How to Play Mega Sena
Follow the instructions in this guide to learn how to play Mega Sena online and in-store.
You can purchase Mega Sena tickets from lottery retailers in Brazil or play online. To start, you’ll need to select at least six numbers from 1 to 60 and match at least four of the winning numbers to win a prize. Draws take place at 8pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, so make sure you get your entries in on time.
Whether you’re playing online, in-store or on your mobile phone, it’s easy to take part. Follow the step-by-step guide below.
Pick Your Numbers
For a single Mega Sena entry, pick six numbers from 1 to 60. You can choose your own numbers or select a Surpresinha, where the computer system generates a set at random for you.
You can also pick more than six numbers, up to a maximum of 15.
Decide How Many Draws
It’s up to you whether you play the same numbers for just one draw or multiple consecutive draws in advance. You can enter two, four or eight draws in a row.
By playing multiple draws in advance online, you are automatically notified of any wins.
Pay For Your Entries
Once you’re happy with your combinations, all you need to do is pay for your bets. It costs R$4.50 for a single entry of six numbers. Remember, you’ll need to keep your ticket safe and secure if you play in-store.
If you’re playing online, there’s a variety of payment options available, including credit card and debit card.
Wait For The Draw
When the draw takes place, six winning numbers from 1 to 60 are drawn at random. If you’ve played online, your numbers will be checked automatically so you’ll be notified if you win. Otherwise, you’ll need to check the results to find out if you’re a winner.
Combination Play
You do not have to select just six numbers when you play Mega Sena. Instead, you can pick between seven and 15 to increase your chances of winning. Simply mark your chosen numbers on your playslip or request a Supresinha.
Every combination of six numbers within your selected range will then be entered into the Mega Sena as a separate bet. This boosts your odds of winning as you have more entries in the draw, but the cost also increases with each one. The table below shows the cost of entry depending on how many numbers you pick, along with the odds of winning in each category.
| Numbers Played | Number of Different Combinations | Cost of Entry | Odds of Matching Six Numbers | Odds of Matching Five Numbers | Odds of Matching Four Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 1 | R$4.50 | 1 in 50,063,860 | 1 in 154,518 | 1 in 2,332 |
| 7 | 7 | R$31.50 | 1 in 7,151,980 | 1 in 44,981 | 1 in 1,038 |
| 8 | 28 | R$126 | 1 in 1,787,995 | 1 in 17,192 | 1 in 539 |
| 9 | 84 | R$378 | 1 in 595,998 | 1 in 7,791 | 1 in 312 |
| 10 | 210 | R$945 | 1 in 238,399 | 1 in 3,973 | 1 in 195 |
| 11 | 462 | R$2,079 | 1 in 108,363 | 1 in 2,211 | 1 in 129 |
| 12 | 924 | R$4,158 | 1 in 54,182 | 1 in 1,317 | 1 in 90 |
| 13 | 1,716 | R$7,722 | 1 in 29,175 | 1 in 828 | 1 in 65 |
| 14 | 3,003 | R$13,513.50 | 1 in 16,671 | 1 in 544 | 1 in 48 |
| 15 | 5,005 | R$22,522.50 | 1 in 10,003 | 1 in 370 | 1 in 37 |
How Mega Sena Draws Take Place
Mega Sena draws can take place anywhere in Brazil, and are usually held in Sao Paulo or Brasilia. The location for the next batch of draws is announced and published in advance. Draws are broadcast live on RedeTV! and YouTube.
A single ball machine is used to generate the results, with two independent auditors present for each draw to validate the procedure. These auditors are responsible for ensuring the machine is empty before the balls are loaded into it, checking the balls are all put in and the numerical sequence is correct, and generally that it is all run fairly. They are positioned close to the machine so they can see the balls as they are drawn. Sophisticated technological software is used to make sure the balls are picked at random.
The machine is made of acrylic and resembles a large clear globe, and the balls spin inside before being picked one by one at random to create the six winning numbers. The balls are different colours for easier identification. Numbers ending 1 are red, 2 are yellow, 3 green, 4 brown, 5 blue, 6 pink, 7 black, 8 grey, 9 orange and 0 white.
Previously, two different machines were used to separately draw two digits for each winning number. The first digit could be anything from 0 to 5 and the second anything from 0 to 9. The two digits would then be put together to create a number from 01 to 60. If 00 was drawn, this would count as the number 60.
How to Win
You win prizes by matching your selected numbers to the winning numbers that are drawn. There are prizes for matching four, five or six numbers, so you don’t win anything if you get three or fewer.
If nobody wins the main prize – by matching all six numbers – it accumulates and an even bigger amount will be accumulated for the next draw.
Go to the Mega Sena Prizes page to find out more about the different ways of winning. A percentage of the prize fund is allocated to each category so the amounts vary from draw to draw, but the jackpot usually starts at R$3 million.
How to Claim a Prize
If you win a prize, you must claim it within 90 days of the date of the draw. If you’ve played in a store, you can claim from lottery retailers or at Caixa bank branches, depending on the value of your win. Go to the How to Claim page for more information about what you need to do if you win.
