LANSING, August 21, 1997 – Laverne Smith came to Detroit to visit friends and wound up with a whole lot more.  Smith matched the first five numbers in The Big Game drawing on July 18, 1997, and won the game’s $150,000 prize!

A lifelong Chicago resident, Smith said she frequently travels to Michigan, and usually has good luck here.

"I was visiting friends in the Detroit area," said Smith, "and every time I come to Michigan I seem to have good luck with the Michigan Lottery!

"Unfortunately," she joked, "I was back in Chicago before I realized I had won."

Smith, 67, said she has been a loyal Illinois Lottery player for 20 years, but always tries her luck with the Michigan Lottery when she’s in town.  She plans to use her Big Game winnings to "purchase some things" for her home.

Smith selected her own set of Big Game numbers.  "They’re just numbers that I play all the time," she said.  Her winning ticket was purchased at Chesterfield Food Market, 2200 W. Davison, in Detroit.

The winning numbers in the July 18, 1997 Big Game drawing were: 6, 34, 35, 40, 50, and the Big Money Ball number was 25.  The Big Game offers nine ways to win cash prizes.  Players pay $1 for each play, and choose five numbers from 1 to 50, as well as one additional number from 1 to 25.

Friday’s (August 22) Big Game jackpot is estimated at $11 million.

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