<P> Mega Millions (which began as The Big Game in 1996 and renamed, temporarily, to The Big Game Mega Millions six years later) is an American multi-jurisdictional lottery game; it is offered in 44 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands . The first (The Big Game) Mega Millions drawing was in 2002; see below . (What is now Mega Millions initially was offered in six states; the logo for all versions of the game following the retiring of The Big Game name featured a gold - colored ball with six stars to represent the game's initial membership .) </P> <P> Mega Millions is drawn at 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday and Friday evenings, including holidays . Mega Millions is administered by a consortium of its 12 original lotteries; the drawings are held at the studios of WSB - TV in Atlanta, Georgia, supervised by the Georgia Lottery . </P>

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