Mega da Virada 2025 sorteará R$ 1 bilhão às 22h de 31 de dezembro

On the last night of 2025, at 10 p.m. Brasília time, the federal lottery authority will draw the numbers for Mega da Virada—and the prize waiting in that draw will be unlike anything Brazilian lotteries have ever offered. One billion reais. The number sits there, almost abstract in its scale: 1,000,000,000. It is the largest jackpot in the history of the country's lottery system, and it will be distributed in full to whoever holds the winning ticket, or split among multiple winners if the odds break that way.

The draw itself happens on December 31st at 10 p.m., a shift from tradition. For years, Mega da Virada drew around 8 p.m., but Caixa Econômica Federal, the state bank that runs the lottery, moved it two hours later this year. The reasoning is practical: more time for people to place their bets. Betting closes at 8 p.m. that same evening. The draw will stream live on Caixa's official YouTube channel and other platforms, and like all special Mega-Sena drawings, this one does not roll over—the money goes out, no matter what.

The billion-real figure is not arbitrary. It comes from two sources working in tandem. First, Caixa changed how it distributes the money it collects from ticket sales. Starting in 2025, ninety percent of the prize pool now goes to the main jackpot—the prize for matching all six numbers. The remaining percentages for matching five numbers (quina) or four numbers (quadra) are smaller. This structural shift alone pushed the potential prize higher. Second, since November, every regular Mega-Sena drawing has fed into the Virada pot. The last regular draw, held on December 20th, accumulated and added to the total. By the time the year ends, a billion reais will be waiting.

For those wanting to play, the mechanics are straightforward. A simple bet of six numbers costs six reais and offers odds of one in fifty million. Tickets can be bought at any licensed lottery shop, through the official Caixa website, or via the mobile app for Android and iOS. Players can choose their own numbers or use Surpresinha, which picks randomly. Group bets, called bolões, are also available—they let people split the cost and improve their odds, though any prize gets divided among participants. Online purchases can be made with Pix or credit card.

The more numbers a player selects, the higher the cost and the better the chances. A bet with fifteen numbers, for instance, costs 22,522 reais and significantly improves the probability of winning something. But the structure of payouts is fixed: if someone matches all six numbers, they take the full billion (or their share of it). If no one matches six, the money splits among those who matched five. If still no one has matched five, it goes to those who matched four. This guarantee means the prize always gets paid out completely.

Cashing in a winning ticket depends on the amount. Prizes up to 2,428.80 reais can be claimed at any lottery shop. Anything larger requires a trip to a Caixa branch with an ID and tax number. Winners have ninety days from the draw date to collect. Those who bought tickets online receive their winnings directly into their registered account. Income tax is withheld at the source, as required by law. The lottery itself funds social, sports, and cultural programs across the country.

Mega da Virada began in 2009 and has grown steadily. The 2024 edition paid out 635.4 million reais, split among eight winning tickets. This year's prize shatters that record. The draw takes place at the Espaço da Sorte, a lottery facility in São Paulo. Millions of people are expected to participate, drawn by the historic jackpot and the simple human hope that comes with the last night of the year. Betting closes at 8 p.m. on December 31st. After that, the numbers are drawn, and someone's life changes.