LANSING, November 16, 1998 – Gerald Stellard of Beaverton recently won big bucks with the Michigan Lottery’s Big Game!  Stellard matched the first five numbers in the November 6 Big Game drawing to win the $150,000 prize.  That day’s winning numbers were: 7, 21, 29, 46, 48 and the Big Money Ball number was 16.

"I had a couple of Big Game tickets that I hadn’t checked the numbers on yet, so I went to the store to get a winning number report," Stellard said.  "I was excited to see that I had won, but knew I wouldn’t think it was real until I had the check in my hand!"

The 62-year old winner has been playing the Lottery for the past 26 years, and said he only plays The Big Game and Lotto.  Stellard purchased the winning Big Game "easy pick" ticket at Rick’s Party Store, 3974 M-18, in Beaverton.

The retired tool and die maker said he plans to use part of his winnings to pay bills and bank the rest.  Stellard, an avid hunter and fisherman, said he may eventually use the money to buy a home in the Upper Peninsula.

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 on Tuesday, November 17 – the expected jackpot is $22 million.

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