Lucky Mega Millions ticket sold in Forks Township

Someone out there is holding a lucky ticket.

Officials with the Pennsylvania Lottery Mega Millions said that a ticket worth $250,000 from the Oct. 25 drawing was sold at Giant Food Store in Forks Township.

This marks the second time a $250,000 ticket was sold in Lehigh Valley in a week. One was sold last week at the Turkey Hill in Macungie.

The winning Forks ticket correctly matched all five white balls, 13-33-40-44-46, but not the yellow Mega Ball 08, 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 $67 million, or $47.9 million cash, for the Friday, Oct. 28 drawing.

In the 2009-10 fiscal year, in addition to awarding nearly $34.7 million in prizes to Northampton County winners, the Pennsylvania Lottery contributed more than $23.6 million to programs serving Northampton 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 2 to 4 - 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.

The Pennsylvania Lottery, according to information provided by lottery officials, 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.