friday nights at 11:00 p.m. eastern time by the Georgia Lottery in Atlanta. You can buy tickets until 10:45 p.m. eastern time in all Mega Millions states except Illinois and Washington due to time zone differences.

How do I claim a Mega Millions prize?

• Mega Millions tickets purchased in Ohio can only be cashed in Ohio.
• When you win the jackpot, you will be able to select either 26 annual payments or the Cash Option.
• For prizes up to $599, you can have your ticket validated and collect your prize from any on-line Ohio Lottery retailer (starting the day after the drawing)
• If your prize is $600 to $5,000, you may have your ticket validated at an on-line Ohio Lottery retailer and receive a Pay-to-Bearer and claim form. Payment may be received from a bank cashing location (for a fee) or by mailing the Pay-to-Bearer and claim form to the Ohio Lottery Commission, 615 W. Superior Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44113 for payment.
• Prizes over $5,000 must be validated at one of the Ohio Lottery regional offices and will require the completion of a claim form for check processing.
• Jackpot winners should contact the nearest Ohio Lottery regional office to make an appointment to submit a claim.
• All winning tickets are valid for 180 days after the drawing.

What is the Cash Option for Mega Millions?

The Mega Millions prize is an annuity prize, although players can, at the time of claim, choose the cash option. Upon claiming the winning Mega Millions jackpot, the prize winner is given the option to receive the prize winnings in a single cash payment. The gross cash option amount presents the sum of the first annuity installment plus the net proceeds from the sale of government securities originally purchased to fund the annuity prize. Government securities are susceptible to financial market conditions; therefore, the amount that is actually realized may vary from the amount originally invested, especially with the passage of time. As a result, the risk of loss rests with the prize winner.

Why are the odds of correctly matching the Mega Ball number 1 in 75 rather than 1 in 46?

The odds are calculated based on the entire wager a player makes, and a wager is made on two pools of numbers.

The 1 in 75 calculation includes the odds of matching zero numbers in the white ball pool (1 out of 56) and correctly matching the Mega Ball number in the second pool (1 out of 46). A player cannot make a wager on the Mega Ball number only.

If Mega Millions jackpot winners die before they receive their money, what happens to their winnings?

Lottery winnings, including installments that have not yet been paid, become part of the winner's estate, and are divided according to his or her will or trust. For this reason, the Ohio Lottery encourages Lottery winners to contact a financial advisor and competent attorney as soon as possible.

Is it possible to skip a play on Mega Millions and place a wager for the next draw?

Example: If a wager is placed on Thursday, can you skip the Friday Mega Millions drawing and play for Tuesday's jackpot?

This option is not currently available due to software limitations. Players are afforded the opportunity to purchase up to 10 concurrent draws in advance. Research shows that the majority of multi-draw players are satisfied with the current advance draw option.

Do agents receive a bonus for selling winning Mega Millions tickets?

Yes. The Mega Millions selling bonus is 1/10th of 1% of the advertised jackpot. For example, a $40 million dollar jackpot will award a $40,000 selling bonus for a winning ticket sold in Ohio. When there is more than one winning ticket sold in Ohio, the selling bonus will be a minimum of $10,000 per selling agent. There is a $100,000 cap on the selling bonus.