THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 29, 1996 TAG: 9603290472
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
One of the richest jackpots in Virginia Lotto history - $26 million - is on the line Saturday night and, should the game go winless, that would set the stage for for a first-ever surge to the $30 million mark.
Virginia's also remains the biggest single-state drawing in the country.
No one matched all six numbers for Wednesday's prize, lottery officials said. The winning numbers were 8, 17, 20, 37, 39 and 44 for the drawing, which was worth $20.4 million.
About 170 people matched five numbers for $1,302 prizes and 7,997 people matched four numbers for $58 prizes. Nearly 133,000 people matched three numbers for a free play.
That marked the 11th time - or roll - without a winner, tying a record set between Oct. 14 and Nov. 22. Never before has the Lotto game gone for a dozen drawings without a winner.
The estimated $26 million jackpot ranks near the largest prizes ever offered. The jackpot hit $26.8 million on Aug. 10, 1991; $27 million on Feb. 15, 1992; and $28.4 million on Nov. 28, 1992.
If there is a winner Saturday, and they hold the only winning ticket, it would be worth about $884,000 annually after taxes.
That's $17,000 a week. by CNB