Tickets in four states win $330m lottery jackpot

BALTIMORE - Four winning tickets were sold for the estimated $330 million Mega Millions jackpot, one each in Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, and Virginia, lottery officials said yesterday.

No one had yet claimed a share of the top prize. In Virginia, that can't happen until Tuesday because the Lottery offices are closed for the holiday weekend, spokesman John Hagerty said.

The odds that any ticket would match all five numbers - 8, 18, 22, 40, and 44 - and the Mega Ball number - 11 - drawn Friday night were one in 176 million.

According to preliminary calculations, each ticket would be worth about $82 million if the prize were taken in 26 annual payments. If taken in one lump sum payment, the payout would be $48,615,188.

One of the winning Mega Millions tickets was sold at Walther Liquors in Nottingham, Md., state Lottery Director Buddy Roogow said. The buyer purchased five quick-pick tickets, costing a total of $5, Roogow said.

Virginia's winning ticket was sold at Ducks Corner Food and Gas in Buckingham, Hagerty said.

"Everyone is excited," Ducks Corner owner Evelyn Trekas said by telephone yesterday morning. "A lot of people up here don't have a whole lot of money, so I hope it's somebody who can use it and enjoy."

New Jersey's winning ticket was sold at Blitz's Villas Market in the southern town of Villas, said state Lottery spokesman Dominick DeMarco.

"We're just in disbelief right now," said Nick DiRenzo, son of the market's owner, Frank.