Buy Brazil Mega Sena Tickets Online

Brazil Mega Sena is one of the most popular lotto games in Brazil.

Though it is easy to play, it has some unique features that set it apart from other lotteries in the world.

In this guide, we’ll explain what makes this simple game so interesting and what you need to know to buy Brazil Mega Sena tickets online.

About Brazil Mega Sena

Brazil Mega Sena was first launched in March 1996 by operator Caixa Economica Federal Bank.

The purpose of the lottery is to help fund and cultivate social and cultural improvements in the country.

As such, about 54% of all ticket sales are used to fund various programs with that purpose as their goal.

In addition to the regular draws that happen every week, Brazil Mega Sena also runs the Mega da Virada draw. This special draw takes place once a year on New Year’s Eve.

Brazil Mega Sena Draws

Draws take place twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays at a 8 pm BRT, and are televised on RedeTV 25 minutes after they are selected.

Instead of drawing the numbers from a single drum, Brazil Mega Sena draws involve randomly selecting balls from two separate spinning cages.

Numbers are picked in pairs, with the first cage containing numbers 0 to 5 to form the first digit of a two-digit number. The second cage contains numbers 0 to 9.

If two zeros are drawn, the 00 number represents 60, meaning the possible two-digit numbers range from 01 to 60.

The final winning number consists of six unique two-digit numbers.

How to Play Brazil Mega Sena

Though the gameplay of Mega Sena is very different from most popular lotto games, it is still easy to understand and join.

Players can choose between six and fifteen two-digit numbers ranging from 01 to 60.

A basic ticket consists of six numbers for a price of R$3.50, or approximately US $0.66.

While more digits offer more chances of winning, the added numbers come at a price.

A 15-number ticket costs R$17,517.50 or approximately US$3,261-quite a lot more than your average lotto ticket.

To win the jackpot, players must match all six of the drawn numbers.

Players can either select their own numbers or play a Surpresinha ticket. This is the equivalent of the Quick Pick option offered by many other lotteries.

One of the things that make Brazil Mega Sena so appealing is the syndicate option offered directly by the game operator, Caixa.

Syndicates, which are a common feature of many online lotteries, allow players to join with families and/or friends to place larger bets by sharing the ticket cost.

Mega Sena syndicate bets start at R$10.00 with a minimum share of R$4.00. Syndicates can include a minimum of two members and a maximum of 100.

Brazil Mega Sena Prizes and Odds

Another feature of Brazil Mega Sena that makes it so unique is the limited prize tiers and decent odds.

There are only three prize tiers, with players needing to match 4, 5 or 6 numbers to win.

The odds of winning the jackpot tier are 1 in 50,063,860, with the odds drastically improving with each tier.

As the odds improve, they increase the chances of many winners splitting the prize.

Jackpots start at a minimum of R$2 million and roll over if there are no winners. Fortunately, there are no jackpot caps.

The prizes are taken from the ticket sales, with 46% of income from bets going toward the prizes.

In addition to the share of sales that go toward the prizes, 5% is taken from each draw to form the yearly Mega da Virada draw.

This means that the special Mega da Virada draws often accumulate large jackpot prizes.

If no players match the six numbers for the Mega de Virada, the jackpot is split amongst winners of the five-matched-numbers tier.

The breakdown of the prize tiers and their odds are as follows:

Claiming Brazil Mega Sena Prizes

Mega Sena winners have up to 90 days from the draw date to claim their prizes.

All prizes are subject to a 13.8% income tax. 

Non-residents who like to buy lottery tickets online can certainly play Brazil Mega Sena through independent retailers. However, they may have to pay additional taxes in accordance with their country’s laws.

Notable Brazil Mega Sena Winners

The rolling jackpot with no cap means that the top prize can get very big. The biggest jackpot to date was won on May 2019 at an impressive R$289.4 million.

The largest Mega da Virada jackpot was R$306.7 million won in 2018.

Brazil Mega Sena-Should You Play?

Brazil Mega Sena is an easy to play lotto with a number of unique features.

It consistently offers high jackpots, and though the odds of winning the top prize are still pretty tough, the lower two tiers have some great odds.

If you’re looking to try something new, Mega Sena is a fun and reputable choice that's available on many great lottery sites.