Michigan Lottery Connect

A Cinco de Mayo celebration turned into a huge payday for a Genesee County woman who won $1 million playing the Michigan Lottery’s new Lucky Stars instant game!

“I play lottery games a lot, but I actually wasn’t planning on stopping to buy tickets that day,” said the lucky 39-year-old player, who chose to remain anonymous. “I went out with a friend for Cinco de Mayo, and after she suggested we stop to buy tickets, so we did.

“I bought a few tickets and won $30, so I used my winnings to buy two more. I scratched them in the store and ran out to my car crying when I saw I’d won $1 million. It was unreal! I’m still trying to process it.”

The player bought her winning ticket at Liquor Wheel, located at 4117 Clio Road in Flint. She recently visited Lottery headquarters to claim the big prize. She chose to receive her prize as a one-time lump sum payment of about $693,000 rather than annuity payments for the full amount. With her winnings, she plans to buy her parents a new house and a car and then save the remainder.

Players have won more than $2 million playing Lucky Stars, which launched this month. Each $5 ticket offers players a chance to win prizes ranging from $5 up to $1 million. More than $20 million in prizes remain, including two $1 million top prizes and nine $2,500 prizes.

In 2025, Lottery players won more than $1.7 billion playing instant games.

Lottery instant games may be purchased at retailers across the state.

The family who plays together, wins together! At least that was the case for the Lucky Leprechauns lottery club who won $1 million playing the Michigan Lottery’s Cash Surge instant game.

“A few family members and I started playing the lottery together earlier this year,” said the club’s representative. “I bought the ticket and gave it to one of the other club members to scratch. When she said we’d won $1 million, I thought it was a joke. It was shocking and unbelievable!”

The four-member Lucky Leprechauns lottery club bought the winning ticket at Busch’s, located at 1450 West Chicago Boulevard in Tecumseh. Tecumseh is about 30 miles southwest of Ann Arbor. They chose to receive their prize as a one-time lump sum payment of about $693,000 rather than annuity payments for the full amount.

“With our winnings, we plan to spend some, share some, and save some,” said a club member.

Players have won more than $15 million playing Cash Surge, which launched in March. Each $10 ticket offers players a chance to win prizes ranging from $10 up to $1 million. More than $30 million in prizes remain, including two $1 million top prizes, eight $10,000 prizes, and 641 $1,000 prizes.

In 2025, Lottery players won more than $1.7 billion playing instant games.

Lottery instant games may be purchased at retailers across the state.