Million dollar lottery ticket sold in Gaston County

One lucky ticket purchased at a North Carolina grocery store for Friday’s Mega Millions drawing matched all five white balls to win a $1 million prize.

The lucky winner purchased the $2 ticket from the Food Lion on Highland Street in Mount Holly in Gaston County.

The $1 million prize was one of three won nationally in Friday’s drawing with the other two wins occurring in California. A $3 Mega Millions ticket sold in South Carolina won $2 million, the largest prize in Friday’s drawing. The odds of matching numbers on all five white balls are 1 in 12.6 million.

One other big win occurred in North Carolina. A ticket purchased in Guilford County using Online Play matched four of the five white balls and the yellow Mega Ball to win $10,000.

Thousands of smaller prizes from $2 to $500 were also won. Winners have 180 days to claim their prizes. Since no one won Friday’s jackpot, the new jackpot for Tuesday’s drawing climbs to $640 million as an annuity, or $328 million cash.

The $640 million jackpot ranks as the 7th largest in Mega Millions history.