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Mega Millions® Ticket Worth $250,000 Sold in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

Jackpot for Oct. 25 Drawing Grows to $57 Million

MIDDLETOWN, Pa., Oct. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A Mega Millions ticket worth $250,000 from the Oct. 21 drawing was sold at PNP Shell, 2700 Leechburg Road, Lower Burrell, Westmoreland County.

The winning ticket correctly matched all five white balls, 06-21-35-37-38, but not the yellow Mega Ball 17, for a prize of $250,000, less 25 percent federal withholding.

The retailer will receive a $500 bonus for selling a winning ticket.

Lottery officials cannot confirm the identity of the winner until the prize is claimed and the ticket is validated. Pennsylvania Lottery Mega Millions winners have one year from the drawing date to claim prizes.

The Lottery encourages the holder of the winning ticket to sign the back of the ticket, call the Lottery at 717-702-8146 and a file claim at Lottery headquarters in Middletown, Dauphin County, or at any of Lottery's seven area offices.

Claims may be filed at Lottery headquarters Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at area offices.

The Mega Millions jackpot grew to an estimated annuity value of $57 million, or $40.7 million cash, for the Tuesday, Oct. 25 drawing.

In the 2009-10 fiscal year, in addition to awarding nearly $75 million in prizes to Westmoreland County winners, the Pennsylvania Lottery contributed nearly $35 million to programs serving Westmoreland County's older residents.

How to Play Mega Millions: Mega Millions tickets cost $1 per play. Players pick five numbers from 1 to 56 and one number from 1 to 46 (The Mega Ball). Players can pick their own numbers or have numbers randomly selected by computer. For an extra $1 per play, players can add the Megaplier. Prior to the Mega Millions drawing, the Megaplier number - ranging from two to four - is randomly selected. A player who matches five white balls and purchased Megaplier wins $1 million. Other non-jackpot prizes are multiplied by the Megaplier number drawn.

Mega Millions tickets are sold in 43 participating jurisdictions. Drawings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays.

About the Pennsylvania Lottery: The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery that designates all its proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since its inception in 1971, the Pennsylvania Lottery has contributed nearly $21.5 billion to programs that include property tax and rent rebates; free transit and reduced-fare shared rides; the low-cost prescription drug programs PACE and PACENET; long-term living services; and the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, including full- and part-time senior centers throughout the state. The Pennsylvania Lottery reminds its players to play responsibly. Players must be 18 or older.

For more information, visit www.palottery.com, log in to Facebook and like us at www.facebook.com/palottery or follow us at www.twitter.com/palottery.

Media contact: Lauren Piccolo, 717-702-8008

SOURCE Pennsylvania Lottery