By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
A substantial prize is awaiting the owner of a $338 million Powerball lottery ticket sold in New Jersey.
It was purchased at Eagle Liquor in Passaic, and the national is awaiting the owner to come forward.
The estimated cash value of ticket is $211 million. Erroneously, earlier reports had claimed the ticket was purchased at Love’s Truck Stop, Route 206, in Bordetnown Township.
Speaking at a press conference 10 a.m. Monday in Lawrence Township, Carole Hedinger, executive director of the New Jersey Lottery, said contrary to what folks had heard, the winning ticket was not sold Bordentown but rather in northern New Jersey at the Eagle Liquor store.
"We are only hearing from someone at that location (of a winning ticket being purchased there)," Ms. Hedinger said, in reference to the Bordentown Township location.
Said James Johnson, marketing manager at Love’s, "I just heard that information through the reporters," in reference to the false reports that the station had sold the winning ticket.
The station that sells the winning ticket earns a reported $10,000.
Mr. Johnson said approximately $1,000 worth of Powerball tickets were sold at Loves during this Powerball session, which was higher than normal. On average the Love’s sells between $200 to $300 in tickets per week. He said the Powerball jackpot is a multi-state lottery with drawings twice a week on Wednesday and Saturday nights.
The winner of the $211 million ticket has one year to come forward to claim the prize.
Of the $211 million, 25 percent of the prize is claimed by the federal government and New Jersey claims 3 percent. After taxes, the grand total is $151.9 for the winner. The final amount depends if the winner or group of winners wishes to claim the prize as an annuity or as a lump cash sum.
The winning ticket is based on a March 23 drawing.
Judith Drucker, New Jersey State Lottery media contact, was unavailable for comment at the time of this report.
The Powerball is owned by Multi-State Lottery Association.
– Lea Kahn, Packet Media Group, contributed to this report.

