Huge Mega Millions jackpot tonight

With $163 million up for grabs tonight, the Mega Millions multistate lottery is venturing into territory where the jackpots really jump.

After no ticket matched all the numbers drawn Friday - 4, 7, 12, 17 and 30 with a Mega Ball of 44 - the top prize rose from $137 million.

That's a hike of $26 million from one drawing to the next.

In August, after Mega Millions reached $200 million, it jumped by $50 million, then after just two more drawings reached $330 million.

That raft of riches was divvied up by four winners, including a retired Cape May County couple.

John and Sandra Belawsky took the cash option, which, according to the ceremonial check, worked out to $48,615,187.

"We may get extra takeout," she said at a news conference.

"We're still in shock," said John, a disabled Vietnam vet.

In March, another Cape May County, Elaine and Harold Messner, took half of a jackpot billed at $390 million, believed to be the biggest U.S. jackpot ever.

Tonight's $163 million prize is for the payout over a couple of dozen years. A single lump-sum winner would rake in an estimated $98.4 million.

Mega Millions tickets are sold in New Jersey, Maryland, New York and nine other states.

Powerball, the other major multistate lottery, has $20 million on the line tomorrow night.

Powerball tickets are sold in Pennsylvania, Delaware and more than two dozen other states.

For more information go to www.megamillions.com and www.powerball.com.