Find out all about Mega da Virada 2023 and how to play online to win the millionaire prize!

Are you ready for the most anticipated draw of the year in Brazil? Mega da Virada is almost a fact, and the December 31st draw, which this year will be held next Sunday, is just around the corner.

Loterias Caixa's estimates for this year are so good that they predict a first prize of at least R$570 million, a historic amount that will surpass the Mega-Sena's record prize so far, the R$541.9 million drawn in the last edition of Mega da Virada 2022. And if the wind blows even more favorably, you can expect an even bigger prize. Let's remember that, for example, although last year the prize was estimated at R$450 million, in the end sales for the draw were so good that the prize won was almost R$100 million more.

Since its creation in 2008, Mega da Virada has become one of Brazil's most important lotteries. It pays out record amounts every year and attracts the attention of millions of Brazilian and even foreign players. Its importance lies in the fact that it always pays out the biggest prizes of the year. As the amount doesn't accumulate, it tends to grow with each contest until a winner emerges. This is why the Virada draws often pay out hundreds of millions. In addition, Mega da Virada has an emotional appeal because it takes place at the turn of the year. Many people place bets to make their dreams come true or to start the new year off on the right foot if they win.

Do you also want to start the new year as a millionaire? Then read on and find out how you can take part in the last draw of 2023!

About the Mega da Virada 2023 prize

The Mega da Virada 2023 prize is estimated at R$570 million, according to Caixa Econômica Federal projections. This amount is the largest in the history of this special contest, surpassing the R$ 541.9 million paid out in 2022.

Although the Mega da Virada 2023 jackpot breaks all records in Brazil and even in Latin America, second only to other internationally popular lotteries such as Powerball, Mega Millions, EuroMillions and Eurojackpot, you may be surprised to learn that it actually represents just less than half of the amount raised from sales in the draw.

That's right: of all the money raised, only 43% goes to the jackpot, so where does the remaining 57% go? Mega-Sena is known for being one of the most charitable lotteries in the world and, in fact, more than half of its sales go to social and charitable causes, such as education, culture, sports, social welfare and other social programs.

Why doesn't the Mega da Virada prize roll over?

Unlike the regular Mega-Sena contests, the Mega da Virada prize doesn't roll over to the next contest if no one matches the 6 tens drawn. This is because Mega da Virada is a special end-of-year event. As it only takes place once, on December 31st, there is no way to transfer any accumulated winnings to another draw.

Therefore, Mega da Virada has established the rule that if there are no winners of the jackpot, the prize is divided among those who hit the jackpot. This way, the estimated total amount is always paid out, making the contest even more attractive.

How much of the prize money do the winners of Quina and Quadra get?

Of the 43% of the prize money collected, Mega da Virada distributes the money according to the following percentages for each of its three prizes:

• 62% for the Sena (First Prize) with 6 correct numbers
• 19% for the Quina (Second Prize) with 5 correct numbers
• 19% for the Quadra (Third Prize) with 4 correct numbers

However, it is very difficult to estimate the value of the Quina and Quadra prizes before the draw. The Sena prize itself is based only on estimates and, as in previous editions, could be even higher than the amount announced. In addition, if there are no Sena winners, the prize will be distributed among the Quina winners, so it is very difficult to estimate the distribution of the prize until the final sales count and the result of the draw are known.

How to play Mega da Virada 2023

How do I place a bet on Mega da Virada?

To play Mega da Virada you need to choose between 6 and 15 numbers on the wheel, from the 60 available. The simplest bet is completed with just 6 numbers, but in the case of multiple bets, you can choose from 7 to a maximum of 15 numbers. The advantage of choosing more numbers is that, by participating with more numbers in the draw, the chances of hitting the 6 winners are greater. However, it's important to note that each additional number increases the total value of the ticket.

It is also possible to form a group and place collective bets, increasing the chances of winning. Mega-Sena syndicates allow you to buy several bets together: the more members in the syndicate and the more quotas you contribute, the more money is available to buy more bets. This is an economical way to significantly increase your chances of winning the draw. However, the disadvantage of groups is that, in the event of a win, all the prizes are shared between all the members.

You can watch this tutorial on how to play Mega-Sena on YouTube that we've prepared for you, in case you have any more questions about how to play:

Until when can I bet on Mega da Virada 2023?

The deadline for placing bets on Mega da Virada 2023 is 3pm on December 31st (Brasília time). Remember that, as of Monday, December 18, all bets sold for the Mega-Sena will participate exclusively in the Mega da Virada draw, as there will be no more draws until December 31.

If you choose to place your bet in person, it's a good idea to get to the lottery office in advance, as there's a lot of traffic in the last few hours. Those who play online can place their bets at any time within the stipulated period.

The advantages of playing Mega da Virada online

Among the advantages of playing Mega da Virada online are:

• Practicality - Bets can be placed 24 hours a day on your cell phone, without having to go to a lottery office.
• Functionality - You can use features such as Surpresinha or Teimosinha to make betting easier
• Security - There's no need to move around carrying cash. What's more, you can never lose your bet, as you'll always have the receipt in your account.
• Control - The virtual environment allows you to better control and manage your bets, and even receive payment directly into your account to avoid having to physically pick up the money.
• Pools - On the Internet, there is always more variety of groups to take part in the draws and play with a much larger community of players from all over the world.

Mega da Virada's most drawn numbers

Some numbers stand out in the history of Mega da Virada draws. They are

• 10 - Drawn 5 times
• 5 - Drawn 4 times
• 3, 20, 33, 34, 36 and 58 - Drawn 3 times

Although the choice of numbers is personal, many punters end up taking these statistics into account when placing their bets. The idea is to combine numbers that have already been drawn in previous draws with random numbers or numbers related to special dates.

In any case, it's important to remember that lottery results are totally unpredictable. The "hot" or "cold" numbers don't guarantee anything and only serve as a reference. In the end, it's all down to the luck of the player.

What are the odds of winning the jackpot?

The probability of matching all 6 numbers in the Mega-Sena with a single bet and winning the jackpot is 1 in 50,063,860, while the chance of winning the quina (matching 5 of the 6 numbers) is 1 in 154,518. Although you can't win the jackpot on your own, with the quina alone you can guarantee a good sum if the main prize doesn't win and is split.

Other prize probabilities are:

• Sena (6 hits): 1 in 50 million
• Quina (5 hits): 1 in 154 thousand
• Quadra (4 hits): 1 in 2.3 thousand

However, these odds can vary if you play more than 6 numbers or take part in a lottery. In addition, as the Mega da Virada does not accumulate, but is distributed among the Quina winners if there are no Sena winners, the chances of winning the first prize without matching all the numbers increases, favoring this type of draw.