LANSING, February 26, 1999 – The E & J Lotto Club is $150,000 richer after winning a top prize in the Michigan Lottery’s Big Game!

Ella Planko of Roseville and her son, John Planko of Novi (the only two members of the E & J Lotto Club) matched the first five numbers drawn in the February 12 Big Game drawing to win the $150,000 prize.  That day’s winning numbers were: 8, 11, 16, 27, 34 and the Big Money Ball number was 8.

"I saw the winning numbers in the Macomb Daily," Ella Planko said.  "I called my son, John, right away to tell him that we had won!  We were both shocked!"

The winning Big Game ticket was purchased at Good Time Party Store, 567 7 Mile Road, in Northville.  John Planko randomly picked the numbers for the prize-winning ticket.  Prior to turning the winning ticket in at Lottery headquarters in Lansing, the Plankos kept it in a safe.

The Plankos, who have played together as a club since 1990, said they plan to use their winnings to pay bills and take a trip to Las Vegas.  The lucky winners offered the following advice to other Lottery hopefuls: "Keep playing and 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, February 26 – the expected jackpot is $20 million.

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