Mega Millions jackpot vaults to $196 million

Lottery fever is ready for takeoff in New Jersey and 11 other states, because the Mega Millions jackpot is nearly $200 million.

The top prize jumped by $30 million last night - to $196 million for Friday's drawing - because no one hit all the numbers that came up: 20, 24, 27, 31 and 47, with a Mega Ball of 15.

In August, after the jackpot hit $201 million, it took only a week to reach $330 million, when four tickets split the pot.

One of the winning tickets was cashed in by a Cape May County couple, John and Sandy Belawsky.

One New Jersey ticket did win $250,000 last night, by having all the numbers except for the Mega Ball. So did seven tickets sold in other states.

Tonight's jackpot in the other major multistate lottery, Powerball, is $26 million.

Earlier this month, Paul Rosenau and his wife, Sue, claimed the $180 million Powerball jackpot he won by buying a ticket at Hy-Vee Gas, near where he works in southern Minnesota.

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