Mega Millions, together with Powerball, is one of the biggest and most popular lotteries in the world. Due to the recent rule changes, theMega Millions jackpots are now much bigger than before, making it the world's largest jackpot.

As of 2018, the Mega Millions record jackpot payout stands at $1.527 billion, which is an overly tempting sum to be easily ignored. This in comparison with the record Canadian jackpot—standing at $64 million till date—won on Lotto 6/49 is way more profitable. Little wonder a lot of Canadian lottery players keep trooping South in a bid to get a shot at the mind-boggling jackpot offered by Mega Millions.

However, this brings up the question of whether or not it is legal for Canadians to play US lotteries like Powerball and Mega Millions, and how they'll be able to claim their prize if they win. Well, the quick answer to that question is, Canadians (non-US residents) can definitely enter and compete to win the jackpot in the Mega Millions lottery.

According to the Mega Millions website, it states that ‘you do not need to be a resident to win’ and 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. However, online tickets must be purchased by residents of those states.

Nonetheless, for those living in Canada, there are three effective ways to play the Mega Millions lottery and claim your jackpot—in the case where you emerge a winner.

1.  Play with a reputable third-party agency

One quick and cost-effective way to play Mega Millions lottery is through a third-party agent like Lottoland. Lottoland offers Canadian members the fastest and easiest method to stand a chance at winning the Mega Millions jackpot.

Rather than making a trip to the U.S., all that is required is for you to do is register with a reputable agency like Lottoland. One added advantage of playing with Lottoland is you're not only given access to play Mega Millions, but also other popular lotteries like Powerball, EuroMillions and a host of other international lotteries.

Purchasing tickets with Lottoland is very simple, just log into your account and once your account has been funded, select your winning numbers, and all that's left is to wait for the outcome of the draw. Reputable agencies like Lottoland operate an insurance-backed model which effectively means that while you're betting on the result of the lottery, you can still take home the same prize money as if you had purchased a physical ticket. However, unlike physical tickets, there are no troubles over buying tickets —or losing them as the case may be—as all this information are recorded online.

Since launching in 2013, Lottoland has paid out tens of millions of dollars in the lottery and serving well over 6 million members from all over the world. They are also fully licensed and regulated to ensure the safety of all members playing with them.

2. Take a trip to the United States to buy a ticket

According to the Mega Millions website, it states that ‘Visitors to the United States are always welcome to purchase tickets for our game from an American lottery retailer while they are visiting this country.’

Therefore, a lot of Canadians who live within driving distance of the U.S. border typically opt for this option. However, if you live far away but have family members or friends living in the U.S., you could ask them to purchase a ticket for you—as long as you are certain they would not try to claim the prize if you eventually win.

However, there's is an uncommon American law to be aware of known as the ‘Immoral Articles Law’. According to this rather unpopular law, "it is not permitted to carry lottery tickets across the border," but in reality, there is no example of this law ever being enacted in such circumstances.

3. Purchase a ticket from an online agent

For those who aren't willing to travel to the U.S. to purchase what could be a winning ticket, there are some privately-operated websites that act as a third-party when it comes to purchasing tickets from US retailers on behalf of non-residents.

These third-party agents will buy a lottery ticket for you, though you would have to pay a commission, allowing you to claim your prize. But, as stated on the Mega Millions website, “If you choose to do business with one of these companies, you do so at your own risk.”

Though it is also not clear whether a lottery provider would be required to pay out a jackpot from tickets purchased from an unlicensed retailer. Typically, it is expected that the player ensures that any ticket purchased from such a source is legitimate and not some sort of scam.