2023

Megabucks is redesigned with better odds of winning, a higher average jackpot, and bigger payouts for all levels of non-jackpot prizes. Players still select six numbers, but the amount of numbers to choose from is reduced from 49 to 44, significantly improving the odds of winning. The “Doubler” component is eliminated from the game and the ticket price changes from $1 to $2. A third weekly drawing is added, with Monday joining Wednesday and Saturday. The first drawing with the new format is Monday, November 13.

A Keno ticket sold in Pittsfield for a game that took place Wednesday, March 22 won the first $1 million prize since the game was introduced in 1993. In addition to the $1 million prize, one $500,000 prize and four $100,000 prizes were won in the same game. The winning numbers for this game (#2551121) included every number from 1 through 13.

Billion Dollar Extravaganza, the Lottery’s first $50 instant ticket, premieres Tuesday, February 7. With over $1 billion in prizes, the game features the largest instant win prize in Mass Lottery history – $25 million, and the highest-ever payout percentage – 82.0%. The game includes an unprecedented 10 Second Chance Drawings, each offering 15 top prizes of $50,000.

On consecutive Tuesdays in January, Mega Millions jackpots are won on tickets sold in Massachusetts. A ticket sold at Stop & Shop in Belchertown won a $33 million jackpot in the January 24 drawing, and a ticket sold at Gibbs in Woburn won a $31 million jackpot in the January 31 drawing. This is only the second time in Mega Millions history that one lottery has had two jackpot winners in a span of three drawings.

The Lottery introduces The Wheel of Luck, a roulette-style game that complements Keno at participating retail locations across the state.

2022

As part of commemorating its 50th Anniversary, the Lottery launches its first ever oversized instant ticket, $50,000 Jumbo Bucks, featuring top prizes of $50,000 and the best chance in Mass Lottery history to win a $50 prize, with all winning tickets totaling $50 or more. The ticket is selected as a finalist for Best New Instant Game in North America.

2021

A mobile cashing feature is added to the Mass Lottery app, giving players the ability to claim prizes between $601 and $5,000 securely from the app and receive their winnings electronically to their bank account. 

2020

Originally launched in 2017, the Mass Lottery mobile application is enhanced with new features, including the ability to scan instant and draw game ticket barcodes to find out if tickets are winners.

2019

The Lottery returns a record $1.104 billion in net profit to the Commonwealth, surpassing the $1 billion mark for the second time in three years.

2017

A Powerball ticket purchased at Pride Station & Store in Chicopee is the sole winner of a $758.7 million Powerball jackpot. At the time, it is the largest jackpot prize ever won on a single ticket in North America.

The Lottery returns $1.039 billion in net profit to the Commonwealth, surpassing the $1 billion mark in a single fiscal year for the first time.

The Mass Lottery mobile application for Keno and All or Nothing launches.  The app gives players of these games the ability to watch drawings, check results and more.

2016

An annual Holiday Toy Drive is introduced, encouraging customers to donate toys for families in need, while reminding them that lottery tickets are not suitable gifts for those under the age of 18.

The “MA Lottery 2nd Chance” mobile application is introduced, allowing players to enter non-winning tickets into selected Second Chance Drawings by using a smartphone or tablet to scan a code on their tickets.

The Powerball jackpot surpasses the $1 billion mark for the first time, reaching a world-record $1.586 billion by the time of the drawing on January 13. There are three jackpot-winning tickets, one each in California, Florida and Tennessee.  Mass Lottery players wager a single-draw record $32,970,847.

2015

The Lottery surpasses the $5 billion mark in fiscal year sales for the first time ever, ringing up $5.014 billion in sales in FY 2015. 

2014

The Lottery’s first $30 ticket, World Class Millions, is introduced. The game features four top instant prizes of $15 million and five Second Chance Drawings to win $1 million. The ticket is awarded Best New Instant Game in North America.

2013

A Powerball ticket purchased at Appletown in Sterling is one of two winning tickets in the multi-state game’s December 11 drawing. The winner splits the $122.9 million jackpot with a player in Nebraska.

2012

The historic 12/12/12 date proves to be very lucky for two coworkers after the Powerball Quic Pic ticket they purchased together matches all five numbers plus the Power Ball selected in that evening’s drawing to win the multi-state game’s $50 million jackpot. The winning ticket was purchased at Lexington Shell.

A Mega Millions ticket purchased at AM/PM Convenience in Hyannis is one of two winning tickets in the multi-state game’s October 16 drawing. The winner splits the $61 million jackpot with a player in California.

Lucky for Life, a multi-state game available in all six New England states, is introduced. Massachusetts players have lots of luck in the inaugural drawing on March 15, winning the game’s top prize and two second prizes. A $1,000 a day for life prize is won on a ticket purchased at Myette’s Country Store in Hanover, while $25,000 prizes are won on tickets purchased at Shaw’s Supermarket in Canton and Patriot Pub in East Bridgewater.

2011

A $32 million Mega Millions jackpot is won on a ticket purchased at Tedeschi Food Shops in Dorchester for the August 19 drawing.

The Lottery brings the fun and excitement of a game show to lottery players across the state with its newest instant ticket, Wheel of Fortune. Pop culture icon Vanna White visits Boston to celebrate the launch of the new $5 ticket.

Mass Cash moves from a three-nights-a-week drawing to a nightly draw schedule.

A $25.6 million Powerball jackpot is won on a ticket purchased at Joe’s Market in Fall River for the June 8 drawing.  It is the first Powerball jackpot won on a ticket sold in Massachusetts.

2010

Powerball comes to Massachusetts as the Lottery becomes one of 45 lotteries across the country to offer both Mega Millions and Powerball.

2009

The New England Patriots Instant Ticket, the nation’s first instant game to feature an NFL team logo, is introduced. The game includes two chances to win up to $1 million in on-field promotions at Patriots home games.

2008

A second daily drawing is added to the Numbers Game, with a midday draw joining the longstanding evening draw.

The Lottery launches its Red Carpet VIP Club, an Internet-based player loyalty club players can join to receive email notifications of exciting new games, winning numbers, jackpot alerts and promotional information.

Keno-to-go is introduced, enabling players to make Keno wagers at retailers without Keno monitors and view game results online.

2007

The Lottery releases its first $20 instant ticket. Billion Dollar Blockbuster offers a better than one-in three chance of winning and features top instant prizes of $10 million. The game also includes one prize of $1 million a year for life to be awarded after the game is ended.

2006

The Red Sox Instant Ticket, the nation’s first instant game to feature an MLB team logo, is introduced, giving fans an opportunity to win season tickets for life.

2005

The Massachusetts Lottery and the Boston Red Sox announce a partnership to bring the 2004 World Series Trophy to each of the 351 cities and towns across the Commonwealth. The six-month long Trophy Tour comes to a close in June on the island of Gosnold.

2004

A Mega Millions ticket purchased at Powers Wine and Liquor in Lowell is the sole winner of a $294 million jackpot in the July 2 drawing. It is the first Mega Millions jackpot won in Massachusetts since the game was renamed (formerly The Big Game), and also the largest jackpot ever won in Massachusetts.

The Lottery’s new one-day bingo license program is launched to provide qualified charities with the opportunity to enhance fundraising efforts by conducting one-time-only bingo nights.

2002

The Big Game expands to include 10 states and is renamed Mega Millions.

2001

The Lottery launches its first-ever comprehensive anti-litter campaign, The Clean Fun Sweepstakes. The program, which allows players to submit $10 in non-winning instant tickets for a chance to win up to $100,000, results in 40 to 50 million non-winning instant tickets, or more than 85 tons of paper, being recycled.

1999

Millennium Spectacular, the Lottery’s first $10 instant game, makes its debut, offering an 80 percent prize payout, five $4 million prizes, and five $2 million prizes.

A Big Game ticket sold in Boston is the sole winner of a $197 million jackpot. At the time, it is the largest jackpot won in Massachusetts and the second-largest won in North America.

1996

Massachusetts joins five other states (Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan and Virginia) to create a multi-state jackpot game called the Big Game, which would later become Mega Millions.

1993

Keno is introduced, expanding the Lottery’s offerings beyond draw games and Instant Tickets.

1992

The Lottery’s first $5 instant ticket, Holiday Bonus, is introduced.

1991

Mass Cash is introduced. Players select 5 out of 35 numbers for a chance to win $100,000.

1988

Quic Pic wagers are introduced, allowing players to purchase draw game tickets with randomly selected numbers.

1984

Six winners split a then-national record $18.2 million jackpot in the Megabucks game.

1982

Megabucks, with a minimum jackpot of $400,000, is introduced.

1981

The Lottery installs its first computerized “on-line” wagering terminals at retailer locations throughout the state.

1976

The daily Numbers Game is introduced, allowing players to select their own numbers, type of bet, dollar amount, and number of drawings to play.

1974

Massachusetts becomes the first state to sell Instant Tickets as an alternative to jackpot games. “The Instant Game,” a $1 ticket, features a top instant prize of $10,000.

1973

The legislature transfers supervision of Bingo to the Lottery. This division later becomes known as Charitable Gaming.

1972

The Lottery sells its first ticket on March 22 and conducts its first drawing on April 6 at Faneuil Hall. Seven people win $50,000.

1971

Legislation to create a state lottery in Massachusetts is enacted to provide a source of local aid for all 351 cities and towns.