LANSING, March 23, 1999 – Richard Beattie of Armada recently won big bucks in the Michigan Lottery’s Big Game! Beattie matched the first five numbers in the March 16 drawing to win the $150,000 prize.  That day’s winning numbers were: 6, 11, 19, 33, 40 and the Big Money Ball number was 19.

"I stopped at the store on the way home from work and picked up a winning number printout," Beattie said.  "When I got home I compared my ticket to the printout.  I had to look at the ticket about five times before it really sunk in that I had matched five numbers!  I immediately got out my Big Game card that lists what you need to match to win.  That is when I realized that I had won $150,000!"

The boiler operator at General Motors Powertrain in Warren said he has been playing Michigan Lottery games for the past 26 years.  He added that his favorite games are The Big Game, Michigan Lotto and Cash 5.

Beattie, 50, purchased the winning Big Game "easy pick" ticket at Continental Lanes, 31055 Gratiot Ave., in Roseville.  Prior to turning the winning ticket in at Michigan Lottery headquarters in Lansing, the winner kept the ticket in his pocket for safekeeping.

The avid golfer and bowler said he may use part of his winnings to take a trip.  He said he is "still thinking about" what he wants to do with the money.

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.

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