LANSING, March 1, 1999 – Janice DeGuilio of Saginaw won big with the Michigan Lottery when she collected the $200,000 top prize in the Lottery’s "Big Bucks" instant game!

The 44-year-old winner said she has been playing Michigan Lottery games for the past 13 years and couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw the winning ticket.

"My boss was standing right there with me when I scratched off the ticket," DeGuilio said.  "I didn’t have my glasses on at the time and all I saw were twos and zeros, so I made my boss look at it too!  He said ‘No, it really is $200,000!’  I just about fell on the floor after that!"

The winner said she kept the ticket on her at all times before turning it in at Michigan Lottery headquarters in Lansing. She said she plans to use her winnings to make herself "debt free" by paying off her car, house and credit cards.

The winning ticket was purchased at Fastway Food Shopper, 4991 East Road, in Saginaw.  For other Lottery hopefuls, the lucky lady offered the following words of wisdom: "It can happen to other people like me!"

"Big Bucks" is just one of many Michigan Lottery instant tickets available at more than 9,300 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

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