LANSING, October 6, 1998 – Sameh Abuhmoud of Dearborn recently became a big winner in the Michigan Lottery’s Big Game! Abuhmoud matched the first five numbers in the September 29 Big Game drawing to win the $150,000 prize.  That day’s winning numbers were: 1, 8, 18, 27, 38 and the Big Money Ball number was 24.

"I didn’t even know I had won," he said.  "My dad got a printout sheet from the store and he saw that I had won.  He and my brother were more surprised than I was.  I had a normal reaction – I wasn’t really surprised at all."

The 20-year old plays The Big Game, Lotto and instant games regularly.  Abuhmoud purchased the winning "easy pick" Big Game ticket at Arbor Drugs Inc. #8055, 18340 Allen Road, in Melvindale.

Abuhmoud said he plans to use his winnings to open up a business, and for other Lottery hopefuls, he offered the following advice: "Keep on playing – eventually you will win!"

The Big Game is a six-state lottery game which held its first drawing in September 1996.  Lotteries in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts and Virginia contribute to the joint prize pool.  Big Game drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.  The next Big Game drawing will be conducted tonight – the expected jackpot is $30 million.

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