LANSING, March 25, 1999 – A Waterford man won big with the Michigan Lottery when he collected the $200,000 top prize in the Lottery’s "Big Bucks" instant game!

The 18-year-old winner, who requested anonymity, said he enjoys playing the Lottery’s instant tickets as well as Michigan Lotto and The Big Game.

"I scratched the ticket off after work one day," the winner said.  "I sat in my driveway for at least five minutes just looking at the ticket!  I couldn’t believe I had really won!  I kept asking people in my family if they thought it was real.  I was completely surprised!"

Prior to turning the winning ticket in at Lottery headquarters in Lansing, the Waterford man placed it in a drawer in his house for safe keeping.  The lucky lad said he plans to save and invest most of his winnings, but will also do "something fun" with the money!

The winner, who enjoys hunting and doing construction work in his free time, purchased the winning ticket at Lakeland Party & Wine, 4177 Cass Elizabeth Road, in Waterford.

For other Lottery hopefuls, the lucky young man offered the following words of encouragement: "Don’t give up!"

"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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