PA Lottery: Dauphin County Man Claims $250,000 Prize From Mega Millions

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kenneth Atticks, of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, won $250,000 from the Jan. 4 Mega Millions drawing.

Lottery interim executive director Drew Svitko today presented a ceremonial check to Atticks at the Super 7 Food Mart on Linglestown Road in Harrisburg, where the quick-pick ticket was purchased. The store receives a $500 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

"The day after the drawing I checked my ticket for the Mega Ball number, and I saw I didn't have that," said Atticks. "So I wrote the numbers down, and I didn't check my ticket again until I saw on the news that there was a winning ticket sold at that store."

Atticks' ticket correctly matched all five white balls, 04-08-15-25-47, but not the yellow Mega Ball 42, for a prize of $250,000, less 25-percent federal withholding. Two jackpot winners split the $380-million Mega Millions jackpot from Jan. 4, which was the second-largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history.

After missing out on a share of the Jan. 4 jackpot by just one number, Atticks will continue buying Lottery tickets. "I've been playing Mega Millions and Powerball regularly for the past few years, and I'm still playing," said Atticks.

Atticks, who volunteers with a local youth sports program, hopes to make several home improvements and pay down debts with his winnings.

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. The Megaplier multiplies all prizes other than jackpot and second-tier prizes by the drawing's Megaplier number.

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 38 years ago, the Pennsylvania Lottery has contributed nearly $20.6 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 on the Pennsylvania Lottery, visit www.palottery.com.

Media contact: Kirstin Alvanitakis, 717-702-8008

Editor's Note: In fiscal year 2009-10, Pennsylvania Lottery players in Dauphin County won more than $46.7 million in prizes, and retailers in Dauphin County earned about $3.8 million in commissions and bonuses. Last year, the Pennsylvania Lottery contributed nearly $16.8 million to programs that benefited seniors in Dauphin County.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Lottery

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