Mega Millions, Powerball Jackpots Rising

Maryland lottery players have two chances to become very rich this week.

Since no one correctly guessed all five numbers of the Mega Ball Tuesday night, Friday's Mega Millions jackpot has a current estimated annuity value for Friday night’s drawing of $312 million, with a cash option of $193.6 million.

If the $312 million jackpot is hit in Maryland, it will be the largest one ever won in the state. The biggest single jackpot winner in Maryland was claimed by a Baltimore County woman who won $183 million in June 2003 with a ticket bought at Geresbeck's grocery store in Essex. 

On Tuesday, even though there was no top-tier winner, there was a  $250,000 second-tier winning ticket purchased at Friendship Liquors, located at 12800 Frederick Rd. in West Friendship. That winner matched all five white balls, only missing the Mega Ball. The winning numbers were 1, 14, 35, 50, 53 and Mega Ball 43. 

In addition, more than 50,000 other Maryland players won prizes ranging from $2 to $10,000 from last night’s drawing.

Local players are also urged to check past tickets, as a $250,000 second-tier winning ticket remains unclaimed. That ticket was purchased at BWI Airport for the Feb. 8 drawing. Winners have 182 days from the drawing date to claim the prize.

But before the Mega Millions drawing, local lottery players have a chance tonight to win a huge jackpot playing Powerball, which has an estimated annuity value of $101 million, with a cash option of $51.5 million.

Mega Millions drawings can be seen on Tuesday and Friday evenings, and Powerball drawings on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, both at 11:22 p.m. on WBAL-TV, channel 11.