The 1, 2, 3s of Mega Millions

Everyone has dreamt about winning the lottery at some point – even if you haven’t bought a ticket! There is just something magical about the thought of never having to worry about money again.

A fun game is thinking about what you would spend your millions on – would you buy a big house? An expensive car?? A yacht??? There are probably all kinds of things you can think of to buy or invest in already. But the only way you will ever have a chance to win is by buying a ticket.

So, here is the information you need.

1. How to Play Mega Millions Online

How you play depends on which game you are going for. If you wanted to play the Mega Millions you would buy a ticket for a couple of Toonies and then choose 5 numbers from 1 - 70 and 1 number from 1 - 25. Then all you need to do is wait and watch the numbers roll in.

You will have a 1/24 chance of winning one of the 9 prizes available depending on the number of numbers you selected that match the winning balls. Be warned though, the chance of winning the jackpot is 1/302,575,350 so you should only play for fun!

1. When to Play

When to play is a more difficult question to answer. For you, the best time is always when you have a spare Toonie and fancy a flutter just for the fun of it. But there is some math that hints at some optimal times too.

According to Business Insider, it is clear that the higher the jackpot number, the more people are likely to play. This means that it is more likely that a winner will select the correct balls but it decreases the chance that the winner will be you.

On the other hand, given that a winner is more likely to be selected, the value of your ticket increases just a bit (though this is all theoretical and absolutely no use to you if you don’t win). It is also a little more likely that multiple people will win.

In the end, since you can’t predict the outcome, the best thing to do is play when it is fun and only play occasionally. As the math shows, this is not a great investment opportunity - it’s just a game.

1. Why People Play

People play for all kinds of different reasons but the main reason is that it is fun. For all that the chances of winning are incredibly remote, there is still something exciting about clutching your ticket in your hand and watching the balls roll in. This is a moment for imaginative escapism.

Some people also like to play as a syndicate which is a fun way to reduce the cost and increases your chances of winning. This is a fun way to bond and share your hopes and aspirations as a group.

So, now you know how to play, what would you spend your millions on?