Canadians need not feel envious of our neighbours to the south come Friday's US$540 million Mega Millions jackpot. The mega jackpot, one of the biggest in U.S. history, is open to Canadians and any traveller to the U.S.
Here's what Canadians need to know about Friday's draw.
You do not need to be an American to win
All visitors to the United States are free to purchase a Mega Millions tickets from an American lottery retailer while they're visiting the country.
Online ticket purchases are reserved for U.S. citizens
According to the Mega Millions website, a handful U.S. states allow residents to purchase tickets online by registering with the lotteries of those states, or purchase subscriptions for Mega Millions online. Online tickets must be purchased by residents of those states.
Can Canadians buy tickets online?
For those who aren't willing to travel south of the border to get their hands on what could be a winning ticket, privately-operated websites can help.
TheLotter.com uses local agents to buy a lottery ticket from inside the U.S. on your behalf. The website charges customers a transaction fee and in return they receive a scan of any ticket purchased before the draw. No commissions are taken from winning tickets.
According to TheLotter.com, a Quebec man won the US$1-million second-place prize of the record-breaking $1.5 billion Powerball jackpot back in January.
Friday is your last day to buy tickets
The Mega Millions draw will be Friday at 11:00 p.m. ET, but the cut-off time to purchase tickets varies by state.
