Winning Mega Millions tix worth $312M sold in NY

[March 26, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- A New York lottery official says a winning ticket for the Mega Millions lottery jackpot worth $312 million has been sold at a variety store in Albany, N.Y.

New York Lottery spokeswoman Carolyn Hapeman says the winning jackpot ticket for Friday's drawing was sold at Coulson's News Center.

According to the Mega Millions website, the jackpot is the sixth-highest in the game's history. The largest jackpot was $390 million in March 2007.

This is the second-highest jackpot for a single winning ticket behind a $315 million prize in November 2005. That ticket was purchased in California.

Hapeman says the earliest the winner or winners can claim the prize is Monday, because lottery offices are closed for the weekend.

The winning numbers in Friday's drawing were: 22-24-31-52-54, with a Mega ball of 4.

Hapeman says the winner or winners have the option of taking the $312 million prize over 25 years or as a payout of $198 million.

[Associated Press]

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