How Tickets Work
Each ticket costs $1 USDC and contains:- 5 normal numbers (selected from 1-30)
- 1 bonusball (selected from a separate, dynamic range)
Prize Tiers
There are 10 winning combinations, from matching all 5 normal balls plus the bonus ball (jackpot) down to bonus ball only.The lowest tier (bonus ball only) now pays USDC cash. It no longer awards a free ticket. Payouts change every round. The
/play page has been removed; check results in the app or on-chain.- No matches at all (0 normal numbers, no bonusball)
- 1 normal number only (no bonusball)
How Payouts Are Calculated
Megapot uses a two-part payout system that combines guaranteed minimums with premium payouts. Here is how it works:Step 1: Guaranteed Minimums
Each winning tier (except no-win combinations) has a guaranteed minimum payout per ticket. This means if you win, you are assured at least a baseline prize.Step 2: Calculate Total Guarantees
Before distributing premiums, the system calculates all potential winners across the ticket pool. This includes any unpurchased ticket combinations.Step 3: Create the Premium Pool
After all guaranteed payouts are set aside, what remains becomes the “premium pool.” This is the extra prize money available on top of the guaranteed minimums.Step 4: Distribute Premium Payouts
Each tier is assigned a percentage of the premium pool based on how many numbers you matched. Higher tiers receive a larger share of the premium.Step 5: Final Payout
Your total payout = Guaranteed minimum + Your ticket’s share of the premium for your tierWhat About Duplicate Numbers?
Since players can choose their own numbers, multiple tickets might share the same winning combination. Here is how that affects payouts: Guaranteed portion: Every winning ticket receives the full guaranteed minimum, regardless of duplicates. If 10 tickets share the same winning numbers, all 10 get the guaranteed payout. Premium portion: The premium for that tier is split among all winning combinations (including unpurchased tickets) for that tier plus duplicate tickets. More duplicates mean a smaller premium share for each. What this means for you: Picking unique number combinations can result in larger payouts if you hit a premium tier, since you would not be splitting the premium with others who chose the same numbers.Understanding Your Odds
Why Odds Vary
Your odds of winning depend on two factors:- Normal numbers: Always selected from 1-30
- Bonusball range: This is dynamic and adjusts based on prize pool size
Dynamic Bonusball Range
The bonusball range changes to keep the system sustainable:- Larger prize pool = Wider bonusball range = Harder jackpot odds
- Smaller prize pool = Narrower bonusball range = Better jackpot odds
The Numbers
- 1 in 4 tickets wins something across all tiers
- Lower tiers (matching just the bonusball or 1-2 numbers) have reasonable odds
- Jackpot odds are long, as with any major lottery
Compared to Traditional Prize Games
Megapot returns approximately 77.5% of ticket sales as prizes, compared to 50% or less for many traditional operators. This means more of each dollar goes back to winners. However, like any lottery, the jackpot remains a long shot. The difference is that Megapot is transparent about the odds, and you can verify exactly how every drawing works on-chain.Expected Value
We believe in being upfront: like all lotteries, Megapot has a house edge. For every $1 ticket:- ~77.5% is returned as prizes to winners
- ~12.5% goes to Backers (who fund the prize pool)
- ~10% goes to Referrers (who help grow the community)
As of June 25, 2026, the share of the edge accruing to Backers changed from ~20% to ~12.5% per ticket, with the difference redirected into larger prize payouts.
Prize Pool Size and Payouts
The size of the prize pool directly affects your potential winnings:- Larger pool = Bigger prizes across all tiers
- More tickets sold = More revenue = Larger pool
Claiming Larger Prizes
The $500 limit is a lifetime total of the prize winnings you have withdrawn, not a limit on each prize. While your total is **$500 or less**, you need only a short one-time identity check: legal name, date of birth, and country. Once it goes over $500, full identity verification through Sumsub applies.Any single prize of **$1,000 or more**, in any tier, also requires a public winner celebration before it can be claimed. That means either permission to share your first name, last initial, country, and photo, or a post about the win from an established verified account. The claim is held until our team reviews the submission, normally within one business day. Full rules are in [Claiming prizes of $1,000 or more](/appendix/guaranteed-prizes#claiming-prizes-of-usd1-000-or-more).
Key Takeaways
- 10 winning tiers - Many ways to win beyond the jackpot
- 1 in 4 tickets wins - Better odds of winning something
- Guaranteed minimums - Every winner gets at least the baseline
- Premium payouts - Extra winnings on top of guarantees
- Unique numbers matter - Avoid duplicates for potentially larger premiums
- ~77.5% back to winners - More than traditional operators return
- Transparent odds - Everything is verifiable on-chain
Next Steps
- How to Play - Check results and tickets you already hold
- Provably Fair - How randomness is generated
- The Ecosystem - How Players, Backers, and Referrers work together