DENVER -- The Colorado Lottery will begin selling Mega Millions tickets sunday, May 16, giving Colorado residents the chance to score big jackpots four nights a week.

The jackpot game, sold in 39 localities nationwide, will join Powerball as the other mega jackpot game offered by the lottery.

“We’re thrilled to give our players the opportunity to win another large jackpot,” said Colorado Lottery acting director Tom Kitts. “We believe Mega Millions will complement our current product line and allow us to raise more money for all of the great projects the lottery supports.”

Mega Millions has a starting jackpot of $12 million and other prizes ranging from $2 to $250,000. To play, consumers choose five numbers from one to 56 and one Mega Ball number from one to 46. Players who match the five numbers and the Mega Ball win the jackpot. Players can also opt to spend an extra $1 for a “Megaplier” option, which will multiply their non-jackpot prizes by two, three or four times.

The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1-in-175.7 million. Overall odds of winning a prize are 1-in-40.

Mega Millions drawings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays at 9 p.m. MST. The drawings will be aired on the Altitude network in Colorado.

The Colorado Lottery began pursuing the idea of selling Mega Millions after the organizations that operate Powerball and Mega Millions formed a partnership allowing cross-selling in October 2009. Both games are now sold by 38 lotteries nationally.

Information provided by Colorado Lottery.